I have been writing a lot about acceptance, surrender, and gratitude as a way of living a life of faith and joy. In your recovery, this way of living requires faith that although you may see no measurable change on the outside of your body, healing change always is happening on the inside.
When you are doing the soul, mind, and body recovery protocols of the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery, healing change always is happening under the surface. Although somebody else might examine you on the outside or look at your external symptoms and think that nothing has happened since the last time they saw you, they would be incorrect.
Just as a mountain of Parkinson’s had built up under the surface prior to the symptoms arriving at the surface, an enormous amount of healing is going on underneath the surface even if it has yet to show any difference at the surface.
As a way to demonstrate this concept, I will provide a little background and then offer you the following slideshow. We had gotten a weather report that we were supposed to receive some snow beginning February 11th. On the morning of February 11th when it began to snow, I went to our kitchen window and took a picture. I took a daily picture from the same window vantage point until February 21st. Here is the slideshow.
If we had left town on the morning of February 11th and returned on February 21st, we would have walked to the window and felt that “nothing happened while we were gone.” However, this slideshow is proof that so much took place as 16 inches of snow arrived, stayed for a while, and left.
Please know that when you are doing the Recipe, your recovery healing is always happening under the surface. In time, it will arrive at the surface with less symptoms and better movement and abilities. In the meantime, practice acceptance, surrender, and gratitude as your continuous showing of faith as we wind down this second month of 2021…the year of faith!
You can do this!
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Thanks for the beautiful scenes and metaphor. We can truly be grateful for our amazing world and getting to be here right now.
Love to all, Anne
Thanks Howard for the video, your blog posts are always helpful
So true! Thank you for the visual.
Sally H.
Thank you Howard for another great message. We are lucky to have you. I’m out vanishing on the boat today in 30c heat, first time in six months I’ve done some work on the ship, life must go on! Just short of 3 months now doing the recipe. Still shaking but I feel changes and I feel very grateful. Love to everyone, Rick from Australia
This is so important! Thank you for the reminder Howard x
Thank you dear Howard for the wonderful example and thinking what we can do to improve, great advice!!
My faith is being tested more now than ever due to very poor mobility, I find this to be the most difficult part of the recipe, accepting that poor mobility doesn’t have to mean the illness is getting worse. I find it hard not to judge myself on my ability to do things.
Respected Howard sir,
You gave the perfect example in a metaphore of climate change. When I suffer from bradykinesia, I start comparing it with my recovery pattern. Very very slow but progressive towards posive result. So to all my fellow warriors, you can also try this, it helps. Regards, Mona
YES YES YES,
Acceptance, surrender and gratitude is the Best tool of recipe.it accelerates speed of recovery. Acceptance of happenings opens up the heart for surrender and give rise to feelings of gratitude. This ultimately opens up dopamine.
Mayank
I have not been to the neurologist for about 8 years.
Got an appointment on Tuesday.
I know what she will want to do for my symptoms
Not looking forward to it whereas I am drug free.
Please pray for me.
Hi Ken,
What sold me on my neurologist was when I first called his office and told his nurse I was doing qigong and would not take medication, she replied, “great, you’re ahead with of the game. IT’S NOT YOUR JOB TO PLEASE THE DOCTOR!”
HOLA A TODOS …………. CREEMOS QUE TODO ES POSIBLE CON LA FUERZA Y LA FE ….PER TAMBIEN DEBE SER APOYADO POR EL TRABBAJO CONSTANTE …………..AHI ES DONDE AGRADECEMOS TENER A HOWARD COMO NUESTRO GUIA
Translation:
HELLO EVERYONE …………. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH STRENGTH AND FAITH… .BUT IT MUST ALSO BE SUPPORTED BY CONSTANT WORK ………… ..THERE IS WHERE WE THANK TO HAVE HOWARD AS OUR GUIDE
Thank you yet again Howard. Today has been a difficult one with increased leg tremors and pain, but with your guidance I know I am winning. Good luck everyone.
Ray from Co. Mayo, Eire
Dear Howard you hold the candle for all of us to see, and wisdom in words, that set us free!🌟
Hi Howard. Thank you for your encouraging words . Still having a difficult time with acceptance, working on it though and these blogs are very helpful on difficult days. Blessings to you
Thank you Howard for the slide show showing that healing is happening under the surface as a way of living a life of faith and joy. We have to accept, surrender and be grateful as a way of living our life.
The comments are as helpful as the posts. It’s comforting and supportive to know there are other warriors out there also working to recover from the same enemy. I find it difficult to accept and surrender, but it’s a much better alternative than taking meds. And, with faith and knowing we are worthy, we all can get our full recovery. I’ve been doing the recipe for one year now and I’m starting as of this week to see some symptoms disappear. Thank you God
Thank you Howard for sharing not only your wisdom but a beautiful view from your window! I am so grateful for our Mother Nature!
You are spot on as always when you said … “although you may see no measurable change on the outside of your body, healing change always is happening on the inside.” … I experienced that yesterday :-))… … around July last year (six months into my recovery and weekly coaching) I had a unpleasant encounter with my dentist office, in short I was overcharged and I was furious! I wanted to change the dental practice, I wanted to be right and I wanted to be in control. It took me a while to surrender, accept and be grateful!!
So, back to yesterday and my dental appointment … in the morning before my appointment I was irritable, apprehensive and planning what I am going to say or be, then I caught myself having this unhealthy dialogue and practiced surrender, acceptance and gratitude! 🙂 …and something shifted! The driving was easier, I had a smile on my face and on entering the reception with a big smile on my face I greeted the woman I was furious with and complimented her on how nice she looks in her new specs e.t.c. She responded warmly!
My body was the same on the outside, but I felt healed inside!! And, sitting in the dentist chair, I did not feel the usual dread and defensivness, I felt peaceful and joyful! Everybody was looking after me extremely well! I am grateful!
I have the power to heal myself!
We have the power together to heal ourselves!
Thank you Howard! I am grateful!
Love to All,
Ola
I was listening to Allan Watts ,
One of my favorite. Then I came to this;
If I don’t accept What Is, first,
then I’m fighting windmills…..
“ I don’t want this disease”
“ I’m afraid of this disease”
“ why am I not progressing”
“ it doesn’t work for me”
“ it’s my punishment”
“ jealousy about others being better”
“ I have/want/need to heal”
“ I want to see prove”
So this becomes a mindbattle , I guess not really helpfull
And I think you can’t fake being grateful in order to get,
Or there is a there: fake it until you make it, I’m not sure about this.
For me I first have to accept thoroughly my of being instead of looking for the better outcomes.
What do you have to say about this?
Hi Petra,
My feeling is that gratitude comes from the heart, so my gratitude is and was felt deeply.
Some people have been successful in fighting fear, or finding faith, or finding gratitude with a “fake it until you make it” attitude. Everybody is different, so do what feel is right for you.
Love and blessings,
Howard
Thanks for bringing up the subject of gratitude, Petra.
I’ve often felt I’ve got a sincerely gap in my own gratitude practice, so I’m going to start giving gratitude for all the wonderful little things in life, like a sun shiny day, a warm breeze, the sweet smell of wet grass, and move up from there!
All the best,
Chris
Howard it amazes me how your messages arrive at just the right time. Thank you for that!
Thank you Howard for your words of wisdom and encouragement!
In a dream a stranger suddenly pulled a gun on me with intent to shoot. With a piercing scream I sprang out of bed landing three feet away by the dresser. Didn’t know I could still move like that! I guess I have been healing up behind the scenes. Our cat at my feet had likewise levitated and skedaddled, but one expects such physical prowess from a cat.
Now all I’ve got to do is move this motor skill from nighttime into day. Ruth thinks I’ve got a switch inside that makes me better when I turn it on; she says she saw me use it once on vacation. I think I know what that switch is too: it’s the peace, calm and healing that comes from surrendering the ego completely to the universe! A great way to dissolve the ego? Put the well being of others first at every turn!
Good luck and happy trails to all,
Chris
I find the variability in symptoms difficult to deal with. Does this happen to others?
One day you feel great: energetic, fluid, limber, coordinated. The next day you lack any energy, feel stiff, rigid, and are experiencing new symptoms. There seems no logical reason for the disparity in symptoms from one day to the next. I cannot tell what brings a great or bad day for symptoms.
Hi Ruthann,
You state, “ There seems no logical reason for the disparity in symptoms from one day to the next. I cannot tell what brings a great or bad day for symptoms.” That is the whole point of acceptance, surrender, gratitude.
Acceptance. “I accept that symptoms will change for no logical reason.”
Surrender. “Nobody owes me an explanation why.”
Gratitude. “I am grateful for the healing that is causing the fluctuations in my symptoms.”
Free will. “I will take it from here and continue doing the Recipe. Thank you for my healing. I am grateful.”
Trying to discover a logical pattern for changing symptoms is trying to control what they are doing. Please know that you are doing the Recipe, so every day you are healing and are one step closer to your full recovery. Be grateful.
Parkinson’s symptoms arrive at the surface as diagnosable symptoms when energy is stagnant and deficient. Changing symptoms is proof that energy is moving and is alive and well for healing. Be grateful.
And…please let go of the notion that you have to control the outcome. Do your best efforts and know that your best is good enough for you to be blessed with the outcome you desire. Be grateful.
Love and blessings,
Howard