Happy New Year, 2022!!! As we wound down 2021, a year of many challenges, we closed that door to the past. It is January 1, 2022, and the sun is beginning to rise and awaken us to 2022 and the possibilities that lie ahead. For each and every one of you, this is a new year, a new breath of fresh air, and a new outlook: 2022…the year of good days!
2022…the year of good days! As you enter this new year, it is an important factor to know that each day is a good day simply because you are here to experience what that life has to offer. The worldwide Covid-19 pandemic did not end just because 2021 ended, and your Parkinson’s did not end just because 2021 ended. Just because your Parkinson’s did not end in 2021 does not mean it cannot end in 2022. However, you need to see your days as good days.
Many people define a good day as mild symptoms and a bad day as bothersome symptoms. Prior to Parkinson’s there were no Parkinson’s symptoms. You probably saw most days as good days, and only if something really awful happened did you think it was a bad day.
Pre-Parkinson’s, if you woke up in the morning with a stiff neck and shoulder, you probably thought you had slept on them wrong. Certainly, you did not think “My Parkinson’s is getting worse, this is a bad day.”
Pre-Parkinson’s, if you tripped and stumbled in public, probably the only thing you were concerned about was how awkward it looked and did anybody see you looking awkward. Certainly, you did not think “My Parkinson’s is getting worse, this is a bad day.”
Pre-Parkinson’s, if something happened and you got anxious and had a panic attack, whether you shook or not, you found a way to relieve the anxiety. Certainly, you did not think “My Parkinson’s is getting worse, this is a bad day.”
With Parkinson’s, many people’s response to changing symptoms, or waking with a stiff neck or shoulder, or stumbling, or having anxiety with some extra shaking is: “My Parkinson’s is getting worse, this is a bad day.” That is how you live your symptoms in fear. It is not how you live your life in faith and recovery.
So, it is 2022…the year of good days. If you want to recover from Parkinson’s, then you need to begin responding to life, not to symptoms. When you did not have Parkinson’s, good days and bad days were decided by events occurring in those days. And, almost every day was considered a good day unless something really unpleasant occurred.
Even if something unpleasant occurred, you may not have let it ruin your good day, so almost every day was seen as a good day. It is time to make that shift back to looking at life, not Parkinson’s, and once again seeing your days as good days. Here is a look at life after your recovery.
Post-Parkinson’s, if you wake up in the morning with a stiff neck and shoulder, you probably will think that you had slept on them wrong. Certainly, you will not think “My Parkinson’s came back, this is a bad day.”
Post-Parkinson’s, if you trip and stumble in public, probably the only thing you will be concerned about is how awkward it looks and did anybody see you looking awkward. Certainly, you will not think “My Parkinson’s came back, this is a bad day.”
Post-Parkinson’s, if something happens and you get anxious and have a panic attack, whether you shake or not, you will find a way to relieve the anxiety. Certainly, you will not think “My Parkinson’s came back, this is a bad day.”
As you can see, when your mind and heart are in a healthy place, it does not matter what is occurring in your physical body — every day is a good day.
Let’s begin slow and easy:
“Today is January 1, 2022. It is a new year, and I am grateful for the continuing opportunity to have my life and head toward my Parkinson’s recovery. Today is a good day!”
Happy New Year! 2022…the year of good days!!
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Amen Amen Amen! Hi Howard, I love this post.
I am in. I say yes, yes, yes to the year of good days.
Anyone with me?
Big Love
Karen xx 💕
Yes, Karen, I’m with you because I find your attitude ennobling. You’ve been doing the Recipe for longer than me but whenever you get knocked back, you come good again – and your first thought is always for your fellow warriors. So if YOU can treat every day like a good day, I’m going to try to do the same. There was a comment a couple of blogs ago from Pat R, which also sounded very gutsy and was about quitting the Recipe and then starting it again because Parkinson’s was so much worse without it – but still wondering why recovery didn’t come. I have been wondering the same thing and have concluded that it does indeed all come down to attitude and faith. At the same time, Parkinson’s prevents a positive response. Like, I agree with Howard that it’s a symptom of a life out of balance. But I feel that recovery is a prerequisite to repairing the imbalances because I need good health to participate fully in life and implement beneficial change. How whiny do I sound? I do believe it is theoretically possible to have Parkinson’s and still be happy but my outlook varies wildly from day to day. Some days, I am plunged into hopelessness; others, I can feel almost intoxicated with the thought I am about to be cured. Talk about a yo-yo.
BUT, I am grateful beyond words to have my eyesight (even though I need specs) and to have my hearing (even though I use hearing aids – not as much as I should). Sometimes, I even laugh! One of my favourite lines from the Nina Simone song, ‘Ain’t Got No – I Got Life’ is, ‘I got my smile.’
A big smiley to everybody doing the Recipe and a Happy New Year to one and all. Thanks, Howard, for everything.
Dear Ms Yo-yo 😊 Val, you are not alone in the extremes of the highs and lows of emotions. There are days when I get out of bed and I glide across to the bathroom and I think “oh my God, oh my God, look at me go” I am nearly there. My eyes well up with tears of gratitude and absolute joy. 24 hours later and a 90 year old version of Karen gets out of the same bed .lol 🙃 you have to laugh as you can’t afford the luxury of crying as your tremors will go ballistic. You could not make it up, only people who get it,, are your fellow warriors on the same chapter of their lives. 😁
Remember though my friend we are on a new higher vibration of consciousness with our mantra for this year, ❤️Every day is a good day ❤️ so before you know it we will be heading over to Australia to help our good friend Rick to put that engine in his boat properly and we’ll all open a few tinnies (aus slang for beer) and toast Howard and laugh at the memories of when we danced with that old devil called Parkinson’s haha. 🤣xx
Mmm, imagine having a life again … but thanks for your entertaining account of your trips to the bathroom. You do have to laugh at yourself with this disease. I can go out to the bins lurching like a triffid and then overshoot my front door trying to get back in. Then there was the time I fell down in the outside cupboard and had to rock my knees helplessly on the concrete lip for ages before someone noticed it wasn’t natural for someone’s legs to be sticking out the cupboard for that long. Anyway, I imagine Rick is already gunning the said engine ready to take off at a rate of knots. LOL. Only 360 more days to go before I can allow myself to have a bad day. Happy days!
Val, I so enjoy your sense of humour friend, always dry and witty. As the Irish would say, “You would make a cat laugh.“ 😀xx
Yes! to the year of good days!!
Right behind you Karen as 2022 is going to be better year for recovery’s, xxxx🙂🙂🙂
Absolutely perfect my friend. Just what I needed to hear on this glorious new year of good days.
All the best to you and your family and all my fellow warriors as we walk our way out of this profound physical experience.
There was a path in, there is a path out.
Love
W’Ren
W’ren I love that comment. There was a way in, let’s get out! With faith faith faith and courage and support, let’s all have great days. Let’s have 2022 be the year we say when we had….Let us be grateful for our blessings
Oh this is a Good start . I admit that my mind is rooted in parkinsons story. It defines my day. Its hard to look to the other side and ignore my story .
So I have to train to put my attention differently while experiencinf symptoms.
Tnx for your way to guide is through the jungle.
Remember to say “It’s OK” when symptoms appear. This way you win and not PD.
Happy New Year to my fellow warriors !
Hallelujah Howard. Yes Karen, I am in to a year of good days. 2022 will be a year of recovery as we bask in the energy of love and positive thought.
Love & joy,
Dianna
Hi Dianna, are you Dianna S? Not sure but whoever is Dianna S, I wanted to say thank you for your recommendation( on previous blog) to Henrik and I, to read the book by Pam Grout which gives an easier understanding of “ A Course in Miracles”. Dianna.” easy “ is my default setting lol, I shall check it out.
Apologies Dianna if you are not Dianna S, but I am sure mistaken identity is the least of your worries lol 😊xx
(Note from Howard: Yes, same Dianna)
Dear Sally and Howard
A Happy New Year 2022 and a big thank for your steady support we appreciate very, very much. To close the door, great, we hope to a good 2022!
January 1, 2022 and the year of good days has begun with a beautiful blanket of snow in Chicago. Blessings to everyone on the joyful year ahead.
New day *new year *new attitude and it’s my birthday too! Glad to be back here. Thankful for your words of core encouragement. Blessed 2022 fellow travelers.
Kathy from Minnesota
Happy birthday, Kathy!
Happy and good 365 days to all on the journey!!! Let’s make 2022 a year of recovery to all!!
Much love,
Ola
Thank you Howard and dear friends for your support. Happy new year. We can all come through to living a life of joy PD free and better for it with faith. Hugs and love to all. We are not alone.
I’m in, too, for a year of good days!
Happy, healthy 2022!
Thanks Howard for the uplifting message.
Yes 2022 is a year of good days
I have dropped my old self with pd
Good wishes and love to all
Maree
Thanks Howard for the beautiful 2022 message.
Lets us make the year 2022 the year of good days.
Happy New Year to everyone! I would like to say “cheers” to all the family/ friends who are walking with each of us in this journey. God bless them! Thank you, W’Ren, for the comment about “There was a path in, there is a path out.” I put it up on “my wall” that I face when doing the Recipe. So here we go 2022! God bless you all.
I am with Lala, it might be difficult but I am going to try and see every day as a good day!
Thank you everybody for all your positive messages!!
Heather
God Bless You Howard and Fellow Warriors,
Thank you Howard for always putting a smile on our face and hope in our hearts. I see the recoveries just stacking up for 2022 for when use to have PD.
Blessings for a New and Wonderful Year of Healing!
Marie
Thank you, dear Howard, for the beautiful post at the beginning of the New Year. Yes, may 2022 bring all of us many good days in our lives and our recovery.
Count me in! Keep smiling, Val! Happy Birthday, Kathy! Wishing a glorious 2022 Recovery to each one of you warriors! And gratitude to you Howard! Love, Julie R. in Arizona
😉
Happy New Year Howard and thank you for being the light that shines so brightly to illuminate the path ahead for all of us. I especially like your post Parkinson’s symptoms dialogue.
Howard, The happiest of New Years to you. You deserve many more. I follow your program outline to the letter (the US version ah lah Boston/judy).. I am doing great -positive energy all over the place but I simply crumble with hurt many times over as it seems no live person (outside great trainers at my Y on (bike, tread mill, rowing machine, and balancing and fall prevention).. I cannot tell you the disdain and sad looks thrown at me. I am a regular at the gym and have many friends with Parkinson’s and MS___Plus wonderful trainers 4 hours a day five days a week. Unfortunately , most all of my family and extended family and circle of Medical friends are convinced that all Parkinson’s patients suffer from Dementia and think I am crazy for coming up with my own food based medicines and herbs……have splendid circadian rhythm,,,,,and what I call my healthy alpha base well routed in nature and mindfulness. I could go on and on-I have rather powerful people in my family employed in drug industry who find my protocol ‘weird’. I am an 80 year licensed RN just retired from being a gerontology/sociology lecturer at a local university. I so need validation—please give me some tips as to how I can weather the actual bullying western medicine is throwing at me. Do you think Western Medicine will ever come around! ever welcome non-traditionists like yourself.? ==== –Thanks for letting me vent. Again a huge wish that you and your family stay safe and healthy in ’22. Love to your whole Parkinson’s community—huddle together as there are some nasty carry over winds lurking out there
Hi Judy,
Happy New Year. Thank you for your kind words.
Trust. You have to trust that your opinion about what is going on with you, soul, mind, and body, outweighs anybody else’s opinion about what you should be doing about your Parkinson’s. You say you have a medical background, are doing the Recipe, and are eating well, so please do your best to trust yourself.
Everybody else’s opinion is based upon what they think they know about Parkinson’s in general. They are not living in your Parkinson’s body, thinking with your Parkinson’s mind, or feeling with your Parkinson’s heart and soul.
So, to you and everybody else…TRUST…trust yourself that the path you have chosen is the correct path for you. The way I saw it for myself was that nobody else’s path included a recovery at the end…might as well pick a different path since I wanted a full recovery.
Love and blessings,
Howard
I worked 36 years as an RN and no longer support traditional western medicine. I think western medicine will change because people are educating themselves and realizing the benefits of other therapies. I now know how powerful our minds and bodies are in healing, when supported. I also get raised eyebrows when I tell people what I am doing but being a perfectionist/ keeping everyone else happy is partly why I got this illness in the first place. Cheers to going the individual path that fits each one of us!
Thanks Sally. There is a saying — “There are two things you do not want to watch being made – the law and sausage! I can safely add Religion and Medicine to make it four. It shocks me that I had to be 80 years to realize this! It seems that money has corrupted this country right down to its core! Love to you Sally- I enjoy your posts! Happy New Year!
Love the sound of you, Judy G. Respect for your knowledge of ageing and for doing it beautifully, not dutifully, your way. You say you need validation; you have it from all of us choosing to do the Recipe whether or not our neurologists/A.N. Others approve. People have an amazing facility to do exactly what they like while describing someone else’s autonomy as ‘stubbornness’. Whoever said, ‘Never explain, never apologise’ got it right.
Judy, you sound AMAZING. At 80 years young, you are able to train four hours a day, five days a week. How could anyone in your life, medically or otherwise dare question your choices when you are doing the amount of exercise that you are doing each day WITH a disease like Parkinson’s. You are a threat to medical companies as there is no profit to be made in people who are healing themselves through Mother Nature and alternative modalities. Judy, you are on the right path, don’t let anyone tell you differently. You are an ambassador for people on the road less travelled. Delighted to have you here. You ROCK! xx
So every day is a good day, I love it! I am going to maximize every good day by amplifying joy and abandoning worry.
Thanks Howard!
Love and blessings to all your great people on the blog, Chris
I just watched “Ender’s Game”. It’s a good movie and a better book. Ender thinks outside the box and changes the world. So of course I thought about Howard!
I just wanted to share a couple things with you all.
I have been doing the recipe for a while now. I used to ration carbo/levodopa. I had enough pills saved up for several years. I would just take them for work at my part time job and every few days to level out. My neurologist is always amazed when I visit. He is impressed with my ability to function physically and perform physical work. I recommended Howard’s book for him to read. Now I am his PD Recovery “Guinea Pig”. He understands my desire to lower medication doses and is encouraged that I have days when I have several hours drug-free in the morning. I just have to keep moving. It is very joyful to feel this way. I do use some levodopa later in the day but I have reduced the dosage and I don’t use any of the other drugs.
Someone mentioned the emotional roller coaster…. The drugs would throw me on it, big time. Highs and lows. So I have started using the levodopa at night so I can sleep (shakes, restless leg)because I need the sleep to heal my body. My Dr. is optimistic and I have had good results thus far. It flattens out the roller coaster but I do get chemically depressed when I come down from the levo… But I explain to myself that I am not not depressed at all, it is just a drug hangover. I talk to my medicine asking it to help me function but not to have negative side effects.
When I am sick I am unable to do the physical excerises found in the recipe. My body healing the sickness is more important than chipping the iceberg that day. So I take a few days off to recover, then I get back to the qi gong when I am well.
I have many wonderful days, and I have faith. I regularly thank the universe for all the challenges in my life.
I love, honor, and respect you all.
Howard, thank you for your guidance each week, each month, and each year. You are loved, honored, and appreciated by all of us.
Tim
Hi Tim, thank you for your post as it was good to read what you said about the drugs causing you chemical depression. I was diagnosed in 2012 and managed to stay drug free for four years. Ironically I am allergic to levodopa but the drug I take in the morning I find that I feel so low in myself, even makes me feel overwhelmed at times so because I am aware now, I practice being in the present moment and awareness. I smiled when you said you talk to your drugs as I do too. I ask the Holy Spirit within me to make them work in a miraculous way and release all side effects to the universe. Obviously I want to be drug free and am working on that as you are. In the meantime we do what we have to do to function. Our new mantra from Howard for this year I am enjoying as I have dropped my old thinking of “ wonder how I am going to be today?”
Thanks again for your truth. Karen xx
ps. Thanks for your note to my question Howard 😘
Really interesting to hear your experience of levodopa, Tim. I don’t experience the ‘on-off’ phenomenon of Parkinson’s, so I’m never sure how much the medication is helping. My neurologist suggested I take an extra dose at bedtime to ease the stiffness in my shoulders. But if I take it late at night, my mind’s raging and I have lurid dreams – i.e., it doesn’t help me sleep at all.