Author: Dr. Erica Peabody

Fenton, MI is a great place to be from and to move back to. Serving this community the "Exceptional Chiropractic Experience" at Cafe of LIFE Chiropractic is my favorite way to spend my days. Cafe of LIFE (www.cafeoflifefenton.com) is a Family Wellness Chiropractic Center located in the heart of this great little town. When I am not at my chiropractic practice, you will find me at the yoga studio, the gym, in my running shoes, with my family, on my snowboard, on my mountain bike, surfing, on the lake or some local restaurant or hiking trail. My ultimate goal and life purpose is to make a small difference in this crazy world...and have some fun while I am doing it.

SWEAT LODGE

One of the most disappointing parts of the media today is the fact that something like a “Sweat Lodge” can go from a wonderful and beneficial Native American ceremony to something that “kills people”. Just a few months ago, there was some famous someone doing a sweat lodge somewhere and 2 people died while there. I can tell you up front, there was a lot of ego involved when things like that happen. So when I was invited to go with a friend, I was slightly apprehensive. When I first mentioned to a few people that I was going to attend a Sweat Lodge, the first thing out of their mouths was “Don’t people die doing that?” Yeah some people have died doing that however so many more hundreds of thousands to millions of people have lived during sweats too…so I went anyways. I have been involved in a lot of life transforming activities however I have to say that this was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. There is a place called “Cedar Water Healing Lodge” http://www.gaylejoseph.com/. in Milford, MI. When you go there, you are instantly accepted as one of their family. The people that run the ceremony have the most loving and giving energy and the experience is one that I would recommend to everyone. The ceremony was explained to us when we got there as well as a guarantee that if something is not going well for you, a phrase can be said and you can remove yourself from the lodge. There were 16 of us for this experience and it lasted about 3 hours followed by a wonderful feast of delicious food. Really and truly a wonderful experience. The lodge in Milford runs sweats every three weeks and I plan on attending as much as will fit into my schedule. Come join me if you would like:)

NEW LIFE

Back to my Costa Rica trip because I told you guys that I would share…

So one of the highlights of the entire trip was my final walk on the beach of the final morning of my vacation. In the area we were staying, a few miles of beaches were strung together by a path that went up through the jungle. There would be a section of beach, then the jungle, then beach, then up over a huge cliff through the jungle, etc, and this walk pretty much took about an hour there and back. The morning was beautiful, the sun was shining, the surfers were out doing their thing, and it was one of those bittersweet moments; I am excited to go home but sad to leave paradise and my friends. I set an intention for this hike and I wanted to make it about creating the next section of my life. So as I am walking, I am taking it all in; the sights, the smells, the sounds, the feelings, all of it. I am in an deep meditative mode when all of a sudden I come across this group of three people that are intently watching something on the beach. As I get closer, I realize that it is a baby sea turtle that had just hatched and is making its way towards the sea. So I sat with the group and watched him. It turns out that he is the first of a large group of turtles that the locals are expecting to hatch in about 3 days, at the full moon. So this little guy, a few days ahead of the rest of the pack, is flopping his feet and making his way with one destination in mind, to the ocean. When he has finally reached an area that the waves will reach out and take him from there, there was an incredible feeling inside my being. Have you ever witnessed a birth of a child? That pure, love feeling that happens in that moment when the child enters this world? Do you know what I am talking about? It is a recognition of the divine perfection of everything in this universe. This little turtle, without any map or directions from any parents, used all the strength he could muster up to head out and create a life for himself. It truly was magical. So to say this moment of witnessing the divine perfection of the universe was a highlight of the vacation is really an understatement. It is actually one of the highlights in my life so far…

BROTHERS

I love my brothers. This picture is the most recent picture of my brothers from just this past weekend. Now when I say I love my brothers, I didn’t always feel that way. We were no “Leave it to Beaver” family growing up, don’t get me wrong. I am the second oldest of the group but trust me, being the only girl, order doesn’t matter…it is 3 against 1 no matter what. I remember going through school and the teachers that had my older brother would say things like ‘I cannot believe you are even related because you look, think and act so differently’. I actually remember a point in my life when as far as I am concerned I am an only child…what brothers? But today is a different story. I have found so much gratitude in all that these guys have contributed and continue to contribute to my life. I am who I am and they are who they are largely due to the way we have collectively touched each others lives. All 4 of us reside within a 10 mile radius which is also pretty cool. One is married, the other engaged with a little one on the way but each of us are doing our part to make this family and the world go around. As I just mentioned, there will be a little one entering into our foursome and that is super exciting. I still haven’t been able to wrap my head around the fact that one of these goofballs is going to be a father but of course it had to happen sometime, right? So we will welcome her (yes it is a girl) into this world in March and maybe make it 3 against 2:) Love you guys!!!

AMAZING FRIENDS

There are those people in our lives that when you get together, no matter how long it has been, you never miss a beat. These are a few of those people to me. Scott, Marco, and Christine are all friends of mine from our crazy adventure through chiropractic college. Much like so many people, when you go through schooling that is so intense, and there are others doing the same thing, some serious forever bonds come out of that. All three of these friends practice in and around Denver, Colorado. I make it out there to visit them a couple times per year though we have never traveled together. We all closed our practices for the week and spent that time together. They are family. I just thought I would share a picture of part of the crew. This is us opening coconuts and drinking the coconut water and then eating the meat…right in front of our resort. So much fun!!!

AN AMAZING VACATION

So I will be making a few posts so that you can experience some of what i experienced in Costa Rica from December 18-28. I met some friends from chiropractic college and we had an amazing week of fun in the sun at the Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma…www.elbanano.com. My personal accommodation was a luxury tent, which I will post pictures of at a later time. I was awaken by howler monkeys every morning, which are pretty much like roosters here in this area, start their daybreak noise at the first moment that the day begins to hint it is on its way, right around 6am. The first two mornings I had no idea what it was, and sounded huge (something the size of an elephant) and I could tell it was getting closer and closer. Naturally my stomach was dropping as I wasn’t all that confident that the canvas that separated me and the outside world was going to actually keep out this monster. After the second morning of waking up in sheer terror, I began to ask around. Of course, the first time I asked any of the locals it was all cleared up. There were a ton of monkeys, both white faced and howler, on the resort property and one of my friends took this picture of the one that was more than likely playing my alarm clock. Such a beautiful sight. Pura Vida!

THE GETAWAY

I will be out of town for Christmas this year and am looking forward to getting away and having some serious down time. I am heading to Costa Rica with 3 great friends and a set of parents of one of the friends. It is a good mix of people, low drama, active, healthy and of course, all chiropractors…well the parents are not chiropractors however they do live a chiropractic lifestyle. When I get together with these friends, it is really wonderful and refreshing. We all start from the same platform, meaning we all live our lives the same way and do the same things and view the world the same. You know those kind of people in your life I am sure. They are the ones that when you get together, some really great conversations happen, some amazing realizations occur and the the vibration together is high. I have a bunch of these friends, though none of them live very close to me. It’s sometimes a bummer however it gives me great reason and destinations to travel to. So I am looking forward to getting on the plane early Friday morning. There is a lot to do between now and then though so I will remain 100% present here until I am gone. Then I will be 100% gone for 10 full, fun days!!!

DO I DARE HEAD OUT?

So I just found out a day ago that my family is celebrating Christmas tomorrow…thanks mom for the update… So this means I have to get out the the mall today, two weeks before the big holiday, on a Saturday, do you think I dare do it? In reality, I have no choice as there is absolutely no way to get any shopping taken care of online that would potentially show up tomorrow…not an option. I am going to head down to Somerset in Troy which is probably a death wish in and of itself. I have to pick up a couple things for me as well since I will be heading to Costa Rica on Friday the 18th for 10 days and where do you find bathing suits at this time of the year. So off I go…well probably a shower would be a great way to start:) HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

LET IT SNOW!

In my mind, if it is going to be cold, we may as well have snow with it. I mean really, if it is cold outside and if there must be precipitation falling from the sky, then give us some of the big white fluffy stuff! I love the snow. BRING IT ON!!! Actually I am just finishing our annual celebration with the Cafe of LIFE Book Club and sitting by the fire with my dog however just before I sat down, I saw a dusting of the fluffy white stuff. I love the snow. I am a snowboarder and my happiest place on earth is anywhere that I can be strapped to my snowboard carving down a hill. I will keep you posted with my white winter adventures this year. I am not sure what I have in store yet for traveling to the slopes but I am sure I will come up with something. I love snow and I love snowflakes. In fact, if you drive by the Cafe of LIFE during holiday decorating season, you will find snowflakes are our main event. I would actually like to keep them up all winter long, but most people start getting on me about it during the middle of January to get my decorations put away. So if you life in Michigan, it would probably benefit you a lot to get out there an enjoy the snow…it’s going to be here anyways, it is inevitable. I love the snow, have I said that yet?

…there is something so wonderful about creating a post and then pressing the “spell check” button and it says “there are no misspellings”. I love that feeling…the simple things…

I ALWAYS SEEM TO…


…fill up every single second of any time that I have off from work. A four day weekend felt like a 1 day weekend though there is no possible way to fit everything I did into less time than four. It was super fun! Thanksgiving dinner with my family which was probably the best Thanksgiving dinner I have ever had. There is a fresh cranberry/horseradish thing my aunt makes that I could seriously eat it by the spoonful and it tops off the dinner wonderfully. The rest of the food was amazing as well however I am such a horseradish fan, that is the part that really sticks out in my mind. Then I got up on Friday and made an impromptu trip down to Chicago. My youngest brother and his wife live down there, right on Michigan Ave. It is an awesome spot. And though I didn’t do too much shopping, the view out of their condo is amazing and great people watching. I drove down on Friday and came back up on Saturday afternoon which made for a long day (The picture is my brother, his mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, her half-brother and of course me at the Chicago zoo checking out their lights display). I needed a break from my week after all the stress I was under for the previous two weeks so it was a perfect time for that trip. Saturday night was spent down in Royal Oak, celebrating my cousin buying her first home. What a great spot and a wonderful party. Sunday was a little bit more family time and home and to bed early. I am sure I am not the only one that needs a break from the long weekend, a vacation from the vacation. Happy Holiday season…now bring on the snow!!!!