That last post was a might harsh. Even if true, none of us are helpless. We choose to allow things to have an effect on us. The nature of life is to re-act, not act. And the power is there within me to do all I can to help them live as best they can. So that is what we do. And if we are unable to free them from their current circumstances, we can at least be there when we are able to share their lives with good times.
Secondly, if I hold on to the anger and anguish it hurts me. I can feel its effect in my body. I'm sure it effects our spirits -- pulling us down and moving us away from the central theme of life. I know it effects me mentally with exhaustion at a time when I need to be focused on the acupuncture boards.
Letting go is the only answer I know of to fill in these empty spaces. I have to give this burden up and pray for their well-being. We are not the controllers of the universe. I sense they understand the dilemma. I always get the same message from both parents -- "how are you", I always ask. "Fine, now that you are hear" -- is their reply.
In those special visits the message from them to me is clear. You can take away my freedom but you can never take away my spirit. Even death is a victory.
I know I need to let go, do what I can, and reconcile the fact that I am not in control.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Watching Helplessly While Someone Dies
Have you ever felt like you are watching from the outside of something while it tears you apart on the inside? That is what if feels like when you love someone and their life goes downhill while under the care of someone else with power of attorney who ignores them and does not respond to their health needs. Whatever you do, if you choose a power of attorney, make sure that person has the goodness and wisdom to actually care enough to take care of you. Because they may park you somewhere in a home and not even visit enough to understand your needs. That is a non-caring, non-seeing mis-management of end-of-life care. Someone with power of attorney has the right to block visits, limit health care, pour on more drugs so that the person is chemically bound, and even structure the information flow for all providers to that person so that the day to day helpers feel the worsening condition is only a mirror of their bad health -- not the cause. Still there is a lack of water, inability to eat food, absence of caring actions, and constant feeding of psychotropic restraining drugs.
Today we have a revolution of psychotropic drugs to treat the elderly. They generally use small amounts. However, with a zealous, hateful person in charge of medication -- this can become a living nightmare as a person can no longer dress, go the bathroom, speak, eat, drink, walk, and so forth because their medication is so strong. The head of the department of the lock down facility at UCSD Medical Hospital told us that the amount can not even be measured with a blood test. How convenient!
As I speak to the doctors, they feel bad because number one -- he is worse and number two -- we have no input to his medical care. They don't feel bad enough to stop it. They call it a difference in style. One family member would take care of an elderly person at their own home with daily visits. The other family member wants to keep them in a nice home where they can park them with few visits and a mentality that this is the end. The doctors react with surprise as we inform them -- not with action. Lawyers pass us from lawyer to lawyer because the money to fight the case resides with the power of attorney. Ombudsman and government agencies grind to a halt as they get hung up in the quagmire -- the home looks good, the helpers are nice, the person making the decisions seems to have answers like it is an advancing decline.
What do I call it? Murder in the first degree.
It takes me 2 hours at times to revive him. I'm losing my resolve and will to fight on. I don't know what to do about it. Maybe that is life. There are many seniors parked in worse conditions that have no one to visit them, no way to fight on. I do what I can and then I have to let go, go home, and sleep in my comfortable apartment with a wonderful wife.
And when my Father-In-Law passes away, what will I feel? I'll always remember those who took his life inappropriately. How they blamed him for their own problems, how they hid his money, how they sold his things off even before he could be stabilized in a home, how they chose to ignore him, and how they chose to let him deteriorate by chemically restraining him to the point where he could not live. In all I do as a practitioner, I will stand for better choices for the elderly, for all patients that may be weak or incapacitated.
I am not against drugs. I am against the misuse of drugs. I am against using drugs as the first line of defense in all medicine. I am against using drugs when there is a natural choice that is symbiotic with our human species. I am for balancing the body when you need drugs so that the drugs you take are far less. And I know that many western medicine practitioners believe the same way as I do. Check out Sanesco which represents a new generation of doctors who are balancing the body. Or look into the "The Cardiovascular Cure: How to Strenghthen Your Self defense Against Heart Attack and Stroke" by Dr. John P. Cooke and Judith Zimmer. There you have a doctor saying you do the right thing for the body and it has a marvelous capacity to heal itself. Interestingly enough, in this book they use food to treat -- that is why I like the Chinese approach so well. There is a great rash of medical books on this same topic.
Today we have a revolution of psychotropic drugs to treat the elderly. They generally use small amounts. However, with a zealous, hateful person in charge of medication -- this can become a living nightmare as a person can no longer dress, go the bathroom, speak, eat, drink, walk, and so forth because their medication is so strong. The head of the department of the lock down facility at UCSD Medical Hospital told us that the amount can not even be measured with a blood test. How convenient!
As I speak to the doctors, they feel bad because number one -- he is worse and number two -- we have no input to his medical care. They don't feel bad enough to stop it. They call it a difference in style. One family member would take care of an elderly person at their own home with daily visits. The other family member wants to keep them in a nice home where they can park them with few visits and a mentality that this is the end. The doctors react with surprise as we inform them -- not with action. Lawyers pass us from lawyer to lawyer because the money to fight the case resides with the power of attorney. Ombudsman and government agencies grind to a halt as they get hung up in the quagmire -- the home looks good, the helpers are nice, the person making the decisions seems to have answers like it is an advancing decline.
What do I call it? Murder in the first degree.
It takes me 2 hours at times to revive him. I'm losing my resolve and will to fight on. I don't know what to do about it. Maybe that is life. There are many seniors parked in worse conditions that have no one to visit them, no way to fight on. I do what I can and then I have to let go, go home, and sleep in my comfortable apartment with a wonderful wife.
And when my Father-In-Law passes away, what will I feel? I'll always remember those who took his life inappropriately. How they blamed him for their own problems, how they hid his money, how they sold his things off even before he could be stabilized in a home, how they chose to ignore him, and how they chose to let him deteriorate by chemically restraining him to the point where he could not live. In all I do as a practitioner, I will stand for better choices for the elderly, for all patients that may be weak or incapacitated.
I am not against drugs. I am against the misuse of drugs. I am against using drugs as the first line of defense in all medicine. I am against using drugs when there is a natural choice that is symbiotic with our human species. I am for balancing the body when you need drugs so that the drugs you take are far less. And I know that many western medicine practitioners believe the same way as I do. Check out Sanesco which represents a new generation of doctors who are balancing the body. Or look into the "The Cardiovascular Cure: How to Strenghthen Your Self defense Against Heart Attack and Stroke" by Dr. John P. Cooke and Judith Zimmer. There you have a doctor saying you do the right thing for the body and it has a marvelous capacity to heal itself. Interestingly enough, in this book they use food to treat -- that is why I like the Chinese approach so well. There is a great rash of medical books on this same topic.
Acute Inflammation
I've seen this before many times, a bubble around the injury. Most people end up resting and on pain killers. We leave them to stew in their problem. So what would I do differently? Lots, and it all depends on what I see. It is not that difficult to treat and after you do it a hundred times, you intuitively know what to expect.
As a practitioner it is best to begin any such session with the proper acu-points to help increase energy flow in the area and to alleviate the pain. When in doubt Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3 on opposite sides is a good choice.
Go outside the bubble where it does not hurt ... maybe 3 inches out. Map out the courses of energy that lead to the bubble and gently create a stream away from the conflict. I use the Chinese meridians as my guide along with the movement of energy as felt from practicing Qi Qong daily. Below the wound -- press gently below it. Above the wound, press gently above it. Move like a stream with an even steady stream of pressure -- best done with lotion that has anti-inflammatory properties. I recommend TRAUMEEL® which is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous, anti-exudative combination formulation of 12 botanical and 2 mineral substances. Magically, the bubble corners begin to soften.
Continue in those same course of energy but encroach upon the bubbles boundary -- a tad closer, not so close that it elicits pain. Make sure the stream follows its course a ways down or up -- always moving away from the conflict or bubble of inflammation. Notice the melting away of the boundary continues only more remarkably.
Now reach the boundary and begin the gentle pulling away in all directions from the bubble. Work even more gently as you are in the area of damage control for the body. From here on out it all depends where the trauma is -- pay attention to the structure of the underlying area for it is best to reinforce the underlying healthy movement of that structure. Pay attention to the extent of the damage and be gentle enough to keep receding the fluids.
A good follow up at this point is a lymph massage. That is like a sweeping brush of the hands and fingers in opposite directions, at opposite points on either side of the injury. A book could be written on how to move lymph so this is best demonstrated. It is best to match the technique to the specific injury. A number of the soft arts like Qi Qong and Tai Chi Chuan will move lymph. Moving up and down on a mini-trampoline without leaving the surface will move lymph.
At this point an experienced practitioner can go a bit deeper and help align the structure so that it sets properly while healing.
As a practitioner it is best to begin any such session with the proper acu-points to help increase energy flow in the area and to alleviate the pain. When in doubt Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3 on opposite sides is a good choice.
Go outside the bubble where it does not hurt ... maybe 3 inches out. Map out the courses of energy that lead to the bubble and gently create a stream away from the conflict. I use the Chinese meridians as my guide along with the movement of energy as felt from practicing Qi Qong daily. Below the wound -- press gently below it. Above the wound, press gently above it. Move like a stream with an even steady stream of pressure -- best done with lotion that has anti-inflammatory properties. I recommend TRAUMEEL® which is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous, anti-exudative combination formulation of 12 botanical and 2 mineral substances. Magically, the bubble corners begin to soften.
Continue in those same course of energy but encroach upon the bubbles boundary -- a tad closer, not so close that it elicits pain. Make sure the stream follows its course a ways down or up -- always moving away from the conflict or bubble of inflammation. Notice the melting away of the boundary continues only more remarkably.
Now reach the boundary and begin the gentle pulling away in all directions from the bubble. Work even more gently as you are in the area of damage control for the body. From here on out it all depends where the trauma is -- pay attention to the structure of the underlying area for it is best to reinforce the underlying healthy movement of that structure. Pay attention to the extent of the damage and be gentle enough to keep receding the fluids.
A good follow up at this point is a lymph massage. That is like a sweeping brush of the hands and fingers in opposite directions, at opposite points on either side of the injury. A book could be written on how to move lymph so this is best demonstrated. It is best to match the technique to the specific injury. A number of the soft arts like Qi Qong and Tai Chi Chuan will move lymph. Moving up and down on a mini-trampoline without leaving the surface will move lymph.
At this point an experienced practitioner can go a bit deeper and help align the structure so that it sets properly while healing.
Cats and Fleas
I laid down on a pillow today and a flea crossed my eyelids. I instinctively picked it off and took it to the sink where the water took it down the drain. We quickly pulled out the chemical advantage for our two cats and treated them. Don't we all reach for some chemical when nearly anything happens in our life. So I began reading about it.
Garlic, onion, and brewer's yeast make your body unfavorable for fleas. Wow, maybe I can feed the cats some garlic, onion treats. On further reading cats have a hemolytic reaction to garlic, onions, shallots, and a few other things. Somewhere in my memory worms are the nature predator for fleas -- sure enough, simple nematodes. Yes, but it must be in a moist environment. Somehow I can't see moist carpet in my apartment flooded with little worms. It does work for the outside. And I found plenty of product in that area. How about that diatomaceous earth I used for ants a while back and before that for parasites for a friend of mine? Yes, that does it -- dust your pet with this specially shaped earth and it has sharp edges that destroy the fleas, cockroaches, silver fish and a ton of other insects. It can be used in the garden, the home, the fur of the furry critters and even in our digestive system for parasites.
This gives new meaning to eating dirt, or even eating worms. And cats hate baths -- or at least our cats do. Water naturally drowns fleas. Soapy water dishes put where the fleas are abounding can cut the adults out quite a bit. In fact, some people make flea traps which catch them on a sticky that can be replaced. For every flea you see on an animal (or yourself), there are 30 more waiting in the wings. An adult flea can produce 60 larvae a day. They love a messy house with dirt, clothes, things to breed on. Need I say more?
I began to realize that the diatomaceous earth cost about $16, a trap cost about $16, soap with water is already available, and cleaning the house is sorta free -- all in all it sure beats a chemical solution which means you have to apply it monthly and spend some real money! A box of nematode worms for the yard is about twenty dollars.
So for dinner tonight I loaded up on garlic and onion -- we had black beans with turkey and split pea soup.
Garlic, onion, and brewer's yeast make your body unfavorable for fleas. Wow, maybe I can feed the cats some garlic, onion treats. On further reading cats have a hemolytic reaction to garlic, onions, shallots, and a few other things. Somewhere in my memory worms are the nature predator for fleas -- sure enough, simple nematodes. Yes, but it must be in a moist environment. Somehow I can't see moist carpet in my apartment flooded with little worms. It does work for the outside. And I found plenty of product in that area. How about that diatomaceous earth I used for ants a while back and before that for parasites for a friend of mine? Yes, that does it -- dust your pet with this specially shaped earth and it has sharp edges that destroy the fleas, cockroaches, silver fish and a ton of other insects. It can be used in the garden, the home, the fur of the furry critters and even in our digestive system for parasites.
This gives new meaning to eating dirt, or even eating worms. And cats hate baths -- or at least our cats do. Water naturally drowns fleas. Soapy water dishes put where the fleas are abounding can cut the adults out quite a bit. In fact, some people make flea traps which catch them on a sticky that can be replaced. For every flea you see on an animal (or yourself), there are 30 more waiting in the wings. An adult flea can produce 60 larvae a day. They love a messy house with dirt, clothes, things to breed on. Need I say more?
I began to realize that the diatomaceous earth cost about $16, a trap cost about $16, soap with water is already available, and cleaning the house is sorta free -- all in all it sure beats a chemical solution which means you have to apply it monthly and spend some real money! A box of nematode worms for the yard is about twenty dollars.
So for dinner tonight I loaded up on garlic and onion -- we had black beans with turkey and split pea soup.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day - a Memorial Day in the Present
Maybe I should call this memory day. On this day I have my wife's parents struggling with one of the hardest diseases of all -- Alzheimer's. These people are drugged, set aside behind locked doors, and told anything but the truth, all to control them enough so that they are safe to themselves and to the others around them. Some people would say that sounds like politics as usual.
So why do I mention all this because we all know we all have problems. So why relent and complain? Why not be positive and keep looking up at the sky?
I think because I learned a few lessons along the way. My mother-in-law would not take high blood pressure medication so we called the doctor. He put her into the system and she wound up in a lock down facility where they diagnosed, treated, and medicated her with the latest psychotropic drugs. They were proud of themselves and call themselves state-of-the-art, the latest in today's treatments for Seniors. Now she is a controlled person, not out-of-control.
My first visit after they declared her controlled -- she ordered them out of her room and refused medications. Ah, I said, they have problem too!
But they persisted and after three days of controlled behavior they can downsize her to a facility willing to lock them up with no key to get out -- only key pads with special numbers that limit access in or out. Now there, she wanted out and ordered them out -- right now, do what I say, I tell you, let me go right now. After a few more days she resolved her resolute attitude to being glad to see anyone who would visit her. I can't help but think that could be me.
In an interview with a Doctor he began to extol the virtues of their program. You must change your thinking, he said, do not ask yes or no questions, simply direct them. They will over time begin to follow directions. We keep upping the medication until they do. Then we drop it down. When they are controllable on a smaller dose, then we can let them go to a proper facility that can manage their care.
Would you tell a child who is going to the Dentist that they will pull his teeth and inject needles to fix his dental problems? No. You make it a nice time and let the dentist do their job. So it is with children. Seniors become like children. You must take responsibility for their welfare. Only make someone else the bad guy. If they can't go into a room, lock it and say the city won't allow anyone in there anymore. If they must not leave the house, put on a latch and prevent them from going out. When they are not willing to take medication, then grind it up and put it into ice cream, food, or drink -- be creative but give them medication.
I thought, how strange, we could have been told that on day one. Grind up the high blood pressure medication and give it to her in ice cream. End of story -- no lock down, no Alzheimer's unit, and no loss of freedom from living at home where the folks love to stay. No invocation of Durable Power of Attorney for medical treatment, for finances -- no power struggles within a family that has hidden agenda. But no, too late, my lesson came too late, the damage is done.
The silliest policy I have ever heard of is "let us see what will happen." Given a decade in Iraq need I say more. The only sillier one I've heard is "let us pull out as soon as possible", or how about "in six months I will lead our country out of there because I'm a leader." How about, "this could take 100 years." We should be involved, anxiously engaged in foreign affairs with sound and wise policy makers. It doesn't matter to me if it be Republican, Democrat or even Independent -- a sound and wise policy should resonate, and make even more sense over time.
Why did we get introduced to sound and wise policies after it could of helped us maintain the folks with greater independence in their own home? Now the radar is off the map, the controllers in the system have pat answers, and when we step into help we are considered visitors. They certainly listen to us but the decisions feel like a war zone. Your Mother-In-Law is being transfered this morning to XYZ location and you need to sign the dotted line for her care.
Dad followed quickly after Mom. Yes, he is in a lock-down facility. Only he plots constantly to escape. Unfortunately his memory shows less promise. It is sad when you tell him you are David (my name) and when you leave he tells you, "my name is David." Is that memory with a lisp? One day he actually made it out. They caught him and brought him back.
Now we have responsible parties in the family. Now we have doctors appointing and ordaining those to control the decisions, the money, the future of these seniors -- with a veiled threat that should they choose unwisely, they will be held accountable in court for a bad decision.
Today my Mom called me -- and we talked as I sat in my Father-In-Law's office and got his computer working again. It hit me as I saw his computer expertise, the fine books collected from all kinds of knowledge pools, and the incredible ingenuity of his office that this was the mark of an educated, astute, and successful man. My Mom asked me when I could visit her and all I could think of was the goal of passing the acupuncture boards and paying off student loans. It was hard to be there for her and I think she sensed it.
In all our getting, get understanding -- that is what proverbs says. And the words Jeff House wrote in college came back to me. "Take no heed, of the people by your side, just relax, flow gently with the current, sail, like the gulls gliding gently in the wind" -- somewhere in that passage is a message -- one that gives us strength past difficult times. Yes, I need to visit my Mom. I think it is important to give those around us our best foot forward at the time they need it.
Maybe I'll end on this note -- I believe with all my heart that my wife's Mother and Dad know we tried everything to keep them independent, we loved them the best we could when we could, and we'll continue to learn lessons so that we may continue to be there for them. I do believe in family as our most precious resource and the primary unit of our society. And where it falls down, we must in our humanity pick it up for those around us and keep moving forward.
So why do I mention all this because we all know we all have problems. So why relent and complain? Why not be positive and keep looking up at the sky?
I think because I learned a few lessons along the way. My mother-in-law would not take high blood pressure medication so we called the doctor. He put her into the system and she wound up in a lock down facility where they diagnosed, treated, and medicated her with the latest psychotropic drugs. They were proud of themselves and call themselves state-of-the-art, the latest in today's treatments for Seniors. Now she is a controlled person, not out-of-control.
My first visit after they declared her controlled -- she ordered them out of her room and refused medications. Ah, I said, they have problem too!
But they persisted and after three days of controlled behavior they can downsize her to a facility willing to lock them up with no key to get out -- only key pads with special numbers that limit access in or out. Now there, she wanted out and ordered them out -- right now, do what I say, I tell you, let me go right now. After a few more days she resolved her resolute attitude to being glad to see anyone who would visit her. I can't help but think that could be me.
In an interview with a Doctor he began to extol the virtues of their program. You must change your thinking, he said, do not ask yes or no questions, simply direct them. They will over time begin to follow directions. We keep upping the medication until they do. Then we drop it down. When they are controllable on a smaller dose, then we can let them go to a proper facility that can manage their care.
Would you tell a child who is going to the Dentist that they will pull his teeth and inject needles to fix his dental problems? No. You make it a nice time and let the dentist do their job. So it is with children. Seniors become like children. You must take responsibility for their welfare. Only make someone else the bad guy. If they can't go into a room, lock it and say the city won't allow anyone in there anymore. If they must not leave the house, put on a latch and prevent them from going out. When they are not willing to take medication, then grind it up and put it into ice cream, food, or drink -- be creative but give them medication.
I thought, how strange, we could have been told that on day one. Grind up the high blood pressure medication and give it to her in ice cream. End of story -- no lock down, no Alzheimer's unit, and no loss of freedom from living at home where the folks love to stay. No invocation of Durable Power of Attorney for medical treatment, for finances -- no power struggles within a family that has hidden agenda. But no, too late, my lesson came too late, the damage is done.
The silliest policy I have ever heard of is "let us see what will happen." Given a decade in Iraq need I say more. The only sillier one I've heard is "let us pull out as soon as possible", or how about "in six months I will lead our country out of there because I'm a leader." How about, "this could take 100 years." We should be involved, anxiously engaged in foreign affairs with sound and wise policy makers. It doesn't matter to me if it be Republican, Democrat or even Independent -- a sound and wise policy should resonate, and make even more sense over time.
Why did we get introduced to sound and wise policies after it could of helped us maintain the folks with greater independence in their own home? Now the radar is off the map, the controllers in the system have pat answers, and when we step into help we are considered visitors. They certainly listen to us but the decisions feel like a war zone. Your Mother-In-Law is being transfered this morning to XYZ location and you need to sign the dotted line for her care.
Dad followed quickly after Mom. Yes, he is in a lock-down facility. Only he plots constantly to escape. Unfortunately his memory shows less promise. It is sad when you tell him you are David (my name) and when you leave he tells you, "my name is David." Is that memory with a lisp? One day he actually made it out. They caught him and brought him back.
Now we have responsible parties in the family. Now we have doctors appointing and ordaining those to control the decisions, the money, the future of these seniors -- with a veiled threat that should they choose unwisely, they will be held accountable in court for a bad decision.
Today my Mom called me -- and we talked as I sat in my Father-In-Law's office and got his computer working again. It hit me as I saw his computer expertise, the fine books collected from all kinds of knowledge pools, and the incredible ingenuity of his office that this was the mark of an educated, astute, and successful man. My Mom asked me when I could visit her and all I could think of was the goal of passing the acupuncture boards and paying off student loans. It was hard to be there for her and I think she sensed it.
In all our getting, get understanding -- that is what proverbs says. And the words Jeff House wrote in college came back to me. "Take no heed, of the people by your side, just relax, flow gently with the current, sail, like the gulls gliding gently in the wind" -- somewhere in that passage is a message -- one that gives us strength past difficult times. Yes, I need to visit my Mom. I think it is important to give those around us our best foot forward at the time they need it.
Maybe I'll end on this note -- I believe with all my heart that my wife's Mother and Dad know we tried everything to keep them independent, we loved them the best we could when we could, and we'll continue to learn lessons so that we may continue to be there for them. I do believe in family as our most precious resource and the primary unit of our society. And where it falls down, we must in our humanity pick it up for those around us and keep moving forward.
Friday, May 9, 2008
What we survived as Kids
It is amazing that we survive from childhood. What are some of your stories?
The first time I rode a bike, I took it up a small hill. I reasoned that by getting on it while going down hill would solve the problem of not knowing how to ride. After all, it only made sense that if the bike were in motion from the hill -- all I had to do was hang on. And hang on I did -- down the hill where I found I couldn't turn it. I saw my Mother's clothes line coming up on me so I ducked. Wow, I missed that I thought as I looked behind me. Bam! I hit a fence and the bike came to rest but I continued on over the fence and landed in my next door neighbor's yard.
Some things I don't remember exactly and had to have hypnosis to bring them out. Like the day I was climbing a fence and slipped. So I had my arm pit stuck in the tines of a chain link fence. Someone had to lift me off. Or the day I went to save the cat who had climbed a tree. That day I was waving in the wind high above the ground with the cat backing up above me. A fire ladder truck came out and got me first, then the cat.
How about the time I was returning from work and decided to play hand ball -- so we climbed a building so we could play on the roof. After all, everyone else was sleeping. After an hour of fast play we came down and were passing a phone booth. The friend I was with, Gary Crumbpacker, had bet me that he could make a free phone call with a nickel. I thought that was crazy since someone had cut off the phone completely and taken the receiver. How could you make a phone call with no receiver. Just watch me, he said. So he took off his shoe and was pounding on the pay phone with his heel while placing a nickel in the slot. I caught an incoming police car checking us out in the corner of my eye and immediately slid underneath the fence. They brought in six or seven cars and tried to catch me. I ran incognito into back yards, over fences, through woody areas, down storm drains, and kept low to the ground and out of sight. They kept looking for me for months. They kept bringing Gary in and asking him who his partner was that stole the phone.
I bet we all have stories we laugh about and think -- it is amazing that we made it in one piece in this crazy world.
The first time I rode a bike, I took it up a small hill. I reasoned that by getting on it while going down hill would solve the problem of not knowing how to ride. After all, it only made sense that if the bike were in motion from the hill -- all I had to do was hang on. And hang on I did -- down the hill where I found I couldn't turn it. I saw my Mother's clothes line coming up on me so I ducked. Wow, I missed that I thought as I looked behind me. Bam! I hit a fence and the bike came to rest but I continued on over the fence and landed in my next door neighbor's yard.
Some things I don't remember exactly and had to have hypnosis to bring them out. Like the day I was climbing a fence and slipped. So I had my arm pit stuck in the tines of a chain link fence. Someone had to lift me off. Or the day I went to save the cat who had climbed a tree. That day I was waving in the wind high above the ground with the cat backing up above me. A fire ladder truck came out and got me first, then the cat.
How about the time I was returning from work and decided to play hand ball -- so we climbed a building so we could play on the roof. After all, everyone else was sleeping. After an hour of fast play we came down and were passing a phone booth. The friend I was with, Gary Crumbpacker, had bet me that he could make a free phone call with a nickel. I thought that was crazy since someone had cut off the phone completely and taken the receiver. How could you make a phone call with no receiver. Just watch me, he said. So he took off his shoe and was pounding on the pay phone with his heel while placing a nickel in the slot. I caught an incoming police car checking us out in the corner of my eye and immediately slid underneath the fence. They brought in six or seven cars and tried to catch me. I ran incognito into back yards, over fences, through woody areas, down storm drains, and kept low to the ground and out of sight. They kept looking for me for months. They kept bringing Gary in and asking him who his partner was that stole the phone.
I bet we all have stories we laugh about and think -- it is amazing that we made it in one piece in this crazy world.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Avoiding Hospital Visits
Hospital visits are rarely fun. They often happen because we are not listening to our body. It will tell us long before it gets that point that something is wrong. In our society of cars, houses, machines for every task -- we begin to zone out the weather. The outside environment only touches us as it gets nasty. That is the way our health hits us. After a few nasty bouts of fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, pain, limited range of motion -- the signs and symptoms are usually there and identifying what we are ignoring.
Proactive health starts with listening. Look at the physical layer. Eat something, listen to our body's reaction. How does it react long term to our choices? Finish an activity, listen to our body's reaction. Does it recover gracefully or complain for three days? Drink something, listen to our reaction. Is there a shocking feeling with cold? or hot? or spicy? or does it feel great afterward? Are you keeping the body hydrated? It is the most common cause of making the problems go over the edge -- what edge? It is the edge where the body throws a fit and breaks down normal functioning.
Proactive health continues with choices at a mental, social, emotional, and even spiritual level. A state of well-being is a great choice of words. Positive thoughts release endorphins which more the body into a state of relaxation -- lessening the harsh effect of our physical world. Try achieving a sense of the runners high in any workout. Its effect lasts all day. Be curious and observant -- the simple act of discovery in art, drama, or music captures not only the imagination but releases healthy endorphins. A moving moment moves us within -- much like simple kindnesses move our fellow travelers in this world -- share the movement and it releases great endorphins for all who are involved and sometimes to those who are watching.
A bit of sun -- yes, it releases endorphins. A bite of chocolate (dark chocolate) -- yeah, it releases endorphins. Chili peppers -- wow, there it goes again. A good thing can be over done -- too much exercise, chocolate, hot peppers, sun will erode it initial positive benefits. Strive for that balance and maybe it will avoid a hospital visit.
Proactive health starts with listening. Look at the physical layer. Eat something, listen to our body's reaction. How does it react long term to our choices? Finish an activity, listen to our body's reaction. Does it recover gracefully or complain for three days? Drink something, listen to our reaction. Is there a shocking feeling with cold? or hot? or spicy? or does it feel great afterward? Are you keeping the body hydrated? It is the most common cause of making the problems go over the edge -- what edge? It is the edge where the body throws a fit and breaks down normal functioning.
Proactive health continues with choices at a mental, social, emotional, and even spiritual level. A state of well-being is a great choice of words. Positive thoughts release endorphins which more the body into a state of relaxation -- lessening the harsh effect of our physical world. Try achieving a sense of the runners high in any workout. Its effect lasts all day. Be curious and observant -- the simple act of discovery in art, drama, or music captures not only the imagination but releases healthy endorphins. A moving moment moves us within -- much like simple kindnesses move our fellow travelers in this world -- share the movement and it releases great endorphins for all who are involved and sometimes to those who are watching.
A bit of sun -- yes, it releases endorphins. A bite of chocolate (dark chocolate) -- yeah, it releases endorphins. Chili peppers -- wow, there it goes again. A good thing can be over done -- too much exercise, chocolate, hot peppers, sun will erode it initial positive benefits. Strive for that balance and maybe it will avoid a hospital visit.
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