Doing. Taking action to lay a strong foundation in your recovery is what it takes. In Not Always So, Suzuki states, “To be completely concentrated on what you do, that is simplicity. And the beauty of practice is that it can be extended endlessly. You cannot say our way is quite easy or that it is very difficult. It is not difficult at all. Everyone can do it, but to continue it is rather difficult. Don’t you think so?”
Applying Suzuki’s wisdom to the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery®, it looks like this: “To be completely concentrated on what you do, that is simplicity. And the beauty of practice is that it can be extended endlessly. You cannot say that the Recipe is quite easy or that it is very difficult. It is not difficult at all. Everyone can do it, but to continue it is rather difficult. Don’t you think so?”
Doing. Taking action to lay a strong foundation in your recovery is what it takes.
Even if you do not have the time or energy to do the entire Recipe each day, do some of the Recipe each day with gratitude for what you can do and without self-judgment or self-criticism for not doing all of it. This will help you lay a strong foundation. Here is an example:
A single sheet of copy paper is seemingly weightless with very little form or substance. If each day you put one single sheet of copy paper on top of the sheet from the day before, in 500 days, you have a ream of paper with a weight of 5 pounds. In 5,000 days, you have a case of ten reams of paper with a weight of 50 pounds.
But wait, how did you get from a flimsy sheet of copy paper to a case of paper weighing 50 pounds? Doing! Taking action each day by doing something as simple as putting one more flimsy sheet of paper on top of the piece of paper from the day before. The hard part is placing the sheet of paper on top of the one from the day before. The hard part is doing this every day with faith that in the end you will have your 50 pound case of copy paper.
Looking at the Recipe, do what you can to lay your strong foundation, and do it every day. Here is a simple suggestion:
The soul: Gratitude. Action. Write down three things for which you are grateful. Do this every day.
The mind. Calm the mind. Action. Sit zazen (or meditation of choice) for at least 5 minutes. Do this every day.
The body. Physical part of the Recipe. Action. Do at least one of the physical parts of the Recipe in its entirety or for at least five minutes. Do this every day.
If you can do more than this, then do it. If this is all you can do, then do it. Whatever part or parts of the Recipe you are doing, taking action to lay your strong foundation means doing it every day.
I have been asked in the past, “Did you really do the Recipe every day?” My response has been simple and consistent, “I don’t know about your Parkinson’s, but my Parkinson’s did not take a day off, so I did not take a day off.” However, I also stopped doing the Recipe the day of my full recovery and have not done it since.
What are you doing, right here, right now? How about taking action and laying a strong foundation for your recovery!
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Great post! Perfect for me at this point in time. Thank you, Howard.
Great Post!
I am getting better thanks to the recipe. My smell has greatly improved, and my core strength is improving. My attitude has greatly improved I have compassion and acceptance and I surrender.
How’s everyone doing ?
Faith works!
Peace, love, and blessings
Hi Chuck you sound in top form. 🙂 all good with me. I find some days I can’t bend to side with liver exercise so in last few days, to say thanks to God and Universe for helping me, I do one extra while saying “thank you” and I get a dopamine rush in my head! Feels joyous! Great post as always Howard. 🙂
Big Love to all warriors.
Karen xx
Hi Everyone,
Thanks Howard for a great post. My favorite part…….” Even if you do not have the time or energy to do the entire Recipe each day, do some of the Recipe each day with gratitude for what you can do and without self-judgment or self-criticism for not doing all of it. This will help you lay a strong foundation.”
I am so grateful for all that I have and can do !!! I am grateful for this “doing” Recipe which provides me with the opportunity and the knowledge I need to help myself, without self-judgment or self-criticism.
I am grateful that I have the choice and the ability to enjoy this day just as it unfolds.
Thanks to each of you for your comments and for sharing yourselves with me. You make a positive difference 🙂 Have a wonderful doing day !! You are worth it !
All my best,
Debbie
Ty for your blog. I find it always is just what the dr. ordered.
Ty
Thank you Howard for this post. I can only do parts of the recipe but I do it everyday. I was worried that because I wasn’t doing the whole recipe that it won’t work for me. I keep trying to do more and more everyday. Your post is very timely for me.
God bless you
Janet in NY
Thanks so much, Howard! I notice that the more I keep my thoughts and focus under control then the symptoms are small or they stop.
Love, blessing, and hugs to all.
To my fellow Warriors, as Howard said, this condition does not take a day off. As long as you’re thinking about it, worried about it, it’s going to continue. My cure and Recovery came from me believing in me and that it was mostly my fear and my emotions which kept me in prison. Break free from your cell block by keeping persistent and most of all as happy as possible, for it’s your mind that helped get you in this position and it is calming your mind that will help get you out. Howard will show you the way.
Thank you for your comment Tony, you are always very helpful and encouraging and it’s much appreciated x
Hi Tony, I keep meaning to ask you as I know you mentioned you are into bodybuilding, are you vegetarian? My son into weights etc, we were wondering any tips for building muscle without meat? Karen xx
Howard the post is much appreciated. Every movement in the recipe is worth it. We should keep in mind the goal is to be set free from this disease GOD bless us all.
Thank you Howard for another enlightening post. Mother Terese said ‘ We don’t have to do great things, only small things with the greatest love’. I am sure if we take the little we can do each day and practice it with love for ourselves it will lead us to our goal. I think our greatest hindrance is we are too judgmental of ourselves instead of being accepting. I know this can be true of myself. But I keep working on it. As Howard keeps telling me, I am worthy.
Love to all
Veronica 🌱🌺
Great post, Howard, timely and fresh.
I don’t know how you are fresh after
doing this for so many yrs.
Thank-you.
Thank you for a beautiful post. This is the type of kindness I need to give myself. Xx
Hi Howard, I was officially diagnosed in November 2015 and was very reluctant to go with drug therapy as per the neurologist recommendation. Shortly thereafter I came across your website and for the first time I felt that there was truly a way to heal myself. This also helped me stand by my decision to take this journey drug free. I have been doing your recipe since December 2015 and cannot thank you enough for the encouragement and support, provided by your postings, that have assisted me through some really bad patches. So I feel I owe it to you to stop the stalking and let you know how grateful I am.
Hi Elaine, welcome welcome. Your line about stalking made me laugh. I’m sure there are so many brave warriors out there following Howard’s recipe, but are unsure what to write on here. It’s always lovely to hear from new people and we all love progress shares but equally we look out for each other on bad days too. Thanks for sharing. xx
Great post Howard. Thank you so much and thank you Tony.
It’s such a wonderful community. I am very grateful to have you all here with me encouraging so courageously.
Love to you all
Gratitude