As we finish out the second week of Parkinson’s Awareness Month 2022, I would like to share another awareness with all of you.
As you know, the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery® is a soul, mind, and body recovery protocol. The Recipe is not just a bunch of exercises. Part of the awareness in the soul healing is that Parkinson’s does not differentiate — nobody is immune from Parkinson’s based upon gender, race, ethnicity, or religion.
This is an incredible time for awareness and reflection:
Our Muslim warriors began a month of Ramadan at the beginning of April.
Our Sikh warriors are having their Vaisakhi holiday celebration today.
Our Jewish warriors will begin their Passover holiday on Friday evening.
Our Hindu warriors will be celebrating Hanuman Jayanti on Saturday.
Our Buddhist warriors will be celebrating Theravada New Year on Saturday.
Our Christian warriors will celebrate Easter on Sunday.
Our Baha’i warriors will celebrate the First Day of Ridvan on next Thursday.
(If I missed a religious holiday, please post a comment so that you will not be excluded).
What a convergence of global spirituality and love! We are a worldwide group of warriors and friends brought together because of Parkinson’s. Today’s awareness is powerful — look how many of our warriors from religions across the globe will be in prayer, in celebration, in love, in gratitude, in compassion, in forgiveness…all within days of each other.
The world seems to be in great turmoil these days. People have polarized to the extremes and turned on one another. It is a sad state of affairs. However, there is a gleaming light. Us.
We are people from around the world fully accepting of each other, united in faith, love, acceptance, gratitude, and recovery. I am grateful for all of you as we set an example of the strength of faith and hope.
As you practice your faith and celebrate your holiday, please know that there are many of your fellow warriors around the world doing the exact same thing. Together, we raise the bar on Parkinson’s awareness:
BE AWARE. PARKINSON’S IS CURABLE.
WE ARE CURING OURSELVES.
WE ARE WORTHY!
Yes you are! Each and every one of you is worth it!!
With gratitude, love, and blessings.
All my best,
Howard
Amen to that. Ironic, really, that disease transcends differences where religion sometimes fails. But it’s all about Oneness. As a Sikh man once said to me: ‘If you don’t see God in all, you don’t see God at all.’ For me, as a Christian and Roman Catholic (somewhat supine), today is the most sombre date in the calendar – Good Friday, when I always feel restless and unsettled. I want to go to 3 o’clock Mass (Solemn Liturgy). But since I’ve had Parkinson’s, decision-making has always been fraught with fear about what might happen when I’m out and about, that I might not been able to handle. For example, I’m considering going to a church further away because it’s nearer a bus stop. But then I start worrying that that means I’m going to be out longer, so what if I need the lavatory? So many invitations or undertakings have to be considered in light of the availability or otherwise of a disabled toilet. Then there’s the anxiety over going to a new place for the first time. If I sit in someone else’s pew, are they going to take umbrage? Will I be able to cope with the long service without falling over or feeling faint? Am I going to make a spectacle of myself with my tremors and my clumsiness? I have spent the morning agonising over what to do. Meanwhile, the window cleaner has been and I’ve had a parcel delivery from Amazon: people getting on with the business of life while I sit petrified by Parkinson’s and will probably convince myself that it’s probably better to not go out at all because when you can’t trust your own legs to carry you and all movement is painful, you stop being brave. I do, anyway. Rick would probably just go for it!
I want to wish all my fellow warriors, of whatever religious persuasion or none, the greatest blessing; also, to thank Howard for making this blog truly inclusive.
Wow Val! You really captured the crazy voices that go through my head every time I go out. I’m traveling with family for the holiday and have a whole bunch of reasons why I should stay home, but am determined to stay positive and enjoy the trip. Connecting with people is very important in relieving fear and anxiety. I have found that meditation envisioning my perfect health and walking with ease and gratitude is helping me walk much better!
Hi Val, you beat me to the top slot by 8 minutes.. lol BUT we would have been typing at the same time as you did a lengthy reply where mine was kinda short for me. 😉. Now you have just written what the vast majority of warriors experience, some every day, the fortunate ones, the odd day. So apologies if you think you are exclusive in your list of fears. 😊
Now I want you to think about something. How many good Friday services have you honoured Jesus with pre Parkinson’s.? How many masses have you done ?
Jesus knows your love and devotion, to him. The foundation of that love commenced in your baptism and remains to this day.
How do you think he feels witnessing the turmoil you have put yourself through today? Do you think he died on a cross to see you like this? He sacrificed himself out of love. Your list of “what ifs “ are actually quite relevant. You would not be doing yourself any favours going as there is actually too many challenges for one person who is already coping with many challenges on a day to day basis.
So tell that critic in your head to sod off and give yourself a break!
I think being “present “ with Jesus wherever that is, church, washing the dishes, doing the garden etc is worship and demonstrates our love and devotion as equally as if we are there in church with him.
I light a candle and have my picture of him beside it and I chat away as if I was with my best friend, as that is how I see him, my best friend who knows me warts and all, knows all my mess ups over the years, my fear in this condition on a daily basis and still loves me unconditionally.
Here endeth the lecture. lol
Same rules apply on Easter Sunday 😇
With you in spirit my lovely friend.
Karen xx.
I love your posts Val – you say it just as it is! Xx
Hi Val,
Ah yes, I have had my fair share of lavatory issues too:
Just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea on the west coast of California there is a beautiful state park named Asilomar; a former upscale girl scout camp with big central lodge and lovely cabins. A boardwalk connects the lodge to the beach to protect rare and delicate plants.
One day I found myself on the crowded boardwalk, desperately counting my steps as I made my way from the beach to the bathroom in the main lodge. When I looked up, I observed a couple exchanging wedding vows at the end of the boardwalk and blocking my way to the lodge. The hillside just beyond them was packed with wedding guests dressed in their Sunday best, looking for all the world like a choir of angels. Then they started to sing…
So what happened next?
Fortunately my mind did not have time to terrify me with all the possible negative outcomes. I knew I’d never make it to the lodge bathroom now, so I said to my wife, “Cover my back!” and dove into the nearest bush. Everyone on the boardwalk graciously ignored me and everything turned out fine!
Life’s messy, but not totally unrecoverable!
Have a glorious holiday weekend everybody!
Chris
Great story Chris, made me laugh 😆
Happy Easter to you and yours.xx
Hi Val, yes catching a bus and going to a new church would be a big undertaking but not impossible as we tend to over think things! I’ve stop going to church for the time being only because people tend to only want to talk about my symptoms and I don’t! I don’t want to own it and I can’t stand self pity, but I know they have good intentions! But we are a special breed as we are fighters and we don’t give up! Quite frankly, I would love to just sail out into the bays and only come in for supplies, but I can’t do that as I have a 10 year daughter that’s needs me more than ever. I’m lucky as I like my own company and I love coming back to empty house but we are all different! Love and Blessings to everyone 😗😗😗
Hi Rick, your daughter keeps you young at heart. I love my own company too and yes we warriors are a rare breed 😁xx
Hi everyone
I am overwhelmed by the feedback from you all but thanks for responding and also for sharing your own experiences – I’ve loved reading them. You’ll be pleased to know that I made it to church, albeit by the skin of my teeth for 3pm after tearing up to the top of a nearby art gallery to use the disabled toilet (amazingly, I can walk up stairs more easily than I can walk – one of those weird Parkinson’s things). The priest and a considerable number of altar servers were lined up outside the entrance so I hung back but the priest caught my eye and motioned me in. He also sent someone to fetch me a chair because the church was absolutely packed and every seat taken.
Karen, I felt Jesus wanted me there and I cried behind my face mask. Here’s the proof: I was able to stand for the whole recital of The Passion and could kneel on the floor without a hassock. And when I left the church (prematurely, because after an hour and 40 minutes, it seemed like there was about another hour to go) I could walk better to the bus stop. You’re absolutely right in what you say about the compassion of Christ and I think you have a beautiful relationship with Him, dear friend. It’s just that on this particular Good Friday, I think I was meant to learn a lesson about feeling vulnerable and putting my trust in God.
Kate and Cynthia, thank you. When you nod your heads and say ‘that’s just like it is’, I feel understood.
Chris M, great story, well told. I almost felt I was there but I’m so grateful I wasn’t because I don’t think the tale would have ended so well!
Rick, I agree that overthinking things can be counterproductive and it chimes in with what Chris says about life being messy ‘but not totally unrecoverable.’ It’s just that Parkinson’s offers more opportunities for bloopers. I’m with you and Karen (I wish I WAS – celebrating our recovery!); I thrive in solitude and feel fortunate that that’s the case.
Sakina: Thank you for your prayers for us all.
Margaret: Good luck in your new home.
Happy holidays to all.
Val
Val, I am not pleased that you made it to the church, I am ABSOLUTELY THRILLED, that you didn’t let the fear win. I love the fact that God and Jesus rocked right in behind you, showing you their presence because you put your trust in them. Honouring Jesus was more important to you than giving into the fear. I am not surprised you cried to feel his presence with you.
( I always cry at that service every time, but, unlike you, I haven’t been in years 😊)
I am so happy for you. You ROCK!
There’s a Dublin saying that I love “ you’re some woman for one woman “ it’s the highest compliment you can get from a Dubliner. 😊xx
Good for you Val so happy to hear you made it to church in spite of old Mr. P (Can stand for Parkinsons or Pee lol!!!!) Every time something like this happens, I feel we are taking a giant leap toward recovery
Have a wonderful Easter!
Ps
We should all put together our stories of our personal bloopers we would probably laugh our way to recovery
Well done Val , we feel proud to know you and we are lucky to have you in our group! You are a fighter, keep going your getting there xxxx😍
Well done Val – you did it! X
Hi Howard, beautiful powerful post. I love it..
There is one thing that we all do that you can not tell us apart and that is laughter.
I want to wish all your warriors in all their individual celebration, joy and laughter, peace, love, and happiness.
Big love
Karen 💕xx
Good Morning Mr Howard. We are indeed a world wide groups of warriors of different faith and ethnicity brought together by PD during Parkinson’s awareness month. I wish all our warriors to be strong in faith, mind, body and soul to overcome PD and heal with the Parkinson’s recipe for recovery and we can do it by supporting each other through Mr Howard’s blog which is always full of positivity, love, blessings and encouragement. During this holy month of Ramadan, I pray for all my fellow warriors through out the globe to give us strength and endurance and full recovery. Ameen and God Bless us all 🙏🏼
Thank you, Howard and thank you, Sakina, for your blessing.
Love to all
Hi to you Howard, Sally, and all my fellow warriors,
I will be celebrating Easter this weekend for the last time in my current home of 25 years. I’ve always loved Easter/Springtime with renewal all around. I will be having a small family gathering with a few changes. I’ve bought ready-made mashed potatoes (shhhh don’t tell anyone!!!!!!lol) and a few other easy to make items. The old perfectionist me would never have done that, but truth be told no one cares and the focus will totally be on enjoying each other and being together and for that and so many other reasons I am truly grateful. Wishing you all Peace, Joy and happiness whatever holiday you are celebrating
Parkinson’s transcends all religions and ethnicity, but brings us, PD warriors, together as one BIG Family through Howard’s Blog and the responses each of us give weekly. We learn and share our experiences through the blog which will helps to overcome the conditions we are experiencing. Wishing everyone blessing from the various global spirituality that we are celebrating in the Parkinson’s Awareness month of 2022.
Good morning. It’s a beautiful Sunday .. Well done Val, you did it. That’s the warriors spirit, what better place to be in a church then somewhere else. With Allah’s blessings you are getting there to your recovery slowly but surely. Keep up the spirit and stay blessed. Ameen.🙏🏼