My kids are memorizing a quote, “Life is
not about waiting for the storm clouds to pass, it’s about dancing
in the rain”. I love the message of this quote, though it makes me
wonder: how often are there storm clouds because we make them? Do
our poor dietary choices, exercise, spiritual habits and/or mental
stimulation cause us to play the odds against us, thus bringing
clouds into our lives?
In truth, life allows us to play the odds in our favor. I do this by
carefully choosing my lifestyle, the things I do, the people I’m
around, and my environment. I select how I spend my time and
resources so as to get the outcomes I desire: people and events that
fill my life with worth and joy. There are very few “sure things”
(other than death and taxes) in this life; however, most outcomes
are a direct result of choices we have made.
For example, because I have a satellite office in Valdez I drive
back and forth once or twice a month to work with my patients—that’s
a 600 mile road trip! I drive a big truck, a Ford Excursion, for
several reasons; to keep my family safe, to ensure I can get through
the blowing snow and winds of Thompson Pass, and to help pull other
people out of the snow banks (people driving too fast, against the
odds). That big truck is not cheap to own or drive, but it has paid
for itself several times over, most recently on my last trip to
Valdez.
I unintentionally went moose hunting without a rifle. It’s not my
favorite way to hunt—you do major damage to your vehicle, and while
you “get” the moose you don’t get to keep the meat (instead, another
family had their freezer filled). There was no winner, but I played
the odds in my favor that I would be safer in my Excursion than in
something smaller, cheaper, and more economical. I am still here and
able to write this article with my family safe and sound. Anything
smaller than the vehicle I was in and the moose would have been
sitting in my lap, or worse.
To play the odds, you have to know the game and the rules. The most
pressing and important game is life, and the rules are set by
truths. I spend lots of time and money (in the form of continuing
education, books, and videos) searching for ways to help guide my
patients in their quest for a better life. I have found some simple
truths that are often ignored; they are important, however, for they
allow us to better play the odds in our favor.
The first truth, and the most important: you only have one body to
live this life with, so be careful with it! Many of us were reckless
when we were younger and are now suffering the consequences because
we did not see the effects our choices would have on us down the
road. Once you’ve blown out your knees being the high school sports
hero, there is no getting them back—not to mention how fading the
status of high school hero is!
Second truth: live in the moment. The past is gone and the future is
open to endless possibilities. So, don’t limit yourself and don’t
beat yourself up over your mistakes—we’ve all made more than a few.
Enjoy the small things of life, the joys in every day. Many are
familiar with the analogy of a glass that is partially filled with
liquid. Is the glass half full or half empty? I believe the question
is all wrong, limiting our sight and understanding. The glass is
actually completely full. It is full of two things: liquid and air.
Sometimes our perception limits our ability to recognize truth.
Third truth: proper structure allows for function. When your
structure is sound, your function will improve. With my truck as an
example, messed up structure equals poor function. After the
accident I had to slow down to limp into town after the “hunt” (the
body shop was pretty amazed that it even ran after the accident).
Structure is not just bones and muscle but the very cells of our
body. A healthy blood cell has a particular structure that allows it
to perform its function of carrying the oxygen our body needs and
then to pass through capillaries—another structure that must have a
perfect fit. Each body part individually and collectively has a
structure designed for specific functions.
Fourth truth: the body, mind, and soul all need to be fed. “Garbage
in, garbage out” applies to not only our body but also our mind and
soul. We cannot just feed one and be healthy. Good nutrition and
exercise are necessary for the body as well as for the spirit and
mind. Regular study and thought provoking interactions are necessary
for the mind to stay sharp to help it maintain control over the body
and be at peace with the spirit. Meditation, prayer, and spiritual
study are necessary for the spirit to stay in harmony with the
values of your belief system. When we make choices that go against
our value system, we develop serious internal stresses that affect
all of our body functions.
Truth number five: we are a whole, connected entity. We cannot
ignore one part and expect the rest not to suffer. As a chiropractor
I frequently remind my patents that we need to work on the whole
body even when only one area feels hurt. Elbow pains disappear after
working on the upper back, headaches vanish after adjusting the low
back, and ankle pain diminishes after aligning the neck. The
symptoms are often not where the true problem is. We are made of
many parts working together—small individual parts of a much larger
and complex body.
Truth six: there is a price to pay, whether now or later. If you pay
now for the proper food and care, you play the odds in your favor
for the body to function as it should for as long as it should. The
cost is payable along the way (maintenance) or in a lump sum at the
end (hospitalization, diabetes, drugs), but it will be paid. How
much you pay early on is much more negotiable than the price you pay
later for “emergency” care.
And truth number seven: healthcare begins with you and living
healthy—not with your doctor. Remember that lifestyles are choices
but outcomes are not; so, pick your lifestyle carefully and play the
odds to have the outcome you desire.
If you are not happy with your life it may be because some of your
past lifestyle choices have led you to where you are now. Continuing
in the same direction will not change the outcome. As you continue
this journey of life, I encourage you to seek more truths so that
you can better play the odds in your favor. And, remember: when the
clouds come, grab your raincoat and dance!
Michael Olkjer is a 2nd
generation Palmer Chiropractor graduate. At his office he witnesses
the miracle of body healing itself when it has the correct
structural support, nutritional support and mental/spiritual
support. 337-3422.
