Thirteen years ago, I got my final wake up call, my body’s final notification to make me sit up and take notice that there was something dreadfully wrong with my body…tremors.
As I have pointed out in the past, I had received polite, and not-so-polite, notifications that my physical body was falling into disrepair. I chose to ignore those notifications. Tremors got my attention.
I have discussed that the symptoms are not the problem with Parkinson’s, but instead, they are the messages that there is a problem, so we have to look behind them as to why we have them. Parkinson’s is a symptom…a message that says, “your life is out of balance.”
Parkinson’s…the symptom reflecting a life out of balance.
Physically, you are off balance. You move slowly and cautiously, often looking down instead of forward. What does that do? It puts your body in a posture that makes it virtually impossible to walk in a balanced manner. Your neck is bent, your spine is bent, the fluid in your semicircular canals is moved, and your visual frame of reference (important for balance) is your legs or the floor, and you acquire what are often referred to as a Parkinson’s hunch and a Parkinson’s gait.
Mentally, you then become off balance because you are afraid of falling or freezing, and you are afraid of the future with Parkinson’s. This is right where Parkinson’s wants you…not living in the moment, but instead living in the past (getting Parkinson’s) and being fearful of the future (life with long-term Parkinson’s).
Spiritually, you give up hope that you ever will get better. At that point Parkinson’s is winning.
Essentially, when you stare at your legs and feel unbalanced, you are looking at the past. When you feel unbalanced, you fear the future. How can you move forward in life in a balanced manner if you are staring backwards and it makes you fearful of where you are going? Faith. Faith brings you back into the moment of your life as it is happening in that moment.
Faith in yourself that you are the cure to your Parkinson’s, and that you can see your recovery through to the end. Yes, that carries a lot of responsibility, but you have help. You have the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery®. The Recipe is your road map to bring your soul, mind, and body back into balance.
Over time in my recovery, I came to see Parkinson’s as a grand opportunity to fix the things in my life that had gone out of balance. The Recipe provided me with the physical tools to re-balance my body, the mental tools to calm my mind and re-balance my emotions, and the spiritual tools to re-balance my soul and find again the essence of who I am.
Am I grateful for having had Parkinson’s? Yes. Through that bump in the road in a life already out of balance, Parkinson’s stood as a bump at a fork in the road leaving me two choices only: 1. Fix the imbalances in my life and it would go away; and 2. Do not fix the imbalances in my life and it would stay with me forever.
I chose the road less traveled, and I had no intention of doing anything other than the Recipe. Every day I did the Recipe to find balance in my life. Every day that I awoke with Parkinson’s still there, it was a reminder that I still had more work to do. Every day I gave gratitude for my life and for the opportunity to have a Parkinson’s recovery.
In the end, when I awoke on June 12, 2010 with the remaining Parkinson’s gone, I knew it was not coming back — I had re-balanced my soul, mind, and body, and I no longer needed the messages or symptoms known as Parkinson’s as a reminder that I had more work to do.
I was finished with that part of my life, and I am grateful for that as well.
In my next phase of life, all of you appeared. For the last twelve years, we have had a lively time of laughter and tears, of love and compassion, of blessings and gratitude. Thank you to each and every one of you for enriching my life and cheering each other on as a way to rebalance your soul, your mind, and your body.
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Thank you Howard for the positive words of encouragement. Yes, there are certainly bumps a long the way to conquer to get one’s life back in balance I may have PD, but I’m still feeling very blessed. Just finished my 35 minute walk through the nature reserve and even worked up a sweat. Thinking of you all fighting for that finishing line 😀😀😀
As always, thank you for the inspiration, Howard! Every time I read your blog it motivates me and it’s not only Howard but all of you fellow warriors!
Yesterday, I had a zoom call with my neurologist. I hadn’t been to an appointment or spoken with him since December 2020. I have been keeping up my medication which hasn’t increased in the last few years. I had to speak with him or have an appointment in order to get the prescription renewed. Although I already knew the answer, I asked him what’s new in the world of Parkinson’s in two years and what else is there for me, what else should I be doing? He really didn’t have anything to say in response to that question other than there is research going on but there is NO cure and there are some promising treatments in the future. Oh yeah, and do you want more meds or a different med? I am so thankful, make that incredibly thankful, for Howard and this recipe for RECOVERY! I do have faith over fear. I do know the body has the power to heal itself through Jesus. I do believe that positive affirmations and positive energy make a huge difference in healing the body, the mind and the soul. I believe drugs are not the answer.
I saw my family in June and made another trip up to see them last week (I CAN walk from one end of O’Hare airport to the other! 🙂 My sister and my dad agreed that, I look great (clean eating diet change) and better symptom-wise than the last time they saw me in the summer. Boy, was I glad to hear that! They have a “light” understanding of what I’m doing with the Recipe. I can’t wait to see them one day and be symptom-free! I also can’t wait to talk to my neurologist again and say sorry you just lost a patient!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Fall has arrived, at least this morning, in middle Tennessee and I plan to have some fun! I am able and I am worth it!
Blessings,
Jill
Jill, you sound like you’re doing great! Well done, that warrior, and good to hear all about it. Power on!
Hello my fellow travelers!
Thank you Howard for being my companion on the road less traveled for the past almost 3 years! I love my Tuesday’s with you❣️ we have had a lively time of laughter and tears, of love and compassion, of blessings and gratitude. Thank you! and thank you Mr. Parkinson’s for visiting my body!
After reading your post I did asked myself ‘is my life balance?’ and the answer is YES!
I feel I am approaching the finishing line, I like myself, I like life, I feel connected and most importantly I am not in charge of anything!! phu ….. what a relief!!! All this and more are precious gifts of Parkinson’s!!
We are all winners and we can all recover!!
Love to all.
Ola
Wow Ola good for you! I too see us all crossing the finishing line together. I actually dreamt it some time back. I am also feeling better and better, happier, stronger in mind/body and spirit. Hearing your news has put pep in my step and makes me feel even stronger. Infinite thanks to Howard for helping us all along this road less traveled with much loving encouragement
Love healing and happiness to you and all our fellow warriors
Hello dear Howard and fellow warrriors,
Howard, I like when you said that when you awoke in the morning with Parkinson’s symptoms still there meant you had still more work to do. That is what I want to focus on “to know I have more work to do, stick to it and believe recovery is waiting for me.”
It is where I am heading: RECOVERY.
Thank you all for being there and being part of RECOVERY.
Many Blessings.
Streaming of blessings wrapped with love and gratitude Howard!!!! We all are going to make it!!!
Thank you. Howard, as always.
Every night before bed, I am either reading your blog or reading your book!
Constantly fighting fear, which is tough. I have faith in you being always there, and am working on faith winning the fight.
Best,
Chang
There is a great sense of joy in achieving what others deem impossible.
I am so grateful for your role model, Howard, and the sense you make of Parkinsons. I am doing well and can relate to what Jill from Tenessee said about talking to her neurologist. I’m seeing a neurophysio and it is freeing to be able to connect with someone who speaks the language of Parkinsons symptoms and yet isn’t bound by professional ethics to make no comment on anything alternative. I hope my voice can be heard and others that she treats can benefit from my testimony of hope. I was able to tell her I am 75% recovered and she confirmed my PD is very mild. I’m looking up, Howard!