Seven years ago, I began doing the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery®. Of course, back then it did not have a name…it was just what I was doing. At the same time, I began keeping a hand-written Parkinson’s Daily Journal. It is time to share my journal with all of you. Here is my October 15, 2009 journal entry, seven years ago today.
“10/15/09. 4:00 up and at ‘em, ha, ha. Started the day by dropping my espresso cup on the kitchen floor. Tile is very unforgiving. Oh, well, I need to pay more attention to what I am doing.
Today is the last day of the 20th year that Sally and I have been married. Every day I love Sally more than the day before. She is my one constant in this ever-changing world.
Once again, I will look at her tomorrow and wish her happy anniversary, and wish there was more I could do for her.
I had black beans and brown rice for lunch. Two hours after lunch I had tremors like last night, bad, bad tremors, and could not sit up.
I discussed this with Sally – maybe the toxin cleansing I am giving my kidneys with the black beans is releasing into my system before leaving. NO black beans tomorrow – let’s see what happens.”
Recently, I was discussing this espresso-dropping issue with a person. I smiled when I read it here in my journal this morning. I explained that a double espresso is about 2.5 ounces and a demitasse cup and saucer are rather small. But, at 4:15am, it seemed like 2.5 gallons of black liquid on a white tile floor. However, this was a big day for me.
Look at my response to dropping the coffee and cup and saucer on the floor: “Oh, well, I need to pay more attention to what I am doing.” This was a major breakthrough. Until this day, when I dropped things, I would get angry with myself and frustrated with myself. If somebody else dropped something, I would say to not worry about it and I would make certain the person was okay.
On this particular morning, finally I had learned the lesson – I needed to be as kind, compassionate, and forgiving with myself as I would have been with anybody else in this particular situation.
I feel the Universe works this way. We keep getting the same lesson again and again and again…UNTIL WE ARE WILLING TO RESPOND IN A DIFFERENT MANNER. After I responded this way to myself, in a kind, compassionate, and forgiving way, the lesson was learned and I did not need to drop anything else.
Click here for a reminder on forgiveness, compassion, and transforming anger.
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Please note: I will be posting one post per day through the middle of November. If you subscribe to receive email notifications when I post new blog posts and you would prefer to not receive those daily email notifications, simply send me an email at howard@fightingparkinsonsdrugfree.com, and let me know that you do not wish to receive a daily email with a link to each post. I will remove you from the list through the middle of November and add you back on the list after the middle of November. However, I still would recommend you checking the blog on a regular basis as it will contain very useful information for understanding my journey and helping with your journey.
Thank you for the espresso on the floor Howard
It went right home for me
Thank you again
Great post it showed that you had a lot of patience and did not allow yourself to get upset at anything just accept it and deal with it with a positive attitude
Being kind , compassionate and forgiving to ourselves are priceless lessons to learn on our PD journey to 100% recovery.
For 55 years I didn’t like me. But now with Howard’s help , Self love is a lesson I’m currently learning, I love myself, accept myself more and more every day. I can now look the mirror and love the person I see.
Peace, Love and Blessings to all
Yes, you are correct on all points. And, thank you Howard! I’ve “learned” this lesson scores of times before, and was due for a reminder!
Dear Howard,
Today, my husband, Don, was able to button both of his shirt sleeves. He had been able to button one sleeve but not the other sleeve on his own for years before we knew that he was ill.
He is, daily, going through your recipe and learning another item but he is not yet ready to put it all together. However, the improvements are beginning.
I see your work and recipe as a precious gift from our Creator.
Sincerely yours,
Karen
Dear Howard….for me it is important to cultivate a sense of contentment in life. This means to acknowledge the ‘perfect life’ we have. It means not waiting for the ‘perfect life’ to arrive but to realise it is the one we have ‘now’. We need to be aware of other people’s agendas that can disturb our sense of peace and contentment but honor their truth, providing they do not compromise our sense of values. It is better to yield to others in things that do not matter and to realise we don’t have to have an opinion about everything. We are not products of pure chance but masters of our own environment and destiny. Having PD for me is to try to be content in spite of it, like dropping the coffee like you dear friend. Thank you Howard for your honesty.
Veronica 🌱🌺
Nicely put Veronica. Thanks Howard. Seems to me there is more to know than there is to do in order to get better. It’s learning a whole new way of being. I’m paying attention to every moment.
This is really helpful and encouraging – being able to see how you gradually learned your lessons, one small step at a time. Thanks.