With Parkinson’s, you can become consumed with the disease, you can forget to live life fully each day, and you can forget what it feels like to “have a life.” Today, we will discuss living life fully each day.
In Shunryu Suzuki’s, Not Always So, there is a chapter entitled Sun-Faced Buddha, Moon-Faced Buddha. In short, the Sun-Faced Buddha was said to live one thousand eight hundred years while the Moon-Faced Buddha was said to live one day and one night. The thing is, we do not know which one we are, or where it is in-between that we fall.
Parkinson’s has a harsh way of removing you from the formula altogether…you stop “living.” At that point, Parkinson’s is in control. You need to start living again to get control of your life back from Parkinson’s.
So, how do you look beyond your Parkinson’s and start living again…in spite of your Parkinson’s? Think about this:
What if every time you take a walk, you say to your Parkinson’s, “I did this before you, you cannot stop me from living my life fully each day.”
What if every time you go to the movies, you say to your Parkinson’s, “I did this before you, you cannot stop me from living my life fully each day.”
What if every time you go out to dinner, you say to your Parkinson’s, “I did this before you, you cannot stop me from living my life fully each day.”
What if every time you go to a ball game, you say to your Parkinson’s, “I did this before you, you cannot stop me from living my life fully each day.”
What if every time you go shopping, you say to your Parkinson’s, “I did this before you, you cannot stop me from living my life fully each day.”
What if every time you visit with friends, you say to your Parkinson’s, “I did this before you, you cannot stop me from living my life fully each day.”
What if every time you (fill in your own experiences), you say to your Parkinson’s, “I did this before you, you cannot stop me from living my life fully each day.”
What if your Parkinson’s sees you starting to get your life back and starting to live your life fully each day again. Maybe it will become discouraged. Maybe it will start to loosen its stronghold on you. Maybe it will start to lose its entire grip on you. Maybe it will let go of you altogether. Isn’t that what we call full recovery?
Live your life fully each day!
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Thank you
Thank you Howard! What a great message and one I fully believe in. I loved people and loved living life before, I still love people and living life today.
Thanks to Howard and each of you for opening up and sharing parts of you with me. Thanks for being part of the beautiful people and life that I love. Have a wonderful weekend living your life to the fullest!
I am not only going to continue to love people and life today; but I am going to demonstrate this love through my actions. I will find JOY in DOING, by living my life to the fullest today.
I am grateful for this day.
In appreciation 🙂
Debbie
Hi Debbie, joyous to see you posting again. Thank you for your kind words to me in last weeks post. I would say “ditto” to you. Big love xx
Thank you for sharing this wonderful post.
Thank you Howard, a timely post for me. Despite my best intentions, I am guilty of letting Parkinson’s derail me at times.
Often the fear of doing something is worse than having a go.
I will try my best to not let this happen, even on bad days!
Thank you for you wishes for the weekend Debbie. The same to you 😊
Berni x
Dear Howard
That‘s it!!!! Great post dear Howard, we give a try again!!!👍🌺
Hi all, yes like Berni, the thoughts of doing any of Howard’s list would unravel me. It’s quite simple, my legs don’t move when anyone is watching me. Even being on the meds for over a year, I just freeze completly around anyone, even my own family. Also my bladder goes weak when I have to go anywhere, I would wee ten times before going anywhere. It’s hard enough managing to get around in my home, so I never put myself through the stress of going anywhere unless I HAVE too. I’m just being honest. I tremor so badly when anyone comes to visit. I really try hard to get passed it but i truly am doing my best. Admitting all this for any warriors who like me, don’t do any of the above activities. I miss the cinema but sitting in a wheel chair just to see a movie and nervously needing to wee every 5 mins is not appealing.
Getting out of bed each day and doing what I can of the recipe and managing to shower myself is amazing to me and I thank God every day that I manage this. My carer comes for two hours every day to prepare my meals etc. I truly am doing my best and it’s as much as I can do right now, as Howard says, our best is good enough.
Big love, Karen xx
Hi Karen,
It sounds to me like you are living your life to the fullest that you can in this moment in time!! It also sounds to me that you are a beautiful, wonderful lady, full of courage and doing your best. That is all that any of us can do 🙂
For today, I am smiling. That is something that I did before Parkinson’s and am reminding myself to do today. It makes me feel lots better and helps in living a full life. It is great to talk to you and to know that you are keeping on……keeping on.
Have a awesome weekend.
Love Debbie
Great to be chatting to you too Debbie, just like old times. Btw your photo in the gallery is beautiful. You truly look like Little Miss sunshine. :-). I hope you are doing well after your other medical challenge. Please keep posting as you are missed when you don’t. Big love my friend.xx
Hi Karen I cannot claim to have any of the mobility issues you have and so I can physicaĺly do anything on Howard’s list but I have a mental block about doing things particularly on my own. With my husband’s help I have been pushing the boundaries and only last week I did a little shopping on my own.
I have started meditating every morning as soon as I get up and this has been a game changer for me. I am so much calmer but mentally brighter. Like you I shake if I get stressed or nervous but since starting regular meditation that has greatly reduced .
Try not to worry about what you can’t do that will only add to your stress levels. You are doing your best. I think you’re amazing!! We will win the race 🐢
Berni x
Thank you for your lovely message Berni. I enjoy your posts and love your honesty. I am really pleased with what I can do and am so proud of myself for weaning myself off the meds. Like yourself, I would be lost without my meditation. I have a load of angels I have recruited and given names, to help me daily. My symptoms may be manic right now, but I do feel close to the end. 🙂
I love your moms attitude about patience and the snail getting to America lol.
The wit of the Irish! Love it.! Big love to you friend.xx
Hiya Karen
I love the idea of you talking to angels! I talk to myself all the time and my parents and favourite auntie all long since departed from this world! The good thing is I always get the answer I want lol 😁
Berni x
Hi Karen,
Typing is hard so I’ll keep it short.
You are amazing. Your best is good enough.
xxx
Waseema bless your beautiful heart. I know how tough it is for you to type. THANK YOU sweetheart for making the effort to reach me with your loving words. The one absolute thing that ALL Parkinson’s sufferers have in common is beautiful generous hearts. We truly do. I hope you have someone in your life who would massage your painful arms and hands daily. I find getting the blood flowing each day eases the pain. If you even just try and massage your fingers yourself as best you can and tell your fingers how much you appreciate them and are grateful for the little they can do. It sounds mad Waseema but I do that every day and talk to my feet and legs and all my organs. They are all doing their very best each day. Big love my friend.xx
Since pd I feel like I’ve lost my life without dying. Seems like I get
more reclusive weekly, I try to act like before but my symptoms are
too demanding.
I will try to ignore my problems and lead a more fulfilling life.
Thanks Howard and the rest of you for the encouragement.
Hang in there Ken. You’re not losing your life dear one, you are being challenged in this particular chapter of your life, to go within and connect with the awesome spirit within you. It will teach you, it will guide you, if you let it. All you have to do is be still and know that you are loved and taken care of. Practice just being in the present moment and ground yourself by telling yourself “this too shall pass” the worst tremors always pass and as Howard would say, another electrical pathway has been cleared with those tremors. You are stronger than you realise Ken. Trust you are playing a part in the dance of the universe. Your part matters and it won’t be forever. You have other chapters yet to write.
Big love Karen xx
Hi Ken
I was becoming more and more reluctant to go out too. The reason? I felt somehow ashamed. Pre PD I was Mrs Perfect -perfect hair, perfect make up, perfect home, perfect cook, perfect life! Now that all seems so unimportant. With the help of my wonderful patient husband I am back living life again if somewhat slower and unsteadier. There are things I can’t manage like changing rooms (the queue would be out the door waiting for me !!) and eating out is difficult but I’m learning to say I have Parkinson’s, and so far the response on the part of others has been caring and helpful. I’m not going to let Parkinson’s win. If I can win the mental battle, my body will follow. Life is still wonderful 😊
Berni x
Thanks for all of the wonderful insights. All of God’s blessings be upon everyone.
Hang in there Karen