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 November 4, 2009 journal entry, seven years ago today.
“11/04/09. Up at 4. Feel sluggish, so what’s new.
If I had the money, I would go to Alburquerque to see Dr. Marjama-Lyons, then to Scottsdale to see Mary Burmeister, then to San Francisco to see Dr. Sha, then to Canada to see Master Liang. Apparently, I am hallucinating without even taking the drugs…just a little stab at humor.”
My neurologist visit was the following day, and I caved in to my dad’s pressure (making the other people happy and doing something I did not want to do). Where have you heard that before? Another stab at humor.
So, in my perfect world, I would see the doctor who taught me a lot about Parkinson’s:
Dr. Jill Marjama-Lyons, What your doctor may NOT have told you about Parkinson’s Disease.
And those who had books with information that I utilized to put together the core of the physical part of the Recipe:
Dr. Zhi Gang Sha, Soul Mind Body Medicine (Brain Vibration Chanting and Near Hand Far Hand).
Mary Burmeister, Founder of Jin Shin Jyutsu in the United States. The Touch of Healing, by Alice Burmeister (Mary’s daughter), with Tom Monte (Jin Shin Jyutsu Jumper Cabling).
Master Shou-Yu Liang, Qigong Empowerment (Medical Qigong for the Liver, Medical Qigong Sound for Calming the Liver, Medical Qigong for the Kidneys, Medical Qigong Sound for Kidney Health).
As you know, the physical part of the Recipe is not too difficult…doing it every day is the difficult part. Here I was, the day before my neurologist visit essentially saying to myself, “I am doing what will make the other people happy, but here is what I really would like to do to make me happy.” Making the other people happy won again.
In the end, to finish my recovery, I learned that I needed to make me happy, first, and not only was this not selfish, it was necessary. It takes a lot of love for yourself and a lot of vulnerability with yourself and the world to make yourself happy first, but it liberates you, and you are worth it.
Click here for a deeper discussion of vulnerability.
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.
Sometimes as l look back, I can see I have been a victim of making other people happy. I know this not a negative thing, but it can become an insidious attribute to our own wellbeing which can lead us not to honor our own path in life. I know now to stand back and question if it is the right decision. It is honorable to expose our vulnerability but not at the expense of our personal wisdom. Awareness is everything. It is better to walk alone than to walk with others who are going in the wrong direction. Thank you Howard for your inspiration.
Veronica
Thank-you Howard and thank-you Veronica.
My biggest lesson, not to beat myself up when I go against what everyone else is telling me. Even when you are outnumbered it is still right to follow your heart and the majority is not always right.
Well-stated! Thank you!
Thanks, Howard!
This is timely and amazing!
Karen and Don