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John Baumann Proud Person with Parkinson’s posi-spectively in my head

April 13, 2016

Frequently if I am working with a patient in their home, a television is on in another room of the house, just loud enough to compete for my attention. Especially annoying for me, is the never ending chatter of the 24 hour news channel, especially if they are espousing views that are contrary to my own. Like heavy metal music, it makes me irritable.

Sometimes it’s the voices of others, and sometimes, it’s our own voice inside our head, that affects our mood. Particularly if we get into a period of “stinking thinking,” the end result is usually a bad mood.

Last week, I was in one of those sorts of moods much of the week. It felt like one of those weeks, where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. If I were to detail specific events, most likely readers would think they were minor inconveniences, but, on a bad week, even the minor inconveniences turn major, and as the grievances accumulate in our minds, the result is crankiness and depression.

So, while in the midst of my week of “stinking thinking,” a package came in the mail. It was John Baumann’s book, Decide Success, and an accompanying audio CD: Reclaiming Posi-psective.

Since I spend much of my week impatiently driving in traffic, I thought it would be good to begin listening to John’s tape. He shares alot of his personal journey from, Ivy league graduate, to corporate attorney, to a proud person with Parkinson’s. Each time I turned on the car last week, it was John’s voice I heard. Annoyingly optimistic in comparison to my cranky mood. In the evenings, instead of turning on Bravo for some mindless unwinding, I began to read John’s book. Now, he was posing questions. Asking me, the reader, to do some work, do a self analysis of my strengths and weakness, and, well, basically, decide success. Despite the fact that I spend all week writing goals for patients, long term, short term, measurable goals, it’s actually been quite a few years since I’ve done the same thing for myself. But, with John’s help, I’ve begun the work.

John Baumann has now gotten into my head. Like ear worms, those jingles or songs that you can’t seem to shake from your brain, his annoyingly positive, glass half full, you can do whatever you set your mind to, voice is in my head. And, it’s making me act. I have taken step one of his success formula and begun a self-assessment. I have begun to re-focus on some goals that I have thought about and talked about for a long time, but with no corresponding action plan.

If you are stuck in your own stinking thinking, feel mired in the problems of your life, and fail to see the possibilities, I hope you will consider joining me at the end of the month when John Baumann is my guest on my monthly podcast: Voice Aerobics Talking 2 You.
You’ll have an opportunity, along with me, to ask John questions, to hear his inspiring stories, and to get a little “posified,” because, like John says: “you ain’t dead yet!”

Upcoming Podcast: Friday April 29, 2016 at 12pm EST

How to Live an Amazing Life with Parkinson’s…or any other challenge you are facing.
Guest: John Baumann

If the day you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, you thought it was the end of the world, you need to tune into this podcast. Why? Because, John Baumann, diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 40, while practicing law, will tell you how, for him, a diagnosis of PD became a life saving event. John will reveal his success formula for living an amazing life-with or without Parkinson’s disease.

“My basic message is that, whatever hand life deals you (whether your fault or not), whatever life-changing adversity you have to endure, you still have some control over it, to not just live well, but live an AMAZING LIFE. It takes faith in yourself, discipline, determination, desire, intensity, inner strength. For me, it was having Parkinson’s disease in my 30’s; I am 54 today and have very few symptoms.

To follow the show or listen to past shows, please visit:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/voice-aerobics

Testimonials

What a wonderful presentation, John! You were wonderful and I am so grateful you shared your story. We were receiving excellent feedback in the chat too:

That was fantastic information, thank you for your candor and humor! Awesome 🤩 talk and info ! Thanks much. It’s hard, thanks for sharing. Thank you for sharing your story and for your positive attitude. It’s important to hear this message. This was just what I needed. Thank you so much. you are an inspiration, thank you!

As we stated, we hit 100 participants at 3:09!

Thank you again,

Eden Feldman, LCSW Associate Director, Community

I do not have the words to thank you enough for making the trip to Dallas to do two presentations for us at CC young. You truly are special and a rockstar and clearly touched many lives today. It is a victory! I was able to run all over campus and welcome guests and host you. It was a victory. Thanks to you for helping me think that way. We will catch you on the next round. Get some rest my friend. Safe travels. And know we love you from CC Young and Dallas!

Patty CC Young and Dallas

“After two years of not being able to hear speakers in person , I was thrilled to have John Bauman as a speaker at our “ Living Well With Parkinson’s’ Gala!. Not only was John engaging and inspiring to get to know off stage , on stage he truly drove home the theme of empowerment to our audience and left our growing community of attendees with several “ aha “ moments and desire to hear more. He spoke from personal experience as a Parkinson’s patient ,inspiring the audiences motivation to truly wish to make a difference and uniting us all in our humanity. Attendees after listening to John , felt inspired to make a difference in the world and do their part to create change for those living with Parkinson’s. My only regret was not being able to spend more time with John and I look forward to having him speak again to our audience.”

Naomi Wong WPP Program Manager

John’s message of hope, inspiration and laughter was ideal for anyone living with PD. He was extremely flexible and a delight to work with.

Leisha Phipps, MSW Program Director - Dallas Area Parkinson Society

We all felt inspired and enjoyed listening to your presentation. Even though we are not living with Parkinson’s, we felt boost of motivation to continue helping those who are living with this disease. I am motivated to make more personal phone calls to people living with PD and asking how they are doing. Sometimes that “extra” bit of kindness truly makes a difference to someone. I am also motivated to research program ideas and partner with other organizations that may have similar values.

I learned that life is unexpected and that you cannot control it. What matters is your attitude!

-Great way to end the day, brave man, thank you very much!

-Good, excellent, great, outstanding speaker, very moving!

-Inspirational who just “gets it”

-Positive thinker and very funny!

-Honest speaker but also humorous!

Parkinson’s Society of Southwest Ontario, Canada, Symposium Keynote Presentation

“whatever hand life deals you, whatever life changing adversity you have to endure, you still have some control over it.” “You don’t have to just to live well,” he advises,” but live an Amazing Life.” The formula he proposes: Faith in yourself, discipline, determination, desire, intensity, and inner strength.

MARY SPREMULLI VOICE AEROBICS

Yes, you touched every person at our conference, who will in turn change and impact so many others. The feedback from our participants was overwhelmingly positive. You are the only speaker to ever receive a standing ovation. Thank you for taking time to share, motivate and inspire. We are blessed to know you.

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING REHABILITATION HOSPITAL

I will be honest. During the first 10 minutes of your presentation, I started reading work related material on my laptop. For surely, I had watched your You-Tube and seen your videos and knew what to expect. Surely, as a therapist I had studied this disease, the pathological components, the psychological components, the treatment alternatives……..Surely, I understand it.

Not so much. You caught my attention and I was enthralled. You were able to couple the impairments you experience with the emotions felt. You walked us through your life with the disease through “your eyes”. A perspective that a therapist/nurse rarely has the chance to hear. We get so busy telling patients how to deal with x, y and z, but our eyes are blurred by the science of it all most of the time.

You did it through truth, Through your humor, humility and determination to tell your story. One that most deservedly needs to be shared.

I will advocate to have you share your story. I appreciate your determination, diligence and dedication.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REHABILITATION HOSPITAL