I have written in the past that although your recovery is not a race, if it was, it would be won by the tortoise, not the hare. There are always lessons to be learned from the tortoise…slow and steady…nothing happens fast in Parkinson’s recovery. Today, let’s be the tortoise!
The world is moving fast
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 a captain of a ship sees the tip of an iceberg sticking up from the water, he realizes that there is a mountain of ice below the surface. Also, by the time you acknowledged the Parkinson’s symptoms at the surface, there was a mountain of Parkinson’s that had built up under the surface.
Although the world may be moving fast, Parkinson’s came on slowly, and it will go away slowly. However, you need to know that it will go away. Additionally, that knowing that it will go away is what keeps faith strong on the journey to your full recovery.
The tortoise and the hare have a race
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 quite a while; and (2) the hare takes off like a shot, gets fantastic results right away, and then, he becomes overconfident and complacent, and he leaves the path.
Finally, 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. Additionally, with that faith, you take slow and steady action. Finally, with that faith, you repeat, “I have the power to heal myself.” That is the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery® soul, mind, and body path to your full recovery.
Faith in your recovery
If it was easy to recover from Parkinson’s, none of you would be on this blog having our dialog.
Also, if it was easy to recover from Parkinson’s, it would not be considered incurable.
If it was easy to recover from Parkinson’s, you probably would see wonderful results after a couple of weeks. Additionally, you would be happy to be mostly recovered from the disease in a short amount of time. However, maybe you would become complacent like the hare and never finish the race to full recovery. In short, recovery from Parkinson’s is not easy.
However, recovery from Parkinson’s is worth it. You are worth it!!!
Back to the tortoise
Okay, back to the tortoise. The tortoise believed in himself against overwhelming odds. Also, in a moment of clarity, he knew his path was correct. He knew in his heart of hearts and soul of souls that he would win the race.
Additionally, the tortoise did not stray from the path. He proceeded forward in the only way a tortoise can…slow and steady…and he won.
The spectators may have laughed at him and told him he was out of his mind to think he could win the race. As a result, the tortoise exhibited courage and internal strength. Not only did he compete and win the race, but he had to ignore the naysayers hovering around his path spouting out their negativity. The tortoise was filled with faith!
In this fight against Parkinson’s, we all learn from each other. Today, let’s learn our lessons from the tortoise.
Years ago, a Recipe Warrior sent me this:
Please post a comment below and let us know how you are doing in being the tortoise…slow and steady, filled with faith on the way to your full recovery!
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Well what a timely post this is Howard!! Always spot on.
Faith and determination is me! But hasn’t always been so!
I have had several set backs over the last 3 years, shed tears etc, however I have realised that surrendering to the process no matter how slow it is to see progress is worth it as I am worth it and I love the person I have become of late.
Being able to love all the bad parts of my life, those times when I’ve felt ashamed, abandoned, traumatised, etc is part of the reason I’m worth it and on the tortoise path.
We all work really hard at the recipe so why wouldn’t we recover? As we know it works!
There is no need to stray from the path as the divine God Source loves us and is in control, not us. As Howard mentioned to me on Wednesday, once we relinquish control and surrender, then true healing happens.
Greetings from Australia
Love to all
Cath XXX
Great post about endurance over the long haul! I so want to run at a hare’s pace, but I know I can’t speed my way to recovery!
Cath, I appreciate your perspective. It seems you have come to peace with the pace, whatever the tempo. Thank you for sharing.
Grateful for Howard and this community!
Thank you Howard! This hit spot on for me today! I need to learn to be patient!! I’m not giving up that’s for sure! I have the power to heal myself, with strength, courage & wisdom from God! Many Blessings to all!
What a great reminder. The sketch saying that “speed does not matter, forward is forward.” So we go forward doing recipe daily. The rest is in God’s hands.
Thank you Howard!
I’ve known of my PD symptoms for three years. They manifested well before then.
I have been doing the Recipe for two and a half years and am on my way to Recovery. I am winning physically, emotionally, and, most importantly, spiritually.
I have the power to heal myself and I am doing it!
Thanks Tim. Your story caught my eye because it is exactly like mine. I’m retired in PA now but spent most of my adult life in Boulder County. Been doing the recipe for two-three years. And like you said, “Most importantly” I recognize the spiritual bent and metaphysical orientation. Keep up the good work.
Mark from Colorado
It is true that slow and steady wins the race. I’ve witnessed that within my own life, and in my own recovery. It is the daily rituals that bring me to the ultimate goal the finish line., But there’s so much to learn along the way, and that’s what’s happening. As I peel away the layers of the onion what is very clear to me is that there is a rainbow at the end. A life of complete the recovery and a deep understanding that I couldn’t have learned these lessons any other way.
And so it is…
Thank you, Howard for your continued support.
Slow and steady wins the race. I know it’s true, but it’s so hard to live by. I always want to try harder, do more but that only makes the resistance more. I have to remember that letting go of the oars and staying on the recipe for recovery path makes for less resistance and to always trust the process.
Trust the process!
Trust the process!
Trust the process!
This is the message I keep receiving during my meditations and prayers. It’s that trust that calls me forward to my full recovery!
Slow and steady to all the PD warriors out there!
#Temporary #Courageous #Limitless
Thank you Howard! This hit spot on for me today! I need to learn to be patient.
A slow recovery is hard.
I just turned 68, last Sunday, Marchq 22. At age 45, in 2004, I ran my first marathon. In 2017, I ran my eighth marathon with my brother-in-law, Ron and my sister Susan. My Mantra for each race was: “GO SLOW, HAVE FUN, FINISH THE RUN” I realized, after reading the blog just now, that that must remain my mantra all the way to full recovery from Parkinson’s! Thank you, Howard, and thank you to each of you for all the encouraging comments and messages left on the blog! As many have said today, God is in control, he is sovereign over our lives, and we can trust him! God bless you all
I was diagnosed last August. I’ve just begun the Recipe a few weeks ago and I’m starting to get the hang of the first six exercises. It feels strengthening to me. I’m so grateful to have found this path. You are all so inspiring! Thank you for sharing your journey!
Slow and steady wins the race, I really needed this reminder to bring me back into focus. I need to be patient and my full recovery will come with faith and perseverance. I am worth it!
Thank you Howard
I too am new to the Recipe for Recovery, starting January 1, 2026. I was diagnosed two years ago this coming August. Before finding Howard and reading his book in December 2025 I tried all the standard remedies, as well as a few unconventional ones (Qigong & Essential Oils), for a way to manage my PD symptoms. They all worked somewhat, however none offered complete recovery from the disease. Howard, your Recipe does and therefore stands apart from all of the other supportive solutions. I resonate most with the notion that we all have the potential to recover fully and will if we simply believe it’s possible and continue to stay with the program, no matter how long it takes – slow and steady – knowing that we are indeed truly worth it.
Thank you all for sharing your journey.
Even though some days are detox days I can still see forward motion toward healing. Thanks Howard for encouraging good attitude.
Thank you, Howard, for this encouraging reminder that slow and steady wins the race. This reinforces my faith in the path to recovery, the only path there is as far as I am concerned.
Thank you Howard, for your reinforcing message.
In this battle, patience is the key and the tortoise is the eventual winner. So, let’s keep faith, practice the recipe and keep moving forward.
Success is around the corner! God Bless!
I look forward to the day one of us makes the announcement that they’ve won their race and they have overcome the odds and reversed Parkinson’s.
It could be any one of us. We’re all working so diligently to beat the odds.
Good luck and joy to you all. We’re all worth it.
My speed doesn’t matter, forward is forward.
I believe in myself against all odds and know
in my heart and soul I will win and have a complete
recovery from Parkinson’s.
I Am worth it!
We Are worth it!
With gratitude!
Thank you Howard
The speed doesn’t matter ,forward is forward and never give up!
I think that the faith is very important and I believe that I can cure myself!We are all worth it!
Thank you Howard for your support and to all worriers ! We all are able to reach the finish line and have a full recovery from Parkinson’s!
Thanks for the reminder Howard, I needed it.
Great reminder! I am learning patience and trust in this journey! And to never give up! We will recover! We are worth it!
Forward is forward!
Thanks, Howard. Good reminder when we get stuck in a HARE type of life style.
When I was identified with the hare, I used to have my eyes fixed on the finish line, impatient to get there, frustrated I’m not yet farther along…
Recently, like the tortoise, I enjoy the views along the path, am grateful for the distance I already travelled, and don’t need to convince myself I’m on my way to full recovery, since I now simply KNOW it, deep within…
Thank you so much, Howard, for your inspiration and faith.
And like Trish said, I too look forward to the next fellow warrior who will announce their full recovery, and the next one, and the next…
We’re All getting there, and we are All worth it!
Thank you for that last comment! I like reading about the faith that we all have, I can feel your voices supporting us toward the finish line. I feel that I’m a heavy and slow tortoise, but I enjoy knowing that I’m doing my best every day. My best is good enough and I am looking forward to the next recovery and confident in my own! It’s been almost 6 years of the recipe which settles me each day.
Hooray!!!