I have written in the past that your recovery is won by the tortoise, not the hare…slow and steady…nothing happens fast. There are always more lessons to be learned from the tortoise, so here we go!
In our push-button-everything-in-an-instant world, here is an important reminder: you did not get Parkinson’s in an instant, and it will not go away in an instant.
When you think of the race between the tortoise and the hare, two things come to mind: (1) the tortoise is slow and steady, never leaves the path, and often looks like he is going nowhere at all…he is without many results for a while; and (2) the hare takes off like a shot, gets fantastic results right away, and then, he becomes complacent and leaves the path.
In the end, the tortoise, with his strong conviction and faith that he was on the correct path, finishes the race and wins.
This is why you have to have faith that you are on the correct path, take slow and steady action, and repeat, “I have the power to heal myself.” That is the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery® path to your full recovery.
If it was easy to recover from Parkinson’s, none of you would be on this blog having our dialog. If it was easy to recover from Parkinson’s, it would not be considered an incurable disease. If it was easy to recover from Parkinson’s, you probably would see such wonderful results after a couple of weeks and be so happy to be mostly recovered from the disease in a short amount of time, that maybe you would become complacent like the hare and never finish the race to full recovery. However, recovery from Parkinson’s is not easy.
Now, back to the tortoise. The tortoise believed in himself against overwhelming odds. In a moment of clarity, he knew his path, and he knew in his heart of hearts and soul of souls that he would win the race. He did not stray from the path and he proceeded in the only way a tortoise can…slow and steady…and he won. I would imagine that the spectators laughed at him and told him he was out of his mind to think he could win the race. He had to exhibit courage and internal strength to not only compete and win the race, but to ignore the naysayers hovering around his path spouting out their negativity.
Another lesson you can learn from the tortoise is meditating and looking inside yourself. When the tortoise senses danger, what does he do? He pulls in 6 things: his head, his tail, and all four legs, and then his shell provides protection.
When you sense danger (Parkinson’s giving you increased tremors or pain or slowness or fear), you should meditate, which helps you pull in 6 things, your five senses and your chattering mind, and you form a calming shell of protection against your Parkinson’s.
In this fight against Parkinson’s, we all learn from each other. Today, let’s learn from the tortoise.
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Howard, thank you. You always know what we need.
Sharon in North Carolina
Thank you Howard. My Dad’s progress follows the pattern of “two steps forward, one step back, two steps forward, one step back”. There are small but detectable improvements. Your book, blog, videos have helped a great deal. He is still on meds, but cutting down. He still has trouble breathing, moving and swallowing when meds wear off but he can go for longer without his dose. During the off period he sings in a loud voice…he pretends to laugh…he rocks forward and back, self massages, and does Howard’s recommended Medical Qigong exercises. He is 90 years young and still fighting. We bless Howard and everyone with great health and steady recovery even if slow. We pray that “slow and steady” will win the race!
Inspiring to read
Thank you Karen for your blessings! Prayers and Faith for you and your Dad!!
I take it the tortoise, being low to the ground, cannot really see how far along in the race he is and therefore cannot be distracted by it. All that’s left to him is to contentedly keep on plugging away – and that is good enough. Hope no enterprising hare ever gives the tortoise a cell phone with GPS!
If you can’t look how far you have to go, then there is plenty of space and time to enjoy every step where you are. When you look to the clock you won’t see it moving forward, but after a while you see it. Also with own children , you won’t see them changing in time, but they still do, but you get used to the slowing changing .
Thanks Howard
This came at a perfect time. perfect.For myself and for a new friend that I made in Costa Rica that is 12 years down the path of PD and drug-free. I saw him shaking the way we do in a restaurant and my heart opened up to him in a way that wouldn’t have happened prior to this journey. He can’t read so I record the blogs for him and it feels really good to be sending love to the person in the same position. Actually much further down the path. I’m feeling very much like the tortoise these days and I am grateful for the reminder of the tortoise’s success. Lots of love Howard
Dustin
Nanaimo
Hi Dustin,
What a good thing to do, recording for him!
Really touches me.
How you describe it in the restaurant is like a beautiful movie scene.
Love,
Sylvia
Netherlands
Thanks Sylvia,
I wouldn’t have thought it possible prior to this experience with PD. I had an epiphany yesterday that PD has been a great gift for not only me but my wife too as I am a much better husband now because of this transformation.
Dustin
Nanaimo
I was in a middle of doing my PD Recipe for Recovery and felt overwhelmed with gratitude for Howard and his unconditional support!!
Thank you Howard,
Love, Ola
Love this! Thanks so much for your words of encouragement!
I need to add to my previous comment that I am also grateful for Sally and her strong and loving support for Howard. Indirectly you support my recovery 🙏🏻🌹
Sally, your presence reminds me of of this quote ….
“We can do no great things – only small things with with great love.” …. Mother Teresa
With gratitude and love,
Ola
Thank you Howard for another beauty!!
The tortoise is such an inspiring character for me as he DOES win in the end. When my go s-l-o-w motion hits I try to turn it around and instead of letting those negative thoughts creep in I remind myself of the “go s-l-o-w” tortoise aka winner. With gratitude I remind myself I must be on a winning streak !!!
Love to all my fellow tortoises out there xoxox
Thank you Howard for such a beautiful example of patience from the tortoise. It is a powerful story. God bless.
Love and blessings
Veronica 🌱🌺
Thank you for the tortoise! Excellent. I am doing the recipe twice or trice a day for almost 7 months by now. I am starting to enjoy my symptom free moments more than ever before. This race will be won by running slowly.
Thank you, Howard for your steady support we all appreciate very much! And as well a thank you to dear Sally, we are grateful that Howard met you, you are a very extraordinary and wonderful person!
The protection of the tortoise shell hit the mark for me. I often retreat to my shell and now I have a great story to go with it.
With love from one tortoise to another!
Karen from Wisconsin
Namaste Howard sir, thank you for your posts since the start of this year of gratitude. These posts will contribute to our recoveries in a great way as they fill our minds with so much positive energies specially when you say to be grateful to your biggest enemy i.e. Parkinson, to teaching us right eating habits, changing our lifestyle, opening our hearts and to know how much people around us love and care for us . Thanks for changing our perspective towards Parkinson and looking it in a different way.
It is lovely and very encouraging to read all the wonderful comments here. Thank you. Love to all those on the path to PD recovery! 😁
Thankyou Howard, this tortoise appreciates you words of encouragement. My daughter’s boyfriend said his swimming instructor tells him not to reach for the wall cause you are always reaching, rather the wall will be there when you arrive, just concentrate on swimming.
Very insightful.
Thank you for the extent you go through to continue to inspire everyone, Howard.