“No Duty is More Urgent than that of Returning Thanks!” - James Allen

"I'm grateful because I know I should be grateful..."

Yeah, true, I know I feel that frequently, especially this Holiday time of year, but I want to be grateful because I see, think and feel grateful, and that comes from assessing my "Have's" before I ask for resolving any of my "Have-not's"...

So with the impending season of Thankfulness in mind, I want first and foremost to give thanks to EVERYONE who made our recent Parkinson’s Awareness Event and Walk a success, on every level… Big and small

So... Regarding Rockford's first Parkinson’s Moving Day Community Walk-day and our Lunch and Learn Event at Crosspoint Church on 10/23/24...
Thank you to Mike Schneider for your hard work and for introducing so many of us to the genuine gem that is Dr Jori Fleisher...

Thank you as well to Dr Fleisher for being a shining example of what it means to be the kind of professional that puts real "care" into the profession of healthcare.

Thank you to Barb for inspiring the first ever "Parkinson's Foundation Community Walk Event in Rockford; your first step lead the way.

Thank you to Fred at Crosspoint Church for your wonderful help and support.

Thank you to Nicole at the Parkinson's Foundation for your enthusiastic assistance.

Thank you to Mike at the Ali Baba Mediterranean restaurant here in Rockford for your Amazing food and service.

Thank you to Annette for being God's "arrive at the last minute Angel" and for offering to help wherever you could.

Thank you to Jacob Pearson at WIFR and the "First at Four" news segment team for helping spread the word.

Thank you as well to WREX for covering Dr Fleisher's presentation.

Thank you to Greg Saunders at The Incrowd815 Podcast for showing so much interest in helping nonprofits like our REBOPS.

Thank you to every REBOPS Participant, and your families for believing in and for bettering our Parkinson's fitness therapy program though all your perseverance and hard work.
Thank you to my loving Wife, Carrie, for so gracefully and graciously picking up the pieces I know I missed, but you didn't.

See, in all honesty, I made a BIG Mistake with this years Parkinson’s-Awareness-Day Event; I hired the wrong General Manager.

The Guy I Hired was the one I thought I knew best, thought I could best rely on, but truth be told, the Manager I put in charge didn’t get the Job done, and that’s why his name isn’t mentioned in the list above… You ALL know him, whether you realize it or not, so just think of the one person that EVERYONE who I sent this story to knows in common… yep, yours truly.

But You know who I’m working with next time to ensure the best long-term outcome? Another somebody we ALL have in common…

Next time, Thanking GOD will be at the TOP of this list, not the last line in a paragraph, or the last line of defense.

Here’s to next years event, Good Lord willing.

Amen
PS- My energy levels are tapped out after this last month or two, and I need to refuel, so I’m starting with getting a “Tank-Full-of Thankful”… howzabout You?!?

Coach-JiM