Now What?

Christmas day has come and gone and I must say, it did not exactly turn out as I had imagined it.  But looking back on Christmases past, I have to honestly admit, they never really do.  In fact, I am beginning to believe that the picture perfect “Courier and Ives/ Better Homes and Gardens/Southern Living style Christmases do not exist.  However, the more Christmases I celebrate, the more I am actually becoming okay with this reality.

The weeks leading up to the Christmas day can be a very exciting, exhilarating, and joyful time for many of us.  We can hardly wait for Thanksgiving to be over so that we can hit the Black Friday sales, hang up the Christmas decorations, and begin the festivities.  Then there are children’s concerts to attend, church musicals, charitable endeavors to participate in, parties to attend, cookies to bake, school programs to volunteer for, shopping to do, menus to plan, travel arrangements to make etc.  And for those of us who are even remotely familiar with the true meaning of Christmas, and are blessed with children, it can be a time of great opportunity and teachable moments as we strive each year to make the Christmas story more meaningful.  This year in our home we celebrated Advent for the first time ever and plan to continue this tradition for that very reason.  Even many who have suffered loss or are prone to depression during this time of year (as I was for so many years) may come into the season, with the slightest bit of hope that maybe this year will be different… maybe this will finally be the year that something “sticks” and their joy will be restored.

If we are not careful, we can place so much emphasis on preparing for the “perfect” Christmas experience and set our expectations so high that when the day itself finally arrives, if it doesn’t live up to what had hoped, we can actually end feeling a sense of disappointment and disillusionment instead of joy.  Children go from delighting in their gifts to fighting, and acting like spoiled brats.  Family gatherings are splintered by conflict.  The squash casserole burns and the dessert looks nothing like the one on the cover of “Martha Stewart Living.”  Half the dinner guests back out at the last-minute, and you are left with enough food to feed a small army.  Flights are delayed.  Adult children decide not to come home for Christmas this year.  A spouse unexpectedly files for divorce.  Unthinkable tragedies happen.  Loved ones die etc… and you can continue to fill in the blanks.  And so we may find ourselves wondering come December 26^th, “What just happened here, have we somehow missed something and is this really all there is to Christmas?”  Even if one has had a relatively good Christmas without incident, one could  still be left with a sense of “Is this all there is?” Christmas withdrawal as I have started calling it, is that temporary feeling of sadness and even emptiness that can occur once the decorations come down, the radio stations and canned music in the stores abruptly stop playing Christmas music, retailers have moved on to the next big holiday, and except for the prevalence of New Years resolutions, things pretty much go back to business as usual.  It is almost as if Christmas never even happened.

If any of these scenarios or even the feelings of Christmas day being a “let down” resonate with you, then it may be comforting to know that even the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah was not the perfect and spectacular event many of that day had hoped it would be.  For so many centuries the people of Israel, the descendents of Abraham, God’s chosen people, had been promised the coming of the Messiah.  God himself spoke of Him in the Garden of Eden as the one who would once and for all crush the head of the evil serpent.  His ancestor, King David spoke of God putting everything under the feet and authority his distant descendent.  Prophets of old spoke of this magnificent redeemer.  Parents taught their children of his coming for generations.  John, the Baptist prepared the way for His coming.

Though the people may not have fully have understood the significance of the Messiah’s coming, there was no doubt that He was to be someone great, one like no other.  In fact, the prophet, Isaiah declared that the government would rest upon His shoulders, and described Him as being a Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. In another description Isaiah identified Him as being Immanuel, which means “God with us.”  And so for generations, they waited, prepared, longed for, and anticipated the arrival of this King.  And so it was only natural that people expected that this Messiah would arrive with great majesty and splendor fitting for one of royal birth, His parents would be of the highest pedigree, and that He would finally liberate them from the oppressive rule of the Roman government and take his place on King David’s earthy throne.

And yet the Messiah came in such a way that defied human logic.  He was supernaturally conceived by an ordinary young woman who was engaged to be married to ordinary working class man, a carpenter.  The Messiah was born in an atmosphere of great political unrest at which time heads of households were uprooted with their families by Herod’s edict to return to their ancestral homelands for the purpose of being counted in the census and taxed accordingly.  As a result his mother, Mary found herself traveling to Bethlehem along with her new husband Joseph at the worst possible time… in her last few days of pregnancy when she was no doubt very large and very uncomfortable.  To add insult to injury there was no room for them in the inn once they arrived in Bethlehem so the Messiah was born in the lowliest of environments and laid in an animal feeding trough.

For those who had grown complacent, gotten caught up in the issues of everyday life, and had long ceased to expect the Messiah’s coming, the night of his birth was just another night.  In fact, many completely missed it.  But to those who were paying attention, God revealed the coming of his son in a big way.  A host of angels filled the sky and joyfully announced the savior’s birth.  One has to wonder why with so many residents under the same sky that night in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas, the only ones who happened to be paying attention were a band of lowly shepherds out in the fields with their sheep.  I have read that shepherds of that day were not the most revered people and were pretty much near the bottom of the social ladder in that day, just above tax collectors, prostitutes, and gentiles.  And yet, these were the very people whom God chose as the first to know about the coming of His Son and who immediately responded, left their flocks, and headed to Bethlehem to see the child.  Maybe this was one of the groups Jesus had in mind years later, when he said in his sermon on the mount, “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3

The thing I find most amazing is that even with the enthusiasm of the shepherds as they joyfully broadcast the news to everyone they came in contact with, the Bible makes no mention of anyone else venturing out to see the messiah that night though many were astonished.  Eight days later as Mary and Joseph presented their special child in the temple for circumcision, 2 different individuals proclaimed him as God’s Messiah and prophesied about Him to all who were present.  It was a special and exciting time for the children of Israel.  Their long-awaited Messiah had finally come and all was right with the world at last.

Eventually however, the novelty and the excitement started to die down and things seemed to go back to business as usual.  I can imagine that after a while many, including those who had seen the child and truly believed, began to wonder if anything had really changed, especially since it would be 30 years before Jesus’ earthly ministry would even begin.  What had really happened that night?  Had they missed something?

And then the most unthinkable tragedy happened.  Approximately 2 years after the birth of the Messiah and just after the Magi from the east had come to see the child, King Herod in a quest to annihilate the Christ child, ordered the cold-blooded massacre of all male children in Bethlehem 2 years of age and under.  The grief of those families whose children were so brutally murdered was unimaginable, their pain palpable.  And yet… in the midst of their devastation the Messiah was nowhere to be found.  After the Magi had returned to their own country Jesus’ earthly father had been warned in a dream to take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath.  Perhaps even some of those same shepherds who had come to see Jesus the night of his birth were among those who had been mercilessly robbed of their young sons and found themselves confused, with more questions than answers.   How God could have allowed such a horrible act of violence to happen to them and where was this Messiah when they needed him most?  Where was the one who was supposed to be Immanuel, God with us?

And people are still asking these questions today during times of unspeakable cruelty and bloodshed when it seems like darkness and destruction have won.  A bit closer to home, in December of 2012, a 20-year-old gunman brutally shot and killed his mother as she lay sleeping in her bed and then went on to mercilessly murder 20 children and 6 adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown CT.  It was just 2 weeks before Christmas.  To say that the families for the victims were devastated would be an understatement.  The bowels of the earth writhed in deep horror, shock, and disbelief at the news.  Even faithful believers no doubt wondered how a loving God could allow such an ungodly act and at a time that should have been filled with great joy and celebration.  Where was the very Messiah they were celebrating when they needed him most?  Is He really who He is supposed to be or not?  And if He is, what just happened?  Had they somehow missed something?

This is not an attempt to give a theological explanation for less than joyful Christmases or unspeakable tragedies during which the very Messiah we are celebrating seems silent and may even appear to be absent.  For these times, there are no easy answers.  One thing I do know for certain.  In the darkest of times, whether during Christ’ earliest days on earth, or here in the 21^st century one truth had to become and must still become evident in the hearts of true believers in the Messiah in order for their faith to survive.  God truly is with us even in disappointment and tragedy, and the birth of the Christ was not meant to be the end of the story.  In fact it was only the beginning of a much bigger plan.  For those residents of Bethlehem whose sense of hope and joy at the birth of the Messiah was soon blindsided and crushed due to the senseless bloodbath by a murderous earthly king, God had a bigger plan.  For those who were disillusioned or disappointed that there was not an immediate revolution and that nothing seemed to change at all with the birth of the Messiah, God had a bigger plan.  And for those of us, today who are feeling a sense of disappointment that Christmas was not all that we had hoped it would be or are dealing with our own tragedies, God has a bigger plan.  In fact it was for the very reason of evil reigning in the hearts of men, as well as our sorrows, pain, weakness, failure and disappointments that God sent his Son into the world.  He came into our world bring us the love of Father God in human flesh. He willingly experienced the frailties of life as a human and dwelled among those he had created.  And ultimately he bore the full wrath of God for our sins on his own body by surrendering himself to an intentionally brutal, slow, and painful death on the cross.  And then he triumphed over death, crushing the powers of hell and emerged fully alive from the belly of the earth, on the third day as no longer just Messiah and Savior but LORD!

Yes, the birth of Christ was meant to be a time of celebration and rejoicing, and our effort to make the season a special and memorable time for us and our loved ones is a good thing.  However, God’s plan went so far beyond the baby in the manger and the celebration of Christ was never meant to stop after that one day.  And perhaps therein lies the problem.  As fickle beings we tend to suspend celebrating and adoring him once the big day has come and gone, the carols stop, and the decorations are put away.  And then it becomes business as usual …at least until Easter.

It has always been God’s plan to send Jesus to redeem us from the power of sin and to thereby bring us into a deep and intimate relationship with himself.  It has always been his plan that by believing in his Son, we would be rescued from Hell and carried, though dead to earthly existence, fully alive in Him into his eternal presence in Heaven.  And even in the midst of intractable pain, suffering, and horrible tragedies that have no human explanation, the light of hope is able to penetrate our deepest darkness because of this much bigger plan of God.  John 3:16 says that “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only son, the whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life.”  Romans 8 says that in Christ, there is nothing in this world or anything in creation can ever separate us from the Love of God.

So what would Christmas look like if we celebrated it in light of the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection and began to embrace the full meaning of why God sent his Son instead of just stopping at the baby in the manger?  What if celebrating the birth of Jesus only intensified our joy in his death and resurrection?  And what if the celebration of his resurrection only intensified our excitement and anticipation of his second coming?  Perhaps there would be less depression, disappointment, stress, and burn out during the Christmas season and even our giving would take on a new meaning.  Maybe we would rest more in the peace of God spend less time stressing over worthless details, less money on things that break and decay, and spend more time loving and adoring our Lord and our families.  Perhaps we would sing his praises more often instead of complaining and get together with family and loved ones more often just to celebrate Christ and each other regardless of whether the calendar says it is an official holiday or not.  Maybe we would give inexpensive but thoughtful gifts from time to time just because.  And perhaps we would become more mindful of those in need and begin performing some of those same deliberate acts of kindness that we feel so compelled to do at Christmas time at other times of the year as well.  And although difficulties and tragedies will never cease as long as we are on this earth, maybe adopting this mindset would give us more of a sense of the presence of God during such times.  If we truly begin to celebrate the birth of our savior in the full context of his death, resurrection and second coming perhaps there would be less confusion in the world as to what we believe and the true meaning of Christmas.

So perhaps the feeling of discontent and disappointment we so often feel following the holidays is actually godly discontentment and His way of telling saying, “Yes there is more to Christmas than this.”  Celebrating Christ was never meant to last for just one day.  Christmas and Easter were not meant to be celebrated in isolation as two separate observances, and we were never meant to be so locked into our earthly lives and bound to a dates on the calendar that we cease adoring Him and simply return to business as usual once these dates have come and gone.  We would do well to listen and obey.  Selah.

Turkey and Black Bean Chili

Ingredients:

One small onion chopped

4 cloves of garlic crushed and chopped

1 bell pepper (I prefer red) diced

2 tablespoons of cooking oil

1 ½-2 lbs of ground turkey

One packet of chili seasoning of your choice (or you can make your own*)

2 8 oz cans of black beans drained and rinsed (I soak and cook about 1 ½- 2 cups of dried beans from scratch)

1 28 oz can of crushed or diced tomatoes

1 cup of water

¼ cup of red wine or low sodium chicken broth

2 bay leaves

Directions:

Sauté the onion, garlic and bell pepper in the oil in a large sauce pan` over medium high heat until the onion is translucent and the veggies are slightly softer.  (Do not overcook the veggies)

Add the meat and brown in the same pan

Add the chili seasoning and the beans and mix thoroughly

Add the tomatoes, the water and the wine or chicken broth and the bay leaves

Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour on medium low heat. (Up to 2 hours for richer flavor)

This recipe serves about 6-8 people but you could probably half the recipe if you desire less.  Or you could eat some for one meal, pack some for lunch the next day, or freeze the rest for future meals if you live alone or have a small family.  I cook mine in 30 minutes in an electric pressure cooker, but this can also be done in a slow cooker on high for 4 hours.  To save even more money, substitute onion and garlic powder (about a teaspoon each) for fresh onion and garlic and skip the sauté stage.  Canned beans are relatively inexpensive and quick; however, a bag of dried beans can be used for more than one meal and may be cheaper in the long run.  To make this meal even heartier  try serving with rice or cornbread.

*Easy Chili Spice:

• 4 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper (optional for spicier chili)
• 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
• 1 tablespoon dried, minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons white sugar (optional)
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

• Stir the ingredients together.
• Store in an airtight container until ready to use

Does what I Eat Really Matter that Much? Part 1: Protein

What is protein?  What is it’s purpose in the Body?  How much protein do I need?  Does it matter if I get my protein from a protein bar or a sit down meal?  Let’s explore each one of these questions to see if we can make some sense out the nutritional madness.

1. What is protein? Protein makes up a large percentage of the body mass, second only to water.  More complex than fat and carbohydrates, proteins are the building material for muscle, blood, skin, hair, nails and, internal organs including heart and brain tissue.  Proteins are made up of smaller biochemical substances called amino acids that are connected by peptide chains.  There are 22 different amino acids. Our bodies can make 14 of these.  The other 8 must be obtained from our food and are known as essential amino acids.  The combination of amino acids as well as the way the chains are connected determine they type of protein.  Protein rich foods include: meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy products, beans, nuts, seeds, and tofu.  Each gram of protein provides 4 calories of energy in the body.
2. What is the purpose of protein in the body?  Every vital bodily function depends on protein.  Proteins are essential in such functions as blood clotting, wound healing, lactation, and hormone formation.  Perhaps, the most important role proteins play in the body are as enzymes.  Enzymes are specialized proteins that act as catalysts for every chemical reaction in the body.  In fact, in the total absence of enzymes, life could not even exist.
3. How much protein do I need?  Adults need about 40-70 grams of protein per day.  That translates to about 2-3 servings of protein rich food per day.  For pregnant and nursing moms this number increases to about 20-30 grams more per day.  For children this number varies depending on age and body weight.
4. Does it matter if I get my protein from a sit down meal or a protein bar?  Yes, it is all protein and in our modern fast paced world, sitting down for a home cooked healthy meal often falls by the wayside.  So protein bars may seem like quick and convenient alternative.  In addition, the popularity of several well-known high protein, low carbohydrate diets in recent years have led many to conclude that protein in any form is good, regardless of ingredients as long as carbs are avoided.  However, the quality of protein matters as much as quantity if not more.  The protein bar can be a good alternative in a time crunch; however, not all protein bars are created equal so be sure to read the ingredients.  Many are high in sugar and sodium and are highly processed to the point where the protein cannot even be used by the body.  The same may apply to some protein shakes and smoothies. Ingredients are listed in order of amount, so if sugar (corn syrup, fructose, brown rice syrup, etc.) or salt is the first or second ingredient listed, beware.  Also pay close attention to calorie content as many of these products are made to be meal replacements instead of snacks.  If you must have the protein bar or shake, stick to those that contain mostly whole food ingredients.  In the end, however, you are much better off getting your protein from foods that do not come with a list of ingredients.  Even with wholesome ingredients, plant sources of protein may be laced with pesticides and meat and dairy may be enhanced with hormones and antibiotics.  And yet organic produce and pasture fed organic meat, poultry and dairy products can be quite expensive.  Local farmer’s markets and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs can provide less expensive options for obtaining natural whole foods on a limited budget.  If not organic at least they are a good source of in season locally grown foods.  The rule of thumb is, the closer to the natural source and the less processed the protein the more usable it is by the body.  If you have to consult a Chemistry textbook to look up most of the ingredients in a food item, then  it is probably not something you should be eating.  In short, if your goal is to thrive, get the most from your chiropractic adjustments, and live life to the full, then yes, quality DOES matter.

The Most Important Thing

This week was spring break at the college where I am employed part time, and I had it all planned out.  While many of my colleagues were planning beach trips and other spring break outings, my plan was to spend the whole week doing the work I love so much, practicing the laying on of hands and changing lives through Chiropractic care.  Now since my hours at the college had just been reduced even further, I was planning to increase my practice time from 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 days per week after spring break anyway.

To be totally honest, it did cross my mind to stay at 2 1/2 days the week of spring break and enjoy some down time on the other days.  I could have easily done that since I did not have any patients scheduled on my off days.  However, the voice of “reason” convinced me that since the college was no longer my primary source of income, I should do the “responsible” thing and start the 4 1/2 day week early. Because of our location we tend to attract quite a few walk in patients, so I figured I could at least gain a few new patients on the off days.   Sounded like a great idea to me.

Monday morning rolled around and we were all up and preparing to head out the door.  Suddenly my 4 1/2 year old son who was in the bathtub at the time began to cry saying that his tummy hurt.  He asked me to pray for him.  I am almost ashamed to admit that I prayed a rather halfhearted prayer once I got him out of the tub, handed him his clothes and told him to hurry and get dressed because mama was running late.  A few minutes later when I came to check on him he was lying on his bed still naked and crying.  It was then that I realized that he felt rather warm and it occurred to me that maybe he was really sick.  The thermometer confirmed it.  His temperature was 102.8, and so I knew I would be staying home with him that day.

At first I was kind of resentful (Not proud of that attitude either) that his illness was ruining my plans.  I spent the entire first day frantically trying to nurse him back to health so that I could get back to the office as soon a possible but it didn’t happen that way.  In fact the fever proved to be more stubborn than I had hoped and for three days his temperature fluctuated between 101 and 104 degrees.

Sometime on the second day, Matthew 6:33 came to me:  “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  The light suddenly came on and it was as if the Holy Spirit was asking me at that moment, “What is more important, the work you love, or the child you love?”  Instantly I was was humbled and convicted by my selfishness and misplaced priorities.  After all, this was the child I had prayed long and hard for, my miracle baby, conceived late in life.  I never imagined I could love anyone so fiercely (taking nothing away from my dear husband of course) until I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy.  While I do believe that pursuing our calling can be a work of the kingdom of God that brings glory to him, it also says in the Bible that anyone who fails to take care of the needs of his own family is worse than an unbeliever.  One thing I was certain of… I did NOT want to be that person.  Plus, what values would I be communicating to my son if I put all of my time and energy into taking care of other people’s needs to exclusion of his?

From that point on my attitude changed from one of seeing his illness as an obstacle to pursuing the work I love to giving my best in caring for and connecting with the child I loved and being present for him.  On the third day although the fever had not yet broken, he felt well enough that we were even able to enjoy a short mommy and son outing.  At the end of it all, I think he really appreciated the one on one time with mommy, and I appreciated the down time and felt blessed that I was getting to spend both quality and quantity time with him.

So what does this experience have to do with natural health and wellness?  I believe that one of the ways to achieve abundant health is by freely and unselfishly loving and caring for others, beginning with the ones whom God has entrusted to our care.  Caring and nurturing my son in this way, not only helped him to heal but I believe God also used that time to do a special work in my own heart.

I am happy to report that my little man is all better now and today (Thursday) was my first full day back at the office.   I was also blessed to witness the “and all these things will be given to you as well” part of Matthew 6:33 in action today.  Today was my busiest day ever since I first started back into practice in January and I even started 6 new patients in addition to my regularly scheduled ones.   The take home from this experience and what I am learning each day is that Father really does know best, and that even in pursuing my calling I should never become so focused on the gifts that I fail to stay connected to the Giver of every good and perfect gift and become insensitive to his voice and his leading.  Selah!

Can you Hear me Now? The Basics of Chiropractic

Communication is a part of life.  Whether spoken word, written word, sign language, a certain touch or facial expression or various forms of digital communication messages always being transmitted. Likewise as long as we are living, communication is always taking place within our bodies.  This type of internal body communication is not limited to the conscious forms of transmission previously mentioned and does not even depend on our being awake.  It happens automatically from the moment of conception and continues until we take our last breath.

You may have heard it said that it is not so much what you say but how you say it.  A spoken request may be either be gladly obliged or resentfully resisted depending on the tone of voice, facial expressions etc. that are used.  In written or digital communication, a misplaced punctuation mark can change the whole meaning of a well meaning message. On the flip side, a message communicated with non-malicious intent may also be misinterpreted and taken instead by the receiver as offensive.  Though this is a common occurrence in most relationship, it can still prove to be quite frustrating.

Internal communication within the body may for various reason also be distorted so that the intended transmission is not interpreted as intended by the receiver.  As a Doctor of Chiropractic this is of utmost importance to me and here’s why….

The central nervous system is the system of the body that transmits, receives and integrates vital information in order to coordinate the functions of the body.  It is made up of the brain, spinal cord and spinal nerves.  The brain is encased in the skull and the spinal cord is passes through a canal created by the column of bones known as the spinal column.  Twenty-four of these segments are moveable.  In between the segments are openings where the spinal nerve roots branch off of the spinal cord and branch further to send nerve fibers to all parts of the body.  The intervertebral discs are soft fibrous structures between the vertebra that facilitate movement of the spine, act as the “glue” that holds the segments together, and help provide proper spacing between the vertebrae and associated structures.  When everything is working together in harmony we have a wonderfully created communication network within the body.

  
A number of factors may disturb this delicate balance however, causing interference to this system.  As doctor of Chiropractic my primary concern and area of expertise is with those interferences to the body’s communication that are caused by imbalances within the spine known as vertebral subluxations.
As previously stated, the vertebral segments have the capacity to move.  The may even seem to misalign at times; however, 4 major things must occur in order for the central nervous system to be compromised by such movement.

*One or more spinal segment(s) move out of alignment and get “stuck” due to some physical or chemical trauma or even physiological changes due to emotional stress.

*Passageways through which the spinal cord and spinal nerves pass become narrowed as a result,

* The resultant cramped passageways cause irritation to the delicate spinal cord and

*This interferes with and compromises nerve signals being transmitted within the system.

Left uncorrected these can not only cause pain and impaired motion but can also adversely affect bodily function.  Many times the effects are subtle and may or may not include pain.  As such they may be attributed to such things as aging, fatigue, or stress.  While these things may play a part and should not be taken for granted, it is also possible that your internal communication may not be at 100% due to vertebral subluxation.

I visited a chiropractor for the first time at age 25 due to a shoulder injury.  My shoulder healed up within 2 weeks of care but what I also discovered was that my migraine headaches started becoming less and less frequent, I had more energy, and just felt better overall.  I had always attributed the headaches, fatigue, and lack of get up and go to working third shift and attending college full time.  While these things did play a part and eventually I DID have to re-order some things in my life, once my internal communication became more balanced, I found that my body was better able to deal with these stresses.

As a doctor of chiropractor I am committed to finding and correcting vertebral subluxations to help your body communicate and function the way it was intended.   Chiropractic adjustments are corrective noninvasive forces that place the bones back into their proper alignment so that the central nervous system is able to function normally to allow the body to heal itself.

Finally as a chiropractor, my mission is to empower you as the patient to partner with me in your care by taking responsibility for your own health, making healthier choices, and to taking a firm stand against poor health.  Nurturing your body with a good healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate rest and recreation, proper posture, healthy relationships, a strong and meaningful faith, and stress management can go a long way in helping your adjustments achieve their intended purpose and can even help to make your body more resistant to vertebral subluxation.  This helps you to be 100% present for all those things and people that mean the most to you.   Sound like a plan?  Let’s get started!

Are you Truly Thriving or Merely Surviving?

Early on in practice, I began to notice that although each patient was different, they tended to fall into two broad categories:  Those who were content just to survive, and those who thrived.  The survivors tended to be passive in doctor patient relationships.  They were willing to follow my recommendations to a point, but for the most part they just wanted me to “fix” them so life could go on as usual. Any interest in lifestyle changes only lasted until they were out of pain (or not). Then they tended to either go back to doing the same things they had always done or moved on to the next doctor.  Now to their credit, being a survivor is a good thing.  Many of these people tend to be very strong and have often overcome some very difficult circumstances when others have given up.  Most lead pretty decent lives.  It is just that once the crisis has passed, they are totally content to stay the way they are and to keep doing what they have always done to survive.  They never leave the survival mode. Their philosophy tends to be “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” (even if it is broke). Change or stepping outside of the box is a scary thing for these folks

A former patient, I will call Alicia fit perfectly into this category.  35-year-old Alicia truly was a survivor.  She had fought and won the battle over cancer several years before.  She came to me with severe chronic pain which she blamed on past chemotherapy.  No longer able to function with the pain she was out of work on disability and was applying for permanent disability.  At first she responded very well.  She was compliant with care and in just a few visits began to see remarkable reduction in pain.  She was smiling more, taking fewer pain meds, pursuing her hobbies again.  She even started a smoking cessation program, began exercising regularly, and was losing weight.  Then came the day her short-term disability was about to run out and she presented me with a form to sign, certifying  that she qualified to be placed on permanent disability.  I could not in good conscience sign the form having seen all of the progress she had made.  She said she understood but I could tell that it was not the answer she was hoping for.  I saw her maybe 2-3 times after that day and suddenly the pain was back with a vengeance.  And she was chain-smoking again. It seemed that she would rather live with the pain and just survive on disability than to get well and either go back to her job (which she hated) or take a chance and pursue something more fulfilling. Then one day she announced that I had not helped her at all and that she would instead be going to a pain specialist.  That was the last time I saw her.

The “thrivers” on the other hand tended to believe that they were on this earth for a purpose that went beyond mere survival and just getting by.  As such, they were not content to just go along with the status quo.  They also tended to believe that their health and their life was their responsibility and so they were more proactive in the ways that they behaved and cared for their bodies.  They were willing to follow their doctor’s recommendations; however, they were not afraid to challenge a doctor’s negative assessments when necessary or get a second opinion.  These people tended not only to get better but to improve their overall quality of life.

Another patient I will call Mary fit the category of a “thriver”. Mary was a retired college professor in her late 70s who now ran a pet grooming business from her home.  She came to me with severe back pain that began during one of her yoga classes.  Now I will confess, at first I made the mistake so many health care providers make when treating older patients.  I chalked her problems up as pretty much age related and did not expect too much of a recovery.  I even suggested that she might want to slow down with the yoga and rethink continuing her grooming business due to all of the lifting.  But Mary would have none of it.  In fact she chided me rather severely for giving her the same old “frail granny” talk as she called it.  She had always wanted to groom pets and now that she was retired she finally had the time to do it.  Plus, she added, “I cannot stop taking care of the dogs.  They really need me and appreciate the extra TLC.”  She made it quite clear that this was her purpose in life and my job was not to discourage her but to help her get back to the place where she could give her best to the animals she loved.  She was right… and so I gave her my best, and she responded wonderfully.  Not only did she get better but she continued to groom the dogs and do yoga.  She also started running again, added weight training to her regiment to help her in lifting the dogs, and completely gave up junk food. In the end it was she who inspired me to thrive and she became one of my best patients.

So, which category describes you?  Are you truly thriving or merely surviving?  Do you live life with purpose and nurture and care for your body, soul and spirit, accordingly?  Or are you living life in the survival mode and just trying to get through the rat race of life.   I believe that we are created not just to survive but to thrive even in less than ideal circumstances.

In the next few articles we will deal with lifestyle and health habits that can help us to thrive and fulfill the unique purpose for which we are created. So come back soon.  You are always welcome.  Be blessed and in good health.

Yours in Chiropractic,

Dr. Rochelle J. Delain, Chiropractor

Quality Care for the Entire Family