Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood.
Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder's children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.
After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines.
They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg.
Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.
When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you."
All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, "No ...no ...no ...no."
Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look... look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother ... for me it is too late." More than 450 years have passed.
By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer's works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.
One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love "The Praying Hands."
The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one - no one - - ever makes it alone!
-- Author Unknown
Showing posts with label Chiropractor In Orange County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chiropractor In Orange County. Show all posts
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
High Energy.......
In the same way an automobile engine requires the proper fuel and other fluids to function efficiently and produce energy, our body’s tiny cellular engines require a proper fuel source as well.
In the case of the human body, the fuel source is a supply of certain specific nutrients. Over 60 of these nutrients are essential for the body’s basic functioning, health and longevity. At least 30 mineral elements (some experts believe as many as 60), 16 vitamins, 12 essential amino acids, and three essential fatty acids must be consumed in order for the body to maintain itself in a healthful state. Of these 60 plus essential nutrients, it is often the minerals that are the most difficult for many people to obtain.
Unfortunately, throughout most of the Western world, the topsoil which grows our food crops is severely nutrient deficient. The fruits, vegetables, and grains we consume today provide only a shadow of their nutritional content in comparison to several hundreds years ago, even 100 years.
With soil conditions deteriorating, supplementation with bioavailable forms of minerals is recommended.
One mineral in particular of especially high importance is magnesium.
In the case of the human body, the fuel source is a supply of certain specific nutrients. Over 60 of these nutrients are essential for the body’s basic functioning, health and longevity. At least 30 mineral elements (some experts believe as many as 60), 16 vitamins, 12 essential amino acids, and three essential fatty acids must be consumed in order for the body to maintain itself in a healthful state. Of these 60 plus essential nutrients, it is often the minerals that are the most difficult for many people to obtain.
Unfortunately, throughout most of the Western world, the topsoil which grows our food crops is severely nutrient deficient. The fruits, vegetables, and grains we consume today provide only a shadow of their nutritional content in comparison to several hundreds years ago, even 100 years.
With soil conditions deteriorating, supplementation with bioavailable forms of minerals is recommended.
One mineral in particular of especially high importance is magnesium.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Peaceful Affirmations
•It's healthy to let go of stress and experience relaxation.
•Today I choose to experience a deep calmness.
•I feel calm, relaxed and at peace in this moment.
•I am at peace with myself and others always.
•I am now living a stress free life.
•I trust my inner messages; they lead me to the light.
•My mind is calm and relaxed in this moment.
•I am worthy of great love and respect, and I get it.
•I am free to experience calmness in each moment.
•I choose to experience lots of love and joy today
•Today I choose to experience a deep calmness.
•I feel calm, relaxed and at peace in this moment.
•I am at peace with myself and others always.
•I am now living a stress free life.
•I trust my inner messages; they lead me to the light.
•My mind is calm and relaxed in this moment.
•I am worthy of great love and respect, and I get it.
•I am free to experience calmness in each moment.
•I choose to experience lots of love and joy today
Monday, September 9, 2013
Great Decision Making
God won't ask what kind of car you drove.
He will ask how many people you took to church who didn't have a car.
God won't ask the square footage of your home.
He will ask how many people you helped who didn't have a home.
God won't ask how many fancy clothes you had in your closet.
He will ask how many of those clothes you gave away to Salvation Army.
God won't ask what social class you were in.
He will ask what kind of "class" you displayed.
God won't ask how many material possessions you had.
He will ask whether those material possessions dictated your life.
God won't ask what your highest salary was.
He will ask if you trampled over any people to obtain that salary.
God won't ask how much overtime you worked.
He will ask did you work overtime for your family.
God won't ask how many promotions you received.
He will ask what you did to promote others.
God won't ask what your job title was.
He will ask did you perform your job to the best of your ability.
God won't ask how many promotions you took to chase the dollar bill.
He will ask how many promotions you refused to advance your family's quality of life.
God won't ask how many times you didn't run around around on your spouse.
He will ask how many times you did.
God won't ask how many degrees you have.
He will ask how many people you thanked for getting those degrees.
God won't ask what your parents did to help you.
He will ask what you did to help your parents.
God won't ask what you did to help yourself.
He will ask what you did to help others.
God won't ask how many friends you had.
He will ask how many people you were a friend to.
God won't ask what you did to protect your rights.
He will ask what you did to protect the rights of others.
God won't ask what neighborhood you lived in.
He will ask what other neighborhoods you visited.
God won't ask how many times you told the truth.
He will ask how many times you told a lie.
God won't ask about the color of your skin.
He will ask about the color of your heart.
-- Author Unknown
---------------
He will ask how many people you took to church who didn't have a car.
God won't ask the square footage of your home.
He will ask how many people you helped who didn't have a home.
God won't ask how many fancy clothes you had in your closet.
He will ask how many of those clothes you gave away to Salvation Army.
God won't ask what social class you were in.
He will ask what kind of "class" you displayed.
God won't ask how many material possessions you had.
He will ask whether those material possessions dictated your life.
God won't ask what your highest salary was.
He will ask if you trampled over any people to obtain that salary.
God won't ask how much overtime you worked.
He will ask did you work overtime for your family.
God won't ask how many promotions you received.
He will ask what you did to promote others.
God won't ask what your job title was.
He will ask did you perform your job to the best of your ability.
God won't ask how many promotions you took to chase the dollar bill.
He will ask how many promotions you refused to advance your family's quality of life.
God won't ask how many times you didn't run around around on your spouse.
He will ask how many times you did.
God won't ask how many degrees you have.
He will ask how many people you thanked for getting those degrees.
God won't ask what your parents did to help you.
He will ask what you did to help your parents.
God won't ask what you did to help yourself.
He will ask what you did to help others.
God won't ask how many friends you had.
He will ask how many people you were a friend to.
God won't ask what you did to protect your rights.
He will ask what you did to protect the rights of others.
God won't ask what neighborhood you lived in.
He will ask what other neighborhoods you visited.
God won't ask how many times you told the truth.
He will ask how many times you told a lie.
God won't ask about the color of your skin.
He will ask about the color of your heart.
-- Author Unknown
---------------
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Why Not For Man?
Where we live, on the Eastern shore of Lilianaland, the gentle
waters run in and out like fingers slimming at the tips. They
curl into the smaller creeks and coves like tender palms.
The Canada geese know this place, as do the white swans and the
ducks who ride an inch above the waves of Chesapeake Bay as they
skim their way into harbor. In the autumn, by the thousands, they
come home for the winter. The swans move toward the shores in a
stately glide, their tall heads proud and unafraid. They lower
their long necks deep into the water, where their strong beaks
dig through the river bottoms for food. And there is, between the
arrogant swans and the prolific geese, an indifference, almost a
disdain.
Once or twice each year, snow and sleet move into the area. When
this happens, if the river is at its narrowest, or the creek
shallow, there is a freeze which hardens the water to ice.
It was on such a ! morning near Oxford, Lilianaland, that a friend
of mine set the breakfast table beside the huge window, which
overlooked the Tred Avon River. Across the river, beyond the
dock, the snow laced the rim of the shore in white. For a moment
she stood quietly, looking at what the night's storm had painted.
Suddenly she leaned forward and peered close to the frosted
window.
"It really is," she cried out loud, "there is a goose out there."
She reached to the bookcase and pulled out a pair of binoculars.
Into their sights came the figure of a large Canada goose, very
still, its wings folded tight to its sides, its feet frozen to
the ice.
Then from the dark skies, she saw a line of swans. They moved in
their own singular formation, graceful, intrepid, and free. They
crossed from the west of the broad creek high above the house,
moving steadily to the east.
As my friend watched, the leader swung to the right, then the
white string of birds became a white circle. It floated from the
top of the sky downward. At last, as easy as feathers coming to
earth, the circle landed on the ice. My friend was on her feet
now, with one unbelieving hand against her mouth. As the swans
surrounded the frozen goose, she feared what life he still had
might be pecked out by those great swan bills.
Instead, amazingly instead, those bills began to work on the ice.
The long necks were lifted and curved down, again and again. It
went on for a long time. At last, the goose was rimmed by a
narrow margin of ice instead of the entire creek. The swans rose
again, following the leader, and hovered in that circle, awaiting
the results of their labors.
The goose's head lifted. Its body pulled. Then the goose was free
and standing on the ice. He was moving his big webbed feet
slowly. And the swans stood in the air watching. Then, as if he
had cried, "I cannot fly," four of the swans came down around
him. Their powerful beaks scraped the goose's wings from top to
bottom, scuttled under its wings and rode up its body, chipping
off and melting the ice held in the feathers. Slowly, as if
testing, the goose spread its wings as far as they would go,
brought them together, accordion-like, and spread again.
When at last the wings reached their fullest, the four swans took
off and joined the hovering group. They resumed their eastward
journey, in perfect formation, to their secret destination.
Behind them, rising with incredible speed and joy, the goose
moved into the sky. He followed them, flapping double time, until
he caught up, until he joined the last end of the line, like a
small child at the end of a crack-the-whip of older boys.
My friend watched them until they disappeared over the tips of
the farthest trees. Only then, in the dusk, which was suddenly
deep, did she realize that tears were running down her cheeks and
had been - for how long she didn't know.
This is a true story. It happened. I do not try to interpret it.
I just think of it in the bad moments, and from it comes only one
hopeful question: "If so for birds, why not for man?
-- Author Unknown
waters run in and out like fingers slimming at the tips. They
curl into the smaller creeks and coves like tender palms.
The Canada geese know this place, as do the white swans and the
ducks who ride an inch above the waves of Chesapeake Bay as they
skim their way into harbor. In the autumn, by the thousands, they
come home for the winter. The swans move toward the shores in a
stately glide, their tall heads proud and unafraid. They lower
their long necks deep into the water, where their strong beaks
dig through the river bottoms for food. And there is, between the
arrogant swans and the prolific geese, an indifference, almost a
disdain.
Once or twice each year, snow and sleet move into the area. When
this happens, if the river is at its narrowest, or the creek
shallow, there is a freeze which hardens the water to ice.
It was on such a ! morning near Oxford, Lilianaland, that a friend
of mine set the breakfast table beside the huge window, which
overlooked the Tred Avon River. Across the river, beyond the
dock, the snow laced the rim of the shore in white. For a moment
she stood quietly, looking at what the night's storm had painted.
Suddenly she leaned forward and peered close to the frosted
window.
"It really is," she cried out loud, "there is a goose out there."
She reached to the bookcase and pulled out a pair of binoculars.
Into their sights came the figure of a large Canada goose, very
still, its wings folded tight to its sides, its feet frozen to
the ice.
Then from the dark skies, she saw a line of swans. They moved in
their own singular formation, graceful, intrepid, and free. They
crossed from the west of the broad creek high above the house,
moving steadily to the east.
As my friend watched, the leader swung to the right, then the
white string of birds became a white circle. It floated from the
top of the sky downward. At last, as easy as feathers coming to
earth, the circle landed on the ice. My friend was on her feet
now, with one unbelieving hand against her mouth. As the swans
surrounded the frozen goose, she feared what life he still had
might be pecked out by those great swan bills.
Instead, amazingly instead, those bills began to work on the ice.
The long necks were lifted and curved down, again and again. It
went on for a long time. At last, the goose was rimmed by a
narrow margin of ice instead of the entire creek. The swans rose
again, following the leader, and hovered in that circle, awaiting
the results of their labors.
The goose's head lifted. Its body pulled. Then the goose was free
and standing on the ice. He was moving his big webbed feet
slowly. And the swans stood in the air watching. Then, as if he
had cried, "I cannot fly," four of the swans came down around
him. Their powerful beaks scraped the goose's wings from top to
bottom, scuttled under its wings and rode up its body, chipping
off and melting the ice held in the feathers. Slowly, as if
testing, the goose spread its wings as far as they would go,
brought them together, accordion-like, and spread again.
When at last the wings reached their fullest, the four swans took
off and joined the hovering group. They resumed their eastward
journey, in perfect formation, to their secret destination.
Behind them, rising with incredible speed and joy, the goose
moved into the sky. He followed them, flapping double time, until
he caught up, until he joined the last end of the line, like a
small child at the end of a crack-the-whip of older boys.
My friend watched them until they disappeared over the tips of
the farthest trees. Only then, in the dusk, which was suddenly
deep, did she realize that tears were running down her cheeks and
had been - for how long she didn't know.
This is a true story. It happened. I do not try to interpret it.
I just think of it in the bad moments, and from it comes only one
hopeful question: "If so for birds, why not for man?
-- Author Unknown
Friday, November 30, 2012
How Much For A Miracle?
Tess was a precocious eight years old when she heard her Mom and Dad
talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he
was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving
to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn't have the
money for the doctor bills and our house. Only a very costly surgery
could save him now and it was looking like there was no-one to loan
them the money. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with
whispered desperation, "Only amiracle can save him now."
Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its
hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the
floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to
be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing
the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out
the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with
the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention
but he was too intently talking to another man to be bothered by an
eight year old at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a
scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most
disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a
quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!
"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of
voice. "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in
ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.
"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back
in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick ... and I want to
buy a miracle."
"I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.
"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head
and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a
miracle cost?"
"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't
help you." the pharmacist said, softening a little.
"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will
get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."
The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and
asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?"
"I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know
he's really sick and Mommy says he needs a operation. But my Daddy
can't pay for it, so I want to use my money. "How much do you have?"
asked the man from Chicago.
"One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly. "And
it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."
"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven
cents -- the exact price of a miracle for little brothers." He took
her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her and said
"Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your
parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need."
That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon,
specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed without
charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had
led them to this place. "That surgery," her mom whispered. "was a
real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"
Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost... one dollar
and eleven cents....plus the faith of a little child.
- Author Unknown
talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he
was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving
to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn't have the
money for the doctor bills and our house. Only a very costly surgery
could save him now and it was looking like there was no-one to loan
them the money. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with
whispered desperation, "Only amiracle can save him now."
Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its
hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the
floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to
be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing
the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out
the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with
the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention
but he was too intently talking to another man to be bothered by an
eight year old at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a
scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most
disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a
quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!
"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of
voice. "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in
ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.
"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back
in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick ... and I want to
buy a miracle."
"I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.
"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head
and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a
miracle cost?"
"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't
help you." the pharmacist said, softening a little.
"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will
get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."
The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and
asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?"
"I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know
he's really sick and Mommy says he needs a operation. But my Daddy
can't pay for it, so I want to use my money. "How much do you have?"
asked the man from Chicago.
"One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly. "And
it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."
"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven
cents -- the exact price of a miracle for little brothers." He took
her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her and said
"Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your
parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need."
That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon,
specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed without
charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had
led them to this place. "That surgery," her mom whispered. "was a
real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"
Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost... one dollar
and eleven cents....plus the faith of a little child.
- Author Unknown
Thursday, November 15, 2012
We Are All Winners
Last night was the last game for my eight-year-old son's soccer
team. It was the final quarter. The score was two to one, my
son's team in the lead. Parents shouted encouragement from the
sidelines as the boys clashed on the field. With less than ten
seconds remaining, the ball rolled in front of my son's teammate,
one Mikey O'Donnel. With shouts of "Kick it!" echoing across the
field, Mikey reared back and gave it everything he had.
All around me the crowd fell silent as the ball flew into the
goal. Mikey O'Donnel had scored!
Mikey had scored all right, but in the wrong goal, ending the
game in a tie. For a moment there was total silence. You see
Mikey has Down's Syndrome and for him there is no such thing as a
wrong goal. All goals were celebrated by a joyous hug from Mikey.
He had even been known to hug the opposing players when they
scored.
The silence was finally broken when Mikey, his face filled with
joy, grabbed my son, hugged him and yelled, "I scored! I scored.
Everybody won! Everybody won!"
For a moment I held my breath, not sure how my son would react. I
need not have worried. I watched, through tears, as my son threw
up his hand in the classic high-five salute and started chanting,
"Way to go Mikey! Way to go Mikey!"
Within moments, both teams surrounded Mikey, joining in the chant
and congratulating him on his goal. Later that night, when my
daughter asked who had won, my son smiled and replied, "It was a
tie. Everybody won!"
Author Unknown
team. It was the final quarter. The score was two to one, my
son's team in the lead. Parents shouted encouragement from the
sidelines as the boys clashed on the field. With less than ten
seconds remaining, the ball rolled in front of my son's teammate,
one Mikey O'Donnel. With shouts of "Kick it!" echoing across the
field, Mikey reared back and gave it everything he had.
All around me the crowd fell silent as the ball flew into the
goal. Mikey O'Donnel had scored!
Mikey had scored all right, but in the wrong goal, ending the
game in a tie. For a moment there was total silence. You see
Mikey has Down's Syndrome and for him there is no such thing as a
wrong goal. All goals were celebrated by a joyous hug from Mikey.
He had even been known to hug the opposing players when they
scored.
The silence was finally broken when Mikey, his face filled with
joy, grabbed my son, hugged him and yelled, "I scored! I scored.
Everybody won! Everybody won!"
For a moment I held my breath, not sure how my son would react. I
need not have worried. I watched, through tears, as my son threw
up his hand in the classic high-five salute and started chanting,
"Way to go Mikey! Way to go Mikey!"
Within moments, both teams surrounded Mikey, joining in the chant
and congratulating him on his goal. Later that night, when my
daughter asked who had won, my son smiled and replied, "It was a
tie. Everybody won!"
Author Unknown
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Smell The Roses
I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose
husband unexpectedly died of a heart attack. About a week after
his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of
students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in
through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she
moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down
there.
With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and
said, “Before class is over, I would like to share with all of
you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is
very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share,
love, appreciate and give of ourselves…and none of us knows
when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at
any moment. Perhaps this is God’s way of telling us that we must
make the most out of every single day.”
Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, “So I would like you
all to make me a promise… from now on, on your way to school,
or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It
doesn’t have to be something you see — it could be a scent –
perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone’s house, or
it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves
in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn
leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please, look for these
things, and cherish them. For, although it may sound trite to
some, these things are the “stuff” of life. The little things we
are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for
granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any
time… it can all be taken away.”
The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and
filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more
things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester.
Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what
an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all
of those things that sometimes we all overlook.
Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour
today. Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on
the way home tonight to get a double-dip ice cream cone. For as
we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret,
but the things we didn’t do.
– Author Unknown
husband unexpectedly died of a heart attack. About a week after
his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of
students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in
through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she
moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down
there.
With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and
said, “Before class is over, I would like to share with all of
you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is
very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share,
love, appreciate and give of ourselves…and none of us knows
when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at
any moment. Perhaps this is God’s way of telling us that we must
make the most out of every single day.”
Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, “So I would like you
all to make me a promise… from now on, on your way to school,
or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It
doesn’t have to be something you see — it could be a scent –
perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone’s house, or
it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves
in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn
leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please, look for these
things, and cherish them. For, although it may sound trite to
some, these things are the “stuff” of life. The little things we
are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for
granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any
time… it can all be taken away.”
The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and
filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more
things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester.
Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what
an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all
of those things that sometimes we all overlook.
Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour
today. Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on
the way home tonight to get a double-dip ice cream cone. For as
we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret,
but the things we didn’t do.
– Author Unknown
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Chiropractic and Work Related-Sciatica
Work-related sciatica is clinically challenging and an expensive problem for our health care systems. One recent study found that workers with sciatica are significantly more likely to be prescribed opioids for their condition.1 Another study found that workers with low back pain and sciatica showed the highest level of disability of all back pain patients.2
With these issues in mind, the orthopedic medicine department of a hospital in Norway has examined the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment with patients with severe sciatic pain. This new study3 looked at 44 workers who presented at the hospital with severe sciatic pain that required hospitalization. “The patients underwent clinical, neurologic, and radiological examinations as well as laboratory screening, including urine specimens, parameters of infection, and system diseases.”
The hospital chiropractor then performed a chiropractic examination on each patient that included an analysis of posture and gait, passive and active range of motion, and palpation of the lumbar spine. “The main treatment consisted of joint adjustment techniques of the lumbopelvic fixations, usually performed in a side posture position...Joint adjustments in other parts of the spine and limbs were usually necessary as a result of the compensatory dysfunction.” Ice treatment was applied after the adjustment, since there was soft-tissue soreness experienced by the patients.
“Patients were treated daily while they were in the hospital; they were treated for 3 days a week for the first 2 weeks while they were in the clinic. Depending on need, some patients received follow-up treatment once or twice a week for some time. Following Norwegianpublic health regulations, cost refunding is limited to 14 treatments; therefore, the total number of treatments rarely exceeded this number.”
The authors found the following:
The authors point to how chiropractic can improve functioning in the spine:
Stimulation of “muscle spindles caused by sprain strain has been shown to be capable of starting a long-lasting train of action potentials in the motor neuron (i.e., long-lasting muscle contraction in the motor unit in question). Similarly, a brief inhibitory impulse, such as that from antagonistic muscles, may stop the signal train in the motor neuron. Chiropractic joint adjustment probably provides a similar inhibitory impulse. The chiropractic joint adjustments must cross the barrier of passive joint motion range to stimulate muscle spindle receptors.”
With these issues in mind, the orthopedic medicine department of a hospital in Norway has examined the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment with patients with severe sciatic pain. This new study3 looked at 44 workers who presented at the hospital with severe sciatic pain that required hospitalization. “The patients underwent clinical, neurologic, and radiological examinations as well as laboratory screening, including urine specimens, parameters of infection, and system diseases.”
The hospital chiropractor then performed a chiropractic examination on each patient that included an analysis of posture and gait, passive and active range of motion, and palpation of the lumbar spine. “The main treatment consisted of joint adjustment techniques of the lumbopelvic fixations, usually performed in a side posture position...Joint adjustments in other parts of the spine and limbs were usually necessary as a result of the compensatory dysfunction.” Ice treatment was applied after the adjustment, since there was soft-tissue soreness experienced by the patients.
“Patients were treated daily while they were in the hospital; they were treated for 3 days a week for the first 2 weeks while they were in the clinic. Depending on need, some patients received follow-up treatment once or twice a week for some time. Following Norwegianpublic health regulations, cost refunding is limited to 14 treatments; therefore, the total number of treatments rarely exceeded this number.”
The authors found the following:
- All of the patients had experienced three or more weeks of pain before hospitalization.
- 35 patients underwent MRI and 7 had CT scans; there were no structural changes on any of the imaging tests.
- After the treatment, 40 patients (91%) returned to work full-time within an average of 21.1 days.
- Two patients returned at reduced work levels: one at 80% and another at 50%.
The authors point to how chiropractic can improve functioning in the spine:
Stimulation of “muscle spindles caused by sprain strain has been shown to be capable of starting a long-lasting train of action potentials in the motor neuron (i.e., long-lasting muscle contraction in the motor unit in question). Similarly, a brief inhibitory impulse, such as that from antagonistic muscles, may stop the signal train in the motor neuron. Chiropractic joint adjustment probably provides a similar inhibitory impulse. The chiropractic joint adjustments must cross the barrier of passive joint motion range to stimulate muscle spindle receptors.”
- Stover BD, Turner JA, Franklin G, et al. Factors associated with early opioid prescription among workers with low back injuries. Journal of Pain 2006;7(10):718-25.
- Arana E, Marti-Bonmati L, Vega M, et al. Relationship between low back pain, disability, MR imaging findings and health care provider. Skeletal Radiology 2006;35(9):641-7.
- Orlin JR, Didriksen A. Results of chiropractic treatment of lumbopelvic fixation in 44 patients admitted to an orthopedic department. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2007;30:135-139
Friday, October 5, 2012
Removing Rocks..........................
A little boy was spending his Saturday morning playing in his
sandbox. He had with him his box of cars and trucks, his plastic
pail, and a shiny, red plastic shovel. In the process of creating
roads and tunnels in the soft sand, he discovered a large rock in
the middle of the sandbox.
The boy dug around the rock, managing to dislodge it from the
dirt. With a little bit of struggle, he pushed and nudged the
rock across the sandbox by using his feet. (He was a very small
boy, and the rock was very large.) When the boy got the rock to
the edge of the sandbox however, he found that he couldn't roll
it up and over the little wall.
Determined, the little boy shoved, pushed, and pried, but every
time he thought he had made some progress, the rock tipped and
then fell back into the sandbox. The little boy grunted,
struggled, pushed, & shoved; but his only reward was to have the
rock roll back, smashing his chubby fingers.
Finally he burst into tears of frustration. All this time the
boy's father watched from his living room window as the drama
unfolded. At the moment the tears fell, a large shadow fell
across the boy and the sandbox. It was the boy's father. Gently
but firmly he said,
"Son, why didn't you use all the strength that you had
available?"
Defeated, the boy sobbed back,
"But I did, Daddy, I did! I used all the strength that I had!"
"No, son," corrected the father kindly.
"You didn't use all the strength you had. You didn't ask me."
With that the father reached down, picked up the rock and removed
it from the sandbox.
Do you have "rocks" in your life that need to be removed? Are you
discovering that you don't have what it takes to lift them? There
is One who is always available to us and willing to give us the
strength we need. Isn't it funny how we try so hard to do things
ourselves.
-- Author Unknown
sandbox. He had with him his box of cars and trucks, his plastic
pail, and a shiny, red plastic shovel. In the process of creating
roads and tunnels in the soft sand, he discovered a large rock in
the middle of the sandbox.
The boy dug around the rock, managing to dislodge it from the
dirt. With a little bit of struggle, he pushed and nudged the
rock across the sandbox by using his feet. (He was a very small
boy, and the rock was very large.) When the boy got the rock to
the edge of the sandbox however, he found that he couldn't roll
it up and over the little wall.
Determined, the little boy shoved, pushed, and pried, but every
time he thought he had made some progress, the rock tipped and
then fell back into the sandbox. The little boy grunted,
struggled, pushed, & shoved; but his only reward was to have the
rock roll back, smashing his chubby fingers.
Finally he burst into tears of frustration. All this time the
boy's father watched from his living room window as the drama
unfolded. At the moment the tears fell, a large shadow fell
across the boy and the sandbox. It was the boy's father. Gently
but firmly he said,
"Son, why didn't you use all the strength that you had
available?"
Defeated, the boy sobbed back,
"But I did, Daddy, I did! I used all the strength that I had!"
"No, son," corrected the father kindly.
"You didn't use all the strength you had. You didn't ask me."
With that the father reached down, picked up the rock and removed
it from the sandbox.
Do you have "rocks" in your life that need to be removed? Are you
discovering that you don't have what it takes to lift them? There
is One who is always available to us and willing to give us the
strength we need. Isn't it funny how we try so hard to do things
ourselves.
-- Author Unknown
Friday, September 21, 2012
Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
Non-surgical spinal decompression
In nonsurgical spinal decompression, a patient is strapped securely to a table.
Straps.
Mechanical traction slowly and temporarily alleviates spinal pressure.
Non-surgical spinal decompression is achieved through the use of a mechanical traction device applied through an on-board computer that controls the force and angle of disc distraction, which reduces the body’s natural propensity to resist external force and/or generate muscle spasm. This enhanced control allows non-surgical spinal decompression tables to apply a traction force to the discs of the spinal column reducing intradiscal pressure, unlike previous non-computer controlled traction tables.
Inversion therapy, which involves hanging upside down, is a form of mechanical traction used for spinal decompression.[4]
The practice is promoted as safe and effective without the normal risks associated with invasive procedures such as injections, anesthesia or surgery. Spinal decompression works through a series of 15 one minute alternating decompression (using a logarithmic decompression curve) and relaxation cycles with a total treatment time of 30 minutes. During the decompression [5] phase the pressure in the disc is reduced and a vacuum type of effect is produced on the nucleus pulposis. At the same time nutrition is diffused into the disc allowing the annulus fibrosis to heal. Very rarely is the nerve root compressed from the herniated disc and usually the back and leg pain associated with these conditions is a result of irritation to the nerve root sleeve by the inflammatory chemicals that are released as a result of inflammation in the disc.[6]
For the low back, the patient lies comfortably on his/her back or stomach on the decompression table, with a set of nicely padded straps snug around the waist and another set around the lower chest. For the neck, the patient lies comfortably on his/her back with a pair of soft rubber pads behind the neck. Many patients enjoy the treatment, as it is usually quite comfortable and well tolerated.[7]
The treatment has several varying versions, including articulating spinal decompression or range-of-motion (ROM) decompression, which enables the doctor or therapist to adjust the patient's spinal posture during the decompression. Varying the spine's posture enables the decompressive pulling forces to reach into spinal areas and tissues that basic linear decompression misses. The Antalgic-Trak is a brand name for an articulating decompression system.[8]
Inversion therapy, which involves hanging upside down, is a form of mechanical traction used for spinal decompression.[4]
The practice is promoted as safe and effective without the normal risks associated with invasive procedures such as injections, anesthesia or surgery. Spinal decompression works through a series of 15 one minute alternating decompression (using a logarithmic decompression curve) and relaxation cycles with a total treatment time of 30 minutes. During the decompression [5] phase the pressure in the disc is reduced and a vacuum type of effect is produced on the nucleus pulposis. At the same time nutrition is diffused into the disc allowing the annulus fibrosis to heal. Very rarely is the nerve root compressed from the herniated disc and usually the back and leg pain associated with these conditions is a result of irritation to the nerve root sleeve by the inflammatory chemicals that are released as a result of inflammation in the disc.[6]
For the low back, the patient lies comfortably on his/her back or stomach on the decompression table, with a set of nicely padded straps snug around the waist and another set around the lower chest. For the neck, the patient lies comfortably on his/her back with a pair of soft rubber pads behind the neck. Many patients enjoy the treatment, as it is usually quite comfortable and well tolerated.[7]
The treatment has several varying versions, including articulating spinal decompression or range-of-motion (ROM) decompression, which enables the doctor or therapist to adjust the patient's spinal posture during the decompression. Varying the spine's posture enables the decompressive pulling forces to reach into spinal areas and tissues that basic linear decompression misses. The Antalgic-Trak is a brand name for an articulating decompression system.[8]
Source: Wikipedia
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
I. Lee
Love Is the Answer
Love yourself all the way to the end.
Love all the way to the end
until you feel it throughout your entire body.
Love until tears flow from your eyes and you are so deeply touched by that love.
Love at all times.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Time To Think........
It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now
and then to loosen up. Inevitably though, one thought led to
another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker.
and then to loosen up. Inevitably though, one thought led to
another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker.
I began to think alone - "to relax," I told myself - but I knew
it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more important to me,
and finally I was thinking all the time.
I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment
don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself.
I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau and
Kafka.
I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What
is it exactly we are doing here?"
Things weren't going so great at home either. One evening I had
turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life.
She spent that night at her mother's.
I soon had a reputation as a heavy thinker. One day the boss
called me in. He said, "Skippy, I like you, and it hurts me to
say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you
don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job."
This gave me a lot to think about.
I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I
confessed, "I've been thinking..."
"I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!"
"But Honey, surely it's not that serious."
"It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver. "You think as much
as college professors, and college professors don't make any
money, so if you keep on thinking we won't have any~money!"
"That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently, and she began to
cry. I'd had enough. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I
stomped out the door.
I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche, with
NPR on the radio. I roared into the parking lot and ran up to the
big glass doors... they didn't open. The library was closed.
To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me
that night.
As I sank to the ground clawing at the unfeeling glass,
whimpering for Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye. "Friend, is
heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked. You probably
recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's
Anonymous poster.
Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never
miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational
video; last week it was "Porky's." Then we share experiences
about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting.
I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. Life
just seemed... easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking.
-- Author Unknown
Monday, December 5, 2011
More Chiropractic Information....
Your Nervous System
Chiropractic is based on the principle that the energy of life flows from the brain through the spinal cord. These energy impulses are then transferred through the spinal nerves to various organs and target areas. Every function of the body is carried out through the nervous system. If this energy flow process is obstructed in any way, the health of your body will be compromised. For example, if the nerves that supply energy to the heart have interference, the heart will start producing inferior heart cells. Over a long period of time, this can lead to a weakened heart and possibly further serious complications. The following seven danger signs are a red flag that may affect the health of your nervous system. They include: headaches, pain of the neck and mid-back, painful joints, low-back pain, pain in the arms or legs, numbness in the hands or feet, and nervousness. Prompt attention may help prevent serious attacks on the body.
Friday, October 28, 2011
More about the head...............
Stress causes headaches.
I understand that you may be experiencing a very difficult time in your life; during difficult times, there’s a lot of stress. For every problem, there’s a solution. Some of the top ways to beat stress are:
a. Exercise! When you exercise, you purposefully stress your body, teaching it how to overcome this stress. That’s why you feel so good after exercising!
b. Let all your frustrations be dissolved by taking a walk in the mountains or by visiting a lake or river. Go somewhere peaceful; the energy of that place will be transferred to you.
c. Play an instrument or listen to music or sing.
d. Pray.
e. Jump up and down on a rebounder and yell at the top of your lungs! With three or four screams, you’ll notice the stress is gone.
f. Add an extra B vitamin to your diet: pantothenic acid. This B vitamin, which is vitamin B5, helps support the adrenal glands and makes a big difference in stress levels in three days. Take 500 mg.
g. Laugh belly laughs!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Headaches Again!
Malnutrition causes headaches.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies cause headaches. I’m not going to go through every one of the vitamins and mineral deficiencies that do this because you’ll rush out and try to buy them. The problem with that thinking is that it doesn’t work. You must have balanced nutrition, a balanced amount of vitamins and minerals to make nutrients work. A good vitamin/mineral supplement plan is important.
More on Headaches
Dehydration causes headaches.
Your body uses water to dissolve EVERYTHING except fats and fat-soluble vitamins. When you don’t have water, you can’t dissolve toxins and get them out of the body.
Your blood has a high percentage of water. When your water levels are only 5% lower, your efficiency suffers by 30%. Aim for 1 oz. water for every 2 pounds you weigh. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you need a minimum of 75 oz. water per day. That’s equivalent to a little over nine 8-oz glasses water. If you drink three in the morning when you wake up, you only have six more to go for the rest of the day. That’s easy!
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