Finding Balance
If you're anything like me, finding balance in today's world seems close to impossible. We are constantly being stretched in so many directions that we never find time to focus on what may truly lead to more happiness and joy in our lives. In fact, what we end up with is the opposite, unhappiness, overwhelm, and a loss of purpose or direction in life. In order to regain control, values must be realized and priorities set. Only then can balance be found resulting in a greater sense of well being and fulfillment.
To learn more about finding balance in your life, read my latest article written for Naturally Savvy at http://www.naturallysavvy.com/stress-and-balance/healing-through-balance
The Healing Power of Gratitude
You can now read my most recent article, "The Healing Power of Gratitude," written for the website Naturally Savvy at http://www.naturallysavvy.com/mind-and-mental-health/the-healing-power-of-gratitude.
After experiencing life threatening injuries in a car accident I was involved in one year ago, my appreciation and gratitude for life has been dramatically altered and increased. What's interesting to consider is that the things I love and appreciate the most (family, friends, the miracle/experience of life, etc) didn't change, but my perspective of them did. Today, I spend more time in solitude and prayer, reflecting on the gifts that I now feel blessed to have received. It's through this practice that that I continue to cultivate a deeper, more fulfilling, relationship with life.
As if that wasn't enough, current research is showing significant health benefits associated with maintaining a state of gratitude. Please read the article to learn more about gratitude, its benefits, and practices to help you increase your experience of it.
Embracing Life
I was driving to the grocery store after dinner yesterday with my four year old daughter, Amalie, when I came to a stop light at an intersection. As I waited for an opening in traffic to make a right turn, a man on a motorcycle went zipping by. Nothing worth noticing, and in fact, this sight would have probably never consciously been considered until I was forced to replay it a few minutes later. I turned onto the street and drove to the next light where the store was located. As I was about to turn into the parking lot, I saw the motorcycle again. This time, it was lying in the middle of the street and the man who was riding it was slowly attempting to stand up. His young daughter, who looked to be around twelve years old, was frantically screaming "daddy!" on the side of the road. I felt my heart rate increase significantly an everything immediately began feeling very surreal.
I quickly pulled over got out of my car to find the man bleeding profusely from the side of his head. As I approached, he brushed off everyone attempting to help him, slowly started his motorcycle, jumped on, yelled for his daughter to get on the back, and tore off heading back the same way he came.
A group of onlookers, myself included, stood in shock wondering what just happened. Was the man ok? Was his daughter who was on the back of the bike ok? Why was he adamantly refusing all help?
In moments like these, we see a side of life we don't witness very often. We are given a brief glimpse of just how real and fragile life really can be. One moment, this man was riding down the street on his bike, the next, he was lying on the side of the street, lucky to be alive.
This experience was particularly emotional for me because I, too, am lucky to be alive after miraculously surviving a car accident 9 months ago. Unfortunately, it often requires experiences like these to remember the gift we have all been given in life. How amazing every moment is, how sweet each and every breath is, and ultimately, how finite it is.
As I put my kids to bed, I listened intently as Jacob, my seven year old son, read aloud a journal he had been keeping at school. I tucked Jacob and Amalie into bed, at which point they decided to make me the third member of their BFF club, promptly teaching me their secret hand shake, a kiss on each cheek. And only because I had experienced the fragile nature of life, was I able to be so intensely present and grateful, knowing how precious the moment was. I believe that it is in this state that we are able to give and receive the most in life, squeezing every last beautiful experience out of life as if you were juicing a lemon. It allows us to see the world through new eyes, letting go of all the labels we have attached to the world. When we do this, I think we will find that every moment is precious, sacred, and worth being alive for. It is also from this state of love and gratitude that I believe true healing occurs. True healing being healing on a level much deeper than the physical. Being that we cannot take the physical with us once we pass, it is this healing that matters most.
With my children asleep, we had just turned out the light, when my wife's phone rang. It was her mother, her grandfather had passed away. I feel so blessed that I knew him and that my kids had a chance to meet their great grandpa. I wish him the best in the next part of his journey.
What Lies in a Touch
I found this article in the New York Times. I think there is a lot about the workings of human physiology that science has yet to discover and understand and this article begins to explore some of those areas. In our world, we don't give too much thought to a touch between friends, family, acquaintances, and loved ones. Researchers, however, are beginning to show the depth of information exchanged in a touch and the effects it can have on the physiology of the body. Not only does a touch result in "almost immediate changes in how people think and behave," but actually effects the the biochemistry of the body. What I believe is the most significant deduction from the research is mentioned only briefly at the end of the article where it is stated that "A warm touch seems to set off the release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps create a sensation of trust, and to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol."
First, this alone is a significant finding. Cortisol is a stress hormone that, while serving a vital function when the body needs to be in fight or flight mode, in excess wreaks havoc on our overall health and well being. Second, I think this is the tip of the ice burg and many chiropractors have been aware of this for quite some time now. A specific touch at the right time and place can lead to significant changes in the physiology, balancing the nervous system and moving the body from a state of stress to a state of rest. The healing effects one experiences from this action can be very dramatic. It will be exciting to see more research in this area unfold, revealing all of the healing attributes that are hidden in the human touch.
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