Are you going to be the one who raises others up? Or tears them down?

A number of years ago, I went with friend to see the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.  I had seen it numerous times before and it was always a magnificent show.  We got a great deal on tickets since they were giving away orchestra seats for opening day prices in celebration of the show's anniversary.  We were front row center, just a few rows back from the stage.

I don't know a nice way to put this, so I'm just going to say it: It was awful.  The actors were singing off-key and seemed not to know their cues or lines...  I couldn't believe these were supposed to be professionals!!  I've never been more disappointed in a Broadway performance.  I felt like *I* could do a better job.

But then... the magic happened...

The man who played the Phantom came out on the stage.  And he was good.  No; he was more than good... he was amazing.  He was so good, in fact, that just his presence on the stage elevated everyone else's performance. It fascinated me as I sat there, reflecting how one person's performance could have such a dramatic effect on the entire show;  one person's behavior could change the whole dynamic.

We have a choice to make when going about our daily existence.  We can choose to "be the light in the darkness," as a wise preacher once told me, or we can add to that darkness.  How do you choose to show up?  Are you doing your best to elevate those around you by your performance, allowing us to all be in a better position to thrive?  Are you going to be the "light in the darkness?"  Or are you going to contribute to the chaos and darkness that exists in this world?  As with everything, the choice is yours.  What impact do YOU choose to have on the world?

Pooping is FUN!!

I have a patient.  We'll call her M.  M is an adorable little girl who I have been seeing on and off since infancy.  M's mom called me up one day when M was about 3 years old, and said that she had to bring her in.  She hadn't had a bowel movement in two weeks.  "TWO WEEKS? !" I exclaimed.  That's an awfully long time for ANYone!  Mom explained that usually prune juice did the trick but it didn't seem to be working.  I was concerned that there might be a bowel obstruction but since M wasn't showing any physical signs of distress, I thought it would be best to get her adjusted.

When she came in, I found multiple subluxations in her pelvis, low back, and upper neck.  This justified her presenting symptoms: the nerves in the low back and pelvis control the lower digestive tract and elimination while the upper neck dominates overall visceral functioning with it's relationship to the vagus nerve.  So, as I always do with my patients, I found it, fixed it, left it alone, and let her body take over the healing process as it was designed to do.  I warned Mom that if things did not change soon, a medical response would be required, and I sent them on their way.

Within a half hour, I got a text from Mom... M went to the bathroom as soon as they got home.  Afterwards, she proclaimed, "Pooping's FUN, Mommy!!!" and proceeded to play "Chiropractor" by pretending to adjust Mom.   Perhaps we have a future Chiropractor on our hands?

Why I spread my message to people who don't want to listen...

When I first started Chiropractic School, I was on fire with the passion to spread the Chiropractic message.  Any time I came across someone with a health issue, I would start telling them how Chiropractic could help.  But sitting at a family function last week, listening to a number of people gripe about their health issues and brag about the ways they've found to fix (aka cover up) the problem all by themselves,  I became frustrated.

The things they are experiencing are red flags of serious conditions lurking under the surface that no amount of medication is going to heal!  They've heard the miracles that occur in my office, and yet they don't seem to want that for themselves.  Do they not think it will work for them?  Are they deluded into believing that chemicals can grant them long-term quality of life?  Have they just decided that they'll worry about it later, when things are broken down past the point of repair?  Or are they convinced that the negative consequences will never catch up to them?  When they think of how many years they could potentially be on this earth, how could they not want to take care of the only body they'll ever have??? They treat their cars better!

It hit me, as I sat there biting my tongue, that somewhere along the way, I realized that some people just don't want my help.  I've already told them what Chiropractic can do for them.  I've told them how serious the condition is.  I wonder if I'm doing the right thing by giving up on them and quite honestly, I'm torn.

If someone had the answer to my problem - an answer that would make my life happier, longer, and more rewarding - I would feel cheated if they didn't share it.  Actually, I would probably want them to take me by the shoulders and shake some sense into me until I listened.

And this is why, despite the knowledge that many people don't want my help, I still find myself telling complete strangers, as well as friends and family, what chiropractic can do for them.  Most of the time, they brush it off, and continue living their sub-par existence, with their body and mind just struggling to exist in this world... but sometimes... they actually listen... and I get to see their lives transform.  And THAT really is a beautiful thing.  Those moments make all the rolled eyes worth it.

Don't be afraid to share the message... you might just save a life.