Category: Uncategorized

A VISITOR

This morning, as Victoria was opening the Cafe of LIFE, she realized that there was a HUGE, beautiful dragonfly caught in a spider’s web. She rescued him from and she has become his new best friend. He is super content here in the Cafe of LIFE for the day and we are happy to have him. I wanted to share this photo so you could all enjoy him as well. This is him posing on a rose in our reception area as his best friend takes his picture. The book “When Animals Speak; The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small” by Ted Andrews says that “when dragonflies show up in your life, you may need to get some fresh air in regard to something emotional. You may need to gain a new perspective or make a change…the dragonfly remains a nymph (baby) for almost 2 years before it transforms into an adult, which can indicate that an approximate two-year period of change is about to reach its culmination…Life is never quite the way it appears, but it is always filled with light and color. Dragonfly can help you to see through your illusions and thus allow your own light to shine forth. Dragonfly brings the brightness of transformation and the wonder of colorful new vision.” I like the sound of all that!

1 MONTH LEFT

I am runner and I have 1 month left. Did I ever tell you that? I officially am a runner and the only thing that really makes it “official” is that I really love to run. I have always, as far back as I can remember, wanted to learn to love to run. So in January 2006, I decided I would sign up to run a marathon, Chicago Marathon, on October 22 (which is actually my “half birthday” which made it kind of fun). So I started training. From January to October that year, all I did was eat, sleep, work and run. My weekends were spent running, cross-training and recovering and I had it planned out during the week exactly when and how far I need to run on what day. If I varied from that schedule, my training schedule would be off so I was regimented. It was great and on October 22, I woke up, ate breakfast, bundled up (when the race started it was a mere 35 degrees), and ran 26.2 miles (the picture to the right is me running that race). Finishing that race and actually crossing the finish line was one of the most incredible feelings I have ever had in my life. I would maybe do it again just for the feeling at the finish line. Incredible. But in the meantime I still like to participate in some other races and the CRIM (dubbed Coolest Race In Michigan) happens this year on August 22. I haven’t done a whole heck of a lot of running lately, but I can easily pull off 5 miles without any prep. My body just reverts back to all that training in 2006. So over the next 4 weeks I need to get some serious miles in my sneakers. I am looking forward to it. This will be the 5th year running the CRIM, the first year just did the 8K and the last 3 I have completed the 10 miler. It is a great race, a super fun day in Flint and I will be ready. I know there are a lot of runners out there that enjoy that race as well and if you are there….MEET ME ON THE DANCE FLOOR AFTERWARDS!!!!

THE WANDERER

Chiropractor Fenton Michigan - The Wanderer

Choco, the wanderer.  Yesterday at 6:15pm, while Victoria and I were finishing up with things here at the Cafe of LIFE, we are startled by a big chocolate dog (that would be Choco) charging in through our opened front door. We both just looked blankly at each other as our brains began to run a few obvious panic questions; “Where was he?”, “When and how did he get out without one of us noticing?”, “How long has he been gone?” and “How many cars did he have to dodge to make it to and from where ever his destination was?”. This was the very first time he has ever pulled a stunt like that. YIKES!!! It was an interesting “mothering” moment for me and needless to say I am so grateful to his angels for watching over him on his expedition.

 

“Dear Angels,

 

Instead of watching over him during his expeditions, please convince him not to go on them in the first place.

 

Thanks,

 

Choco’s Mom.”
Choco, the wanderer.

 

A REAL TRIBUTE

As many of you know, I spent the last 6 days in Colorado, one of my most favorite places on the planet. I was fortunate to be able to spend a couple days this time around in Aspen. If you have never been to Colorado, you need to take the time to get there, and while you are there, make the drive to Aspen. It is so beautiful, wonderful and amazing there. The crowd is super down to earth the shops and restaurants have something for everyone (a special shout out to the restaurant “Wild Fig”, a restaurant not to miss). Anyways the plan was to stay just Friday and head back to the ranch where I was staying 2.5 hours from there. The plan didn’t quite work out that way and we spent the night and woke up there on Saturday, of course, the Fourth of July. We had a plan to head out early in the morning but if there is a parade happening, I want to watch it. We at an amazing breakfast at “Lu Lu” (yet another not to miss spot) and the wandered down the street to find a place amongst the thousands of people lining the streets to watch the parade. The Air Force Academy is about a 4 hour drive from Aspen though probably a 15 minute flight by fighter jet and so there was a fly-by to start the parade. Then right at noon 75+ motorcycles start the parade, some fast, some slow, some young, some old, some cruisers, some street bikes, some motorcross, some trick riders, amazing and wild energy to kick it off. The next group in the parade were the Veterans. There was about 50 or so and each carrying a sign for the war that they were in. Some walking, some in wheel chairs, some on golf carts, some old, some young, some missing body parts, some sad, some happy, but all were very inspirational and what a tribute. I have seen Veterans in many parades before, but something about the signs they were carrying that made it different. After the race of motorcycles through the streets and then the Veterans, I have to say that I was joined by many in the crowd that welled-up with tears of appreciation and gratitude for those who served and currently serve. We are truly a blessed nation, we have freedoms that many in this world cannot even fathom. As we all celebrated over this past weekend with friends, family, food and fireworks, I hope something along the way inspired gratitude in your being. As the parade continued in Aspen, it was entertaining, and energetic, and fun however nothing could have possibly been more touching than that type of beginning and it will forever been a super fond memory for me. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!

(the picture is me standing amongst one of the largest Aspen groves I have ever seen. It is along the road from Independence Pass down into the city of Aspen. Unfortunately the battery on my camera died so I don’t have any pictures of the parade, though maybe I should try to google it…)

THE FATHERS

What an important job. Parents, both the mothers and the fathers, have the biggest job in the world. They teach and educate and raise the children and I do not know a CEO at any company that has a job that is bigger than that no matter how large the corporation is that they run. Thank goodness for parents. My dad lives here in Fenton and I get to see him quite a bit. We have had our challenges through the years but I have grown to have a deep appreciation for him and who he is as he is part of the reason I am who I am today and I wouldn’t change it for anything. Ultimately we are all here to teach one another and we learn a lot from our parents. The good, the bad and the ugly…it is all part of life and so important that no matter what relationship you have with your parents, there is always a place for gratitude. Let’s count our blessings…thank you dad! Happy Father’s Day!

GOOD LUCK KATHY!

One of the greatest roles I have taken on as of late is Extension Faculty Member of Life University, the Chiropractic College in Atlanta, GA. In the beginning of April, Kathy Whitmore came to my office to spend the last three months of school learning how to run and grow an office. Not only has she mastered a lot of skills here at the office, I really have a lot of faith in her ability to be able to open and run a successful office. You see, not many choose to open an office right out of school. Rather, new Doctors of Chiropractic work in someone else’s office for a year, sometimes two, sometimes more. I was not one of those and hats off to those who want to start from scratch right out of the gates. It is scary at first but incredibly rewarding. I would never do it any other way. Kathy and I walked around downtown Rochester, MI last Friday afternoon and came across the most perfect location for her new office. It is open, and airy, and bright, and absolutely perfect for her. In fact, if that same space came available here in Fenton, I would move in a heartbeat! So good luck to you, Kathy! You have what it takes to make it out there. Just keep serving from the heart, stay open and THRIVE!!! (and of course, I will be just a phone call away or 45 minute drive when you are wrestling with some stumbling blocks:). For those of you out there with friends and family in the Rochester area looking for a chiropractor, I know a good one!

PROSPECTIVE CHIROPRACTORS

I have the greatest job. I really do. I am blessed everyday being able to work with people to promote and educate about health. It is awesome and I have so much gratitude for being led down this path to become a chiropractor. One of my greatest joys is getting up in the morning and knowing that I get to serve people in a beautiful office with an awesome team. One of my other greatest joys is turning other people on to such an amazing and rewarding career. Last night, I had the good fortune of introducing 2 young, wonderful ladies to the inside world of being a chiropractor. After I closed shop here at the Cafe of LIFE, I jumped in my car and made my way down to O’Dell Chiropractic Clinic in Walled Lake where there was a Life University prospective student night. It was wonderful and I left there feeling really complete that these two ladies got what they needed in order to be confident in taking their next step towards a rewarding future in serving chiropractic care and teaching health to the masses. Its awesome, wonderful, super exciting, and such an honor to be a part of their process. Anyone else interested? Let me know!

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES

In my chiropractic office, we stay busy seeing lots of people every week. It is a wonderful career and I enjoy owning and running my own business. I am, I think, the 10th chiropractor in city of Fenton out of 10 and we are all staying very busy. One of the things that is different about the Cafe of LIFE is that I, as a doctor, really look at myself as a partner in health, one of your teammates in you quest to live a full, healthy life. It seems like I just talk and talk all day long, but what I strive to do is educate. I do my best to educate everyone that I come in contact with about the amazing ability of the body to take care of itself. In saying this, the body has an amazing ability to care for itself…GIVEN THE PROPER BUILDING BLOCKS, ENOUGH WATER, REST, AND POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE! So keep your body balanced and connected with itself through regular chiropractic adjustments, drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day, eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, avoid processed foods at all cost, get the sleep your body requires, and stay happy. Happiness is a choice. Situations are brought into our lives to teach us something. Step back during the highs and lows so that you can take a moment to realize that your precept ion of the situation is what creates the energy around it. Life is so super short. And as my yoga instructor says so eloquently “Every moment in life that you are not completely present is essentially a moment that you have abandoned and can never get back”. Be present, LIVE THE LIFE YOU LOVE and LOVE THE LIFE YOU LIVE !

THE FLU

Did you know that Iowa was the first state to license chiropractic? The reason was that during the influenza epidemic in the 1918, it became apparent that people under chiropractic care were “magically” not affected by the epidemic. We know now that the nervous system directly strengthens your immune system, and allows you to live at your maximum potential! Yet, many people died from this strain because not enough people knew what to do at this time.Then, in 1976, there was a vaccine campaign with the second outbreak of the swine flu, which was heavily advertised, many millions of dollars were put into creating this vaccine, and it took months to prepare. By the time it was ready, the flu had taken its course, but what to do with all of the vaccinations that they had just put so much money and time into making? Well, they had to make use of it, so through advertising, the country was scared into believing their lives were still at risk. It was mandated that EVERYONE be vaccinated at this time. The harmful side effects from these vaccines cost more money to clean up than did the money in making the vaccine. However, the government learned that when scared, people will do almost anything…”The 1976 vaccination campaign is now considered to have been an overreaction based on mistaken fears that the swine flu outbreak would pose the same risk as the Spanish flu pandemic that followed the First World War, claiming the lives of up to 50 million people.” And this is when the “oh too commonly known” flu vaccine was created, and has escalated into what it is today. The side effects are still real, and often more harmful than the virus itself. Educate yourself before you quickly follow the trends. It could make a huge difference in the quality of life that you live.