DOUBLE DOWN

A common theme for the end of the year has been to DOUBLE DOWN!

There are a couple ways to navigate the holiday season and head into the New Year.

Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan Dr Peabody   Exercise  gym  yoga

The first is to rest on your laurels, let some of the commitments to yourself and your life slack, enjoy the holidays, partake in all the sugary celebrations and day by day become more sluggish on all levels of life.

The second way is to DOUBLE DOWN on your commitments to yourself and your health, clean up your diet and water intake immediately following holiday overindulgences and keep a steady state in your exercise routine.

Every Thursday at 1pm EST, Dr Paula Ruffin and I are live on YouTube and streaming to our social media platforms as we discuss the most pertinent topics of the week in our offices. It has been a great way to connect with all of you and continue to share the messages of health and wellness beyond the four walls of our individual offices. …and it is a LOT OF FUN!

If January 1st, 2025 were the starting line of a race, most people are standing at the starting line and will take off when signaled. If you can picture that in your mind, it is as though a HUGE GROUP of people are standing together in crowds at the start of a 5K race. When the gunshot goes off, everyone starts from that stand still.

The most recent topic has been how to end the year in the strongest way possible and be sure we begin 2025 running at full speed!

If you go strong with your commitments to yourself and however you want 2025 to go, starting right now, you will not be standing still on that starting line. It will be as though you come walking/jogging/sprinting right up to that line and bust through all those who were just standing and waiting for the time to “start”.

When it comes to our health, mindset, work, relationship, etc goals for the year to come, get heading in that direction RIGHT NOW!

Yes, still sit back and enjoy all the cheer of the beautiful holiday season we have ahead of us, but then when the Mondays roll around, clean up the weekend, clean up the body and your health and get going again.

Dr Erica Peabody  Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan Sauna

Looking back on even this past weekend, I had two big celebrations, one Friday night and one Saturday night. Yes I had a couple drinks and delicious food and deserts. But I woke up this morning and chugged a bunch of water, got outside for fresh air and finished the day with an hour long sauna session to sweat it out and detox.

Monday morning will also start with water, fresh air and then heading into the week of work, I stay super committed to being at the gym or yoga studio every single day. If my schedule does not work to make it to either of those, there will be time to get a good 20 minute extra walk in somewhere.

Here is the thing, the choices we make today not only effect today, they really add to or subtract from our internal resilience for the days/weeks/months/years to come. When we can put daily deposits into our internal “resilience fund” we will be able to, not only navigate the holiday season well, we will also be able to stay strong and healthy to ENJOY all the season brings!

So what if you just took this simple idea to DOUBLE DOWN and be sure your commitments to yourself stay front and center in your days ahead. You will not only benefit now, but when the starting line of 2025 is in sight, you will already be IN MOTION! ….and we all know the great law if inertia – A body in motion wants to STAY IN MOTION!

So ask yourself, is there a place in your life that you can DOUBLE DOWN??? Share below in a comment, I want to hear it! You got this!!

SPRINGTIME

There is something super magical about SPRINGTIME here in Michigan and I know you are all feeling it!

Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - Dr Erica Peabody - Expansion

Being that our office is right downtown, we are all always so happy to be part of the walking culture that the DDA of Fenton created for this community!

I often walk outside after a day of work and take a quick jaunt down the street to the post office and put the outgoing mail in the mailbox. Since I am just half a block from there, I usually just continue on around at least the block. But since I am heading around one block, I usually pick one more block….and then one more…and that is how a 20-30 minute walk is done. It goes along with the Law if Inertiaa body in motion will tend to stay in motion…

And if any of you spend any time downtown Fenton, you realize just how much pride people have put into their homes and businesses and IT IS BEAUTIFUL down here!

Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - Dr Erica Peabody Blossoms

Sitting front and center in town for almost 6 solid years already (ALREADY!!!!!), we see lots of people out walking, biking and strolling around. We often see sports teams running by in big groups from Fenton Middle School and Fenton High School. We love all the energy as our community has become a small hub of people taking good care of their bodies and getting their exercise in.

A friend of mine was asking me yesterday how many gyms and fitness centers are in the city of Fenton. I began to list them and it was upwards between 12+ that I could name off the top of my head and I am sure there were some that were skipping my mind. We are fortunate as our city grows, so does our health and wellness culture surrounding it all!

The Peabody Center for Well-Being is the location of Cafe of LIFE Chiropractic office, my chiropractic office and this building is completely occupied with some of the area’s greatest health/wellness/well-being professionals in the area!

Even after 6 years in this location, and many of those years with occupied office spaces, it surprises a lot of people to know that the building houses so many awesome businesses.

About a year ago, we launched a website that serves as a building directory. This is a virtual landing page for all the professionals in the building. I wanted to take a moment and invite you to take a glance through and connect with the businesses that can help you along you and your family’s health and wellness journey!

www.healthyfenton.com

Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - 3 Days In - Dr Erica Peabody (810)69-6023 - Grouchy

Take a moment and browse through the site. This is the location that allows you to directly connect and contact each person to set up your appointments! We keep this information up to date to help you!

Enjoy the SPRINGTIME energy of our world right now and make a plan for the healthiest and happiest season ever!

(CLICK LINK BELOW TO ACCESS BUILDING DIRECTORY)

https://www.healthyfenton.com

DOG MOM LIFE

I am not sure I have actually written much in this space about dog mom life.

It is truly the BEST LIFE!

Most of you already know that Louis came to me is a super roundabout way and I didn’t have any intention of having a dog in my life.  I grew up with dogs and after having to rehome a dog a few years ago, I didn’t have time and space to have a dog in my life…or so I thought.

Obviously having Louis has been one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me.  We are all certain about that! 

Just over 2 years ago, I began to follow a group up in Traverse City who breeds teeny tiny dogs.  I was in communication with them asking what it is like with the teeny tiny dogs in the same home as big dogs.  She graciously answered all of my questions back then though ultimately I decided not to pursue one of their dogs.  I did, however, keep following them and their accounts on social media.

Last September, one of their dogs birthed just a single puppy.  I don’t know much about dogs but I do know that dogs have litters, not single puppies.  I was curious about this little one but more curious how he was born a singleton

Fast forward to the first week in January and the breeder posted on Facebook that they needed to help a family rehome their little dog and that he just wasn’t fitting into their home well enough.  It was on my heart to reach out to talk about this pup and maybe get a chance to meet him. 

During that time, I had remembered that i tuned in when this pup was born as it was the singleton from September!   Apparently when a mom is done having puppies, they spay them (obviously) but when they went to spay her, she was already and unknowingly pregnant.   Her body was done having puppies and so she was unable to support a full litter and only one made it to their birthday.  

I met Tater Tot, formally named Maddox and Nico, the first Friday of January, the family brought him to me so that he and Louis could meet.  

It wasn’t an instant match, but it was a fun playmate that Louis took to right away.  I knew that both Louis and I would need a bit of time to get used to the idea of having this 3 pound pipsqueak around AND I also knew in my heart that it was the right thing to do in that moment. 

So this little one came home with us that day.  

3AM in the morning, I woke up with so much anxiety…HOW ON EARTH IS THIS TEENY TINY 3 POUND BABY GOING TO SURVIVE THE STAIRS IN OUR HOUSE?1/!?!?!?!!!!!!  My house has 4 full flights of wood stairs and there is just no way around it.  In my mind, there was just no way that he would be able to manage going up and down that many stairs when he was smaller than the stair itself!

I wrote to the breeder and also the family to let them know that I made a horrible mistake!  I am still not sure that either of them appreciated a 3AM email but sharing this concern was the only way I was going to be able to go back to sleep!

I awoke to an email from the breeder assuring me that all their little ones eventually learn to work with all the stairs in all the homes that they live in.  

Little did I know that the big guy would also be teaching the little one so many things, including going up the stairs within just a couple days.  Louis would go up to the top of the steps and wait for Tate to do the same.  He would sit at the landing wagging his tail and of course I was there being his cheerleader too.  

He mastered going up the stairs in 2.5 days and another couple days, he mastered going down too.

For those reading this who live in Michigan, you may remember the weather through those winter months.  To be honest, it was very difficult to bundle up 7 times each day to take this little one out.  I also knew that when I took him home on that Friday that I was signing up for that for the season no matter what was happening.  I also had faith that the commitment to that this year would be tough but wouldn’t be every year.  

The biggest concern of all was being a single mom to two dogs.  What was I even thinking?  Would I be able to make that happen?  Would I be able to manage two dogs?  Would it be overwhelming to have eight little legs and feet running around the house?  Will I have enough time and energy for both of them?  Will they figure out how to eat next to each other?  

YES TO ALL OF IT and SO MUCH MORE!!! 

Having the little one has brought new life and fun into Lou’s world, as well as, Lou teaching Tate so much about life and living and listening (well we are still working on that last part).  

They aren’t the very best of friends just yet but day by day they are growing and evolving together.  I also take them on adventures together, and very different kinds of adventures separately.  

So the question that everyone has asked, “WHEN IS TATE COMING INTO THE OFFICE???”

That is NOT our plan.  Although you would all love him so much, the office would be more of a dog party than a chiropractic office.  And more importantly, he want to be in the mix of it all and he easily become a trip hazard for me…and also for all of YOU!!!  There are just too many moving parts inside of our days to make that happen.  For a long while anyway.  We will see once he is maybe a couple years old to see what kind of temperament he evolves into.  

If you are still reading this, THANK YOU!!!  It has been wordy however both of their stories deserve to be shared as this DOG MOM LIFE is the VERY BEST LIFE EVER!!!! 

DOWNTIME

It is so critical to our well-being to take some downtime.  

This past week has been just that for me.  We only close the office 2 weeks out of the year and we choose to focus one of the weeks around the Fourth of July.  Everyone is heading in so many different directions with vacation plans that it is simple for us to take the downtime too.

But is it simple?  Do you have an easy time relaxing?  Do you take moments to breathe?  Do you schedule your own downtime?   

For me, it is not easy.  What I have discovered over the 18+ years in private practice is that it is just simpler to stay open and keep going rather than mark off downtime.  

I actually find that I do a whole lot better with regular scheduled days filled with routine.  It takes a lot of mental fortitude to just allow myself to sit still.  

Last summer, I decided for the first time to just stay home and have a “staycation” instead of trying to get out of town.  I live just 4 miles from the office and knowing things are building up around there is hard not to go in and try to keep up with it all.  Running a business like we do, people often think that it is just patient care that is the work to do.  If you had any idea what happens behind the scenes, you would soon realize that patient care is about 60% of what goes on.  

Patient care is something to set aside for a week just for my mental health and to give my body and mind a rest for the week.  The rest of the work is the part that haunts me as I try to sit home and sit still.  And if I admit to the truth of it all, it has been really hard to let it all go.  

When I am out of town, it is easier because I am not just 4 miles from all the work.  Next year I will probably go into debates about how to spend this week because of the internal battle I have faced this past week…and this is just me being honest as to really how it all feels.  

In saying all that, I am excited to get back to work, get back to helping people and begin the catch-up game that will go on for at least 2 weeks.  

I have spent the week with the dogs and my family.  I have enjoyed a ton of time outside and gotten a lot of good sunshine.  I have had time to break bread with friends, catch up with a few online tasks, take a TON of yoga classes (www.discoverthespace.com), walk the dags and float around in the lake.  It has been glorious.  

I know for a fact that I could continue on and not take downtime, however, when I do, I am able to return more refreshed and ready to take on the second half of the year.  I am a person dedicated to and driven by progress.  As long as life has progress happening daily, my soul is happy. 

What I am now realizing is that downtime is still making progress.  Live and learn…see you tomorrow!  

FIVE YEARS

What started as a dream way before I even went to chiropractic college, is now five years old!  

Five years ago today, June 14, 2018, I purchased this beautiful big blue building and converted it into a sacred healing space.  I did have the image that it would get to the point that it is today, however being in the “real-lifing” of a dream is…well I am not sure there are really words for it all.Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - Dr Erica Peabody - Expansion

I remember when I first saw the listing on Zillow.  I took a quick screen shot of the listing and sent it to my realtor with the message “What is up with this?”

His quick response, I don’t know but LET’S GO TAKE A LOOK!

…and so the due diligence began. 

It was quite a process that went day by day collecting information, paperwork, getting inspections done, discussing with my personal “board of directors”, getting contractors eyes on it, and on and on.  

A process that began the end of February 2018 came to a close on June 14th and I got keys in hand.  

The cool thing was that I had a sidekick at the time.  The cooler thing is that said sidekick left and it was all me and has been that way ever since.  What makes that the “cooler thing” is that it drove me to spend many days and night figuring things out on my own.  The “cooler thing” is also that I drove me to make lots and lots of incredible connections with great contractors – too numerous to list – that still help me to this day.  I have become someone that people turn to when they are needing a trusted and reputable contractor for their projects and I am always happy to share those connections.  

After just a few months, I was able to move my chiropractic office here and open our doors.  Within just a few months I was able to begin to host other tenants doing health and wellness work and the Peabody Center for Well-Being took off!  

People often ask, “What do you do with all that space?”  

What space?!?!?  I don’t have any extra space as it is filled with incredible people doing incredible things!  When you walk into the building, you can feel the good mojo in here!  I purchased the building for the community.  Of course, it is a great investment personally, that is without a shadow of a doubt, however, this place is a community center and BIG BLUE holds the community well! 

So my questions to you are:

HAVE YOU BEEN IN YET?????  

DO YOU SEE SOMEONE IN THE BUILDING YET?

DO YOU OR SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY NEED HELP WITH INPROVING YOUR HEALTH?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - Home - Dr Erica Peabody - Grouchy

When you pull into our parking lot, you will walk down the sidewalk just off the parking lot and into our Center.  Upon entering the building, if you turn your gaze to the right, you will see an info wall.  There is a DIRECTORY there in the info center you can grab and see everyone in the building.  You can also grab yourself some business cards and get in touch with individual businesses that you are interested in.  

You can also find everyone on Facebook at Peabody Center for Well-Being   (<— click here).

You can find the Cafe of LIFE Chiropractic Center on Facebook or me personally at Dr Erica Peabody Facebook or Dr Erica Peabody Instagram.  I am very active and also respond to direct messages all the time.  If I can help, I want to!

Okay, now that all of that is said, I just wanted to say THANK YOU!  All of you!  If you are reading this, know that I am grateful for your support big and small inside of this beautiful BIG BLUE building!  It seems absolutely impossible that it has already been five years but here we are…and SO MANY MORE TO GO!!!  

I love you so much.  Thank you.  

BE MINDFUL

I am hoping that you are connected with us over Facebook, but if not, HERE IS THE LINK to go straight there.  You can also look me up individually and follow that way.  I have been doing some live shares over facebook as I drive and think and the last one was a warning to BE MINDFUL!!!

…and here is why that came up.Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - Be Mindful - Dr Erica Peabody

Last Wednesday I was in my practice and a woman came in that had been under care in the past but had to take some time off to heal from a fall where she fractured a vertebra in her neck.  She was carrying a box down a set of stairs and stepped off the side in a bad way and hit the back of her neck on a steel handrail resulting in a fracture.  She has healed well and is ready to get back under regular chiropractic care  (some of you may be curious at this point that I can even adjust someone with this kind of injury.  I want to remind you that I have a lot of tools in my bag of chiropractic techniques that allows me to work with and around all kinds of injuries as each person’s care is tailored for each individual and their needs).  

I see a lot of people with injuries which probably goes without saying.  Some of the stories make my stomach churn as the phrase that follows is always “WOW!  That could have been way worse!!”

The next patient that same day was up north and cleaning up the kitchen and tripped over the dishwasher door that was out of her line of sight.  This resulted in yet another conversation that went “Wow!  That could have been a whole lot worse!” The final one that day was a slip and fall while getting into the car and sliding right underneath the vehicle…which “Could have been a whole lot worse!”

Our lives are super busy these days.  I have to be honest, I am trying to do too much at once, carry too much at once and my brain is filled with all kinds of running thoughts also!!!  I am in that same club however when I get to see these kinds of injuries, I take note of the theme.  The running theme of all of these injuries…trying to do too much at the same time.  Me too!!  Me too.  

Be mindful.  Easier said than done often.  What I notice for myself is that if I can slow down my mind to focus on the task at hand, I am so much safer, healthier and happier.  

Being mindful wouldn’t necessarily have prevented these injuries however, we can’t know for sure, it may have.  It is always hard to say at the time and easier to reflect backwards to see situations retrospectively.  

I was getting ready the very next day and listing to a podcast or making a video for a friend AND curling my hair at the same time.  Without looking down at my curling iron, I didn’t realize that it had spun around and was facing the other direction.  When I reached down and thought I was grabbing the handle, I was actually grabbing the hot barrel, resulting in burning the pads of my thumb and two fingers.

When that happened, my first thought was how easily that would have been avoided by simply being present, looking up and then looking back down.  I am notorious for trying to do too many things at once.  As I navigate through my days, I notice just how many things I drop and realize that is a strong indication that I am not fully paying attention.

Look around in your life.  Where do you find yourself trying to do too many things at once?  Have you stumbled as you were trying to do something else?  How many different directions do you think the mind can handle going in and still pay attention?

Be mindful.  

Being mindful is much easier said than done however I am hoping by just having this brief read and reminder, it is more in the forefront of your mind as you navigate through your days.  

I am not minimizing any of the things I mentioned before nor am I saying that they for sure could have been avoided.  I just wanted to share this theme of the week so that you can be mindful too.  

WELCOME BACK

Welcome back!!!  Wait!!!  Is that for you or for me?   

I am so confused.  

Actually, what has really gone on is that I have not had a chance inside of such a full life to keep up on this blog lately and it is one of the many reasons I am making regular weekly time for creativity in this New Year!

So WELCOME BACK to ME and to YOU!!!

I hope you will follow along with US on this ride.  I have used the word “US” a lot lately.  It is an interesting concept to really look around in life and see how many US’s you may be involved in!  I guarantee there is a lot!

I look at US in many ways…but one particular US I will be referring to on a regular basis is the US that is inside of the Peabody Center for Well-Being

I have REAL-LIFED a dream and I have been joined by a group of awesome health and wellness professionals that I will be sharing about through our time together.  

Don’t worry, it is not all business here as there are a whole lot of other areas of life I like to share about as well.  

I will probably use the concept of US as I share from many angles of the many US’s I am involved with.  

Be sure to stay tuned!  ….and WELCOME BACK!!!  Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - Dr Erica Peabody - The first year

FOUR YEARS

So many things can happen over the course of four years.  Four years ago today, June 14, I purchased Big Blue.  Some people say that I should have started referring to it as THE CENTER or something more “on brand”.  But honestly, Big Blue was mentioned at one point and stuck and so here we are.  Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - Dr Erica Peabody - Expansion

I share this story a lot but I first saw the building on Zillow.  My Mom and I are always looking around at real estate on that app just to see what is out there.  When I saw the building, I sent a quick screen shot and message to my realtor.  “What is up with this place?  What is the story?”

His response, “I don’t know but let’s go and take a look!”

It used to be an assisted living facility so when we initially walked through we had to pretend that we were “looking for a spot for family members to live”.   A sale like that that had to be that way due to the business and employees and how the sale was being concealed.  

Prior to going inside, my Mom and I said to each other, “let’s take a look but more than likely this place will smell weird, be weird or be unrecoverable from what it had been through.”  

Half way through this 10,000 sq ft beauty, my Mom and I both looked to each other and said “Wow this place is amazing and already set up for what I want to do.”

And so the due diligence process began.  That started in February of 2018 and I finally closed June 14.  

When patients visit us for the first time, they look around in awe of the beauty that is so natural to Big Blue.  Even after 130 years, it has the original woodwork, original wood stain color and craftmanship that is not seen in current day construction.  It is absolutely beautiful and feels like working inside of a museum.  If only the walls could talk, I can only begin to imagine the stories they would share.     

The purchase of Big Blue has not been without its downfalls though.  As most of you know, I had a very serious “life sidekick” when I began this project.  That didn’t last like we had planned which threw life through a loop…but here we are still standing and thriving inside this space.  

We have many businesses join us over the past 4 years, incredible practitioners helping to increase the health and wellness in and around our beautiful community.  The services offered inside Big Blue include: chiropractic care, massage therapy, supplements, acupuncture, family therapy, psychotherapy, speech therapy, esthetician, life coach, reiki master, photography as well as connection with hypnotherapy and functional medicine.  As you can probably imagine, there are a few more business partnerships in the works for the future.

The practitioners that are currently in our building have taken great pride to enhance their office spaces and I will share a sneak peek into their working spaces in the near future so you can get a feel.  I feel fortunate to have business owners taking such pride in beatifying their office spaces.    

There is a “special something” in the air at this spot that is inherent to the building itself.  Although the business prior to us did well, a revived energy to Big Blue has been a welcomed addition to the center of our growing and bustling downtown Fenton.  

People often say “I have driven by this building thousands of times, I am so glad to be able to finally see inside!”

There is a long, beautiful and thriving future for this building and we are so happy to be just the ones to help make that happen!  

Swing in and say hello!  Or get in touch with one of the providers inside of the building and experience for yourself.  I am in awe of the first four years, I can only imagine what the next four years will bring!  

 

 

 

DARKNESS

It has been an interesting year of darkness to say the least.  <—-truly an understatement in many ways.  

A couple weeks ago I traveled to Colorado to visit some friends.  It happened to be Halloween weekend and a friend of a friend was having a “Dia De Los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) housewarming party.  

Traveling with a carry-on bag, I was limited to what I could pack considering I was there a three day weekend and needed to pack light.  A skeleton onsie it is!!! …and it was perfect for a Day of the Dead party. Dr Erica Peabody - Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - Darkness

As I look back on previous Halloween celebrations, I have a very clear pattern of being light and happy in my costume choices, many different versions of hippies, nerd costumes or animals…all in the light.  

The only addition to my costume I needed once I got there was makeup.  I had googled “skeleton makeup” pictures and tried to follow along.  It turned out pretty good if I don’t say so myself.  

Of course 5’10” in a skeleton onsie, adding heels and hair I was at least 6’3″ and a bit of a sight! 

The party was fun and everyone had put a lot of effort into their costumes which just raised the energy!  I was surprised when a roller-derby couple rolled in off the sidewalks in roller skates – off those particular sidewalks THAT WAS COMMITMENT!!! 

We had great food, a bit to drink and took a lot of pictures.  

It was interesting to feel like me but look so, so different in the mirror and so I posted some pictures on social media, and many others thought the same.  

Some comments on the posts and many more messages behind the scenes were of the tone “Wow!  I have never seen you look like that before!”  ‘I’ve never seen that side of you!”

One of the things that has happened is our culture has taught us that to have a good life, things always need to be good.  We need to find the light in all situations and to “always look for the silver lining”.

All of this is great and wonderful but life is both; moments of lightness balanced by moments of darkness.  That is just how it goes.  One of the biggest challenges we face today is that life has become very comfortable…until it became very uncomfortable about 20 months ago. 

When we look out at the lives of the people we are connected with over social media, we get the “highlight reel”.  Of course we do!  Why would anyone put their moments of darkness on social media?  We wouldn’t.  But the game of comparison we all play with those connections can lead us to stop believing in ourselves if our life doesn’t look like that. 

A super near and dear friend used to do a weekly Facebook Live share called “Best Day Ever”.  The irony of it was that she would sit with a cup of tea with the phrase “Best Day Ever” written on it.  She was also in her beautiful office in a wonderful area of the country.  BUT she never preached “Brightest Day Ever”  or “Good Vibes Only” or “Stay in the Light”.  She would share how LIFE IS BALANCE.  It is the light and the dark, the good and the bad, the pretty and the ugly…and our expectations that it should be any other way is what creates the suffering.  Truly the Best Day Ever is when we can accept and embrace all of it.  

It is an ebb and flow, an expansion followed by a contraction, highs and lows. Dr Erica Peabody - Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - Dia De Los Muertos

So let’s stop pretending to be any other way…and I am also talking to myself here. 

When I post up a simple picture of me dressed as a skeleton, I realize even how polarizing of an imagine I have put out as well!

We are both light and dark, life is filled with moments of lightness and moments of darkness, and it is ok.  It is supposed to be that way.

When we really look around, and especially in the seemingly crazy world we find ourselves in right now, it feels like a whole lot of darkness.  It feels polarized, divided, disorganized, unpredictable, inconsistent and actually scary at times.  

Is it because we were so comfortable for so long?  Is it because we had it so good for so long?  Has there been too much flow and not enough ebb?  

Gosh it is so incredibly hard to say and absolutely no way to predict exactly what is ahead for all of us.  

I have to share a little life hack that may or may not be helpful for you, but it helps me tremendously: 

Breathe into the resistance.  

“What does that even mean, Peabody?  It is not that simple.”

I agree.  Sort of. 

I would say that it is not EASY but it can be SIMPLE.

When you feel your insides bind up, alarms go off and you go into high alert, stop and take a moment to see if you can breathe into the resistance you are putting up to what is in front of you.

Then realize that you have survived 100% of all the bad days so far, you will get through this too.  There is a great quote that goes something like “If this is not going to matter 5 years from now, do not give it even 5 minutes now”.

Life is always going to be both, light and dark, that is how the Universe stays in balance.  I was a little taken aback by the response to this simple Halloween costume but the darkness that I appeared to embody that day is something that I will be looking closer at in my own life.  

Are you noticing lightness and darkness in your life?  If you get a chance, share with me what you do when you see that resistance come up for you.  Let’s make the most of this life…we only get one chance.  

 

GRATITUDE

Dr Erica Peabody - Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - Expansion

HI!!!  It’s me again.  It has been a while and I wanted to first express my deep gratitude for you being here, following my adventures and also hanging in with me for this long BETWEEN BLOG POSTS!!!  

It has been a while.  I don’t know about you but I am having a hard time believing we are into the month of November, Chapter 11 in this crazy book we are all writing called 2021!

As my weeks are filled with taking care of patients and staying strong and healthy myself to continue to do that well, I have had many, many conversations about how hard it is to believe how slow AND quick the year has gone by.

I would like to take a moment to re-introduce myself and what I am up to on here with the writing I do (or shall I say “did do” since it has been a while.  I am bringing this up to present-tense right now!).

I was born and raised in Fenton, Michigan, with my 3 brothers on an apple orchard just south of town.  Lucky for me, those three brothers and their families still live around that orchard and I just three miles from there, WHICH allows me a chance to fulfill my role of BEST AUNT ON THE PLANET to all their littles.  😉

After graduating from Fenton High School, I left the area for ten years for a grand adventure around the country following my heart and also for school.

YES!!! I am a Spartan through and through and began college at Michigan State University.

YES!!! I also attending the college with the blue turf, Boise State University, where I lived for over two years.  I love that city, have you been?  

ABSOLUTELY I DID!!!  finish my Bachelors Degree from University of Alaska and YES!!! made the most of all the adventures I could get involved in while I was there for three years.  I have so, so, so many stories I can and will share.  Best Chiropractor Fenton Michigan Dr Erica Peabody Puppy Love

YES!!!!  I then drove the AL-CAN highway for the second time and made it all the way to Atlanta, Georgia to start my doctorate…but ALSO finished it in Spartanburg (aka “Sparkle City”), South Carolina.

NO!!!  I did not think I was going to come back to Fenton after all that.  NO WAY, JOSE!!!   

YES!!!!  ABSOLUTELY!!!!  I’m so happy that I did.

In case you haven’t met him yet, this is my Bernedoodle, Louis Holtz Peabody, “Lou” for short, the doggie I never knew I wanted or needed.  He has been a life-saver, no seriously he has saved my life more times than you can even imagine in his short little two and a half year life he has had so far.  He is one of my reasons for living, and when you meet him, you will understand.  

I called this blog “We Only Get One Chance” because I want us all to remember that we get this one chance to go around in this body and make the most of this life.  It is up to each and every one of us to squeeze the most juice out of our days…and I have stories to share along the way.  

My intention in this blog is to shine light on ways that you can live your best life, love with your whole heart, be the healthiest you can be, be vulnerable enough so that you know I am just like you, share heartache, share wins and losses, and LIVE FULL OUT!!!  

I have deep gratitude to you for being here….let’s begin again.  Together.