July 2009

"It is part of the cure to wish to be cured."
Seneca

     These are very wise and powerful words from a very wise and powerful man. I always tell my patients and my teams in both of my practices that "A patient does not get well unless he or she wants to." What I mean by that is that a person becomes ill in many different ways for many different reasons. Some of which involve their mental and or social circumstances not just the physical aspect, although many of the mental and social issues that people deal with in their lives are certainly manifested physically. In my Family Health and Wellness Program™ I tell everyone in attendance that the definition of health is not just the opposite end of the spectrum from the state of disease and sickness. In fact the definition of HEALTH according to Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary is: A state of complete physical, mental, or social well being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity. For these reasons a person's active participation in the recovery process is imperative in order for that person to reach his or her "Maximum Health Potential". It is in fact an essential component in that individual's recovery for him or her to be a participant. The days of thinking that you are going to go to the doctor who will give you the "magic elixir" that will make it all go away are gone. They perished just like the childhood dreams of a Tinker Bell-like little fairy flying into our bedrooms while we slept expectantly with that recently exfoliated tooth under our pillows. The patient is a participant in the healing process, not an uninvolved and innocent bystander. Every patient who goes through a report of findings for his or her case in my office hears the following statement at the end of the report: "There are only two things that I EXPECT from every patient that I accept for care in my office. One is that you will do the things that I ask you to at home. Two is that you are here when you are scheduled to be so that I can do the things that I need to for you." That is it. They are RESPONSIBLE for their Health and Participants in their Recovery!

THINK RIGHT

My Patient Jim

    Many years ago I had the opportunity to treat a patient named Jim. Jim had a condition which was arthritic in nature. When I first saw Jim his condition wasn't really severe, and was handled relatively easily for him. I warned Jim however, that at that time he needed to take care of the condition and do the right preventative things so that it didn't progress. I have to say that Jim was probably the most negative person I have ever met. His negativity was so extreme that it didn't matter what the circumstances or how good things appeared, Jim would be able to point out the one minute detail that may go wrong with the situation. I know that we have all known someone like this in our lives, but there were a few interesting aspects to Jim's particular situation that I have to share with everyone in my Inner Health Circle™, which I would like to have you keep in mind. First, Jim was a salesman. Now for any of you in the sales force (realize that we are all selling something to someone, be it an idea or a widget) you realize how important your attitude is in making a sale. Read full article

SPECIAL FEATURE

"A Drug by Any Other Name"

     Many fans from around the world watched in disbelief the news that Michael Jackson died of an apparent "Cardiac Arrest". While M.J. was undoubtedly an extremely talented and creative performer, he also was a very troubled individual. He was a person, as many have said, who appeared to have everything but was constantly searching for what was missing. Unfortunately he ended up depending on support from prescription drugs to facilitate a normal lifestyle. As many in his profession before him have done, he used DRUGS... Read full article

MOVE RIGHT

Getting Your Groove, I Mean Balance Back
by Kim Fallon, Certified Personal Trainer kim@heartinmotion.net

     We all know the saying "you lose what you don't use" and it rings true in so many ways. Let's focus on an area of our physical well being that we often forget about yet we most definitely lose as we age. It is balance. Seems simple enough until we're challenged in an unexpected way and the result is an injury far worse than ever anticipated by just being "off-balance". Good balance and coordination may or may not come easily to you, however, with proper instruction and practice, everyone can improve these skills which can become life-savers in our later years. Read full article

Parting Thought

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time or the last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory."
Betty Smith