Month: November 2015

Pondering the Process of Aging

In recent days I was graciously honored to speak with the elder’s of two communities. I found the enlightenment was for me in relation to the process of growing older. The truth, we are all teachers and help each other in many different ways. My most recent visit to West Boylston Senior Center was extremely eye opening. I began the meeting with a brief overview of what would be covered in our one hour discussion and then asked what they really wanted to learn more about. I was delighted to hear that there was such a high interest in learning more about QiGong and how to manage stress.

In our younger years we think of stress as something that is occurring as a result of so much to do. The demands of child care, jobs, household chores, activities for the kids, personal appointments, and more. Stressed! Of course there is stress and we envision a day when it subsides; yet does it? When I heard a woman who appeared to be 80 years plus mention stress, the first thing I thought to myself; why are you stressed? She obviously doesn’t have to work anymore, she seems to be enjoying life, is in great physical shape, and is active in the community. However, this made me think deeper into what creates stress for elders. They are not exempt and our idea of stress diminishing as we age must be something we hope for however probably not reality.

I have pondered this thought for much of the day and can only imagine the number of possible contributions of stress to the elderly population. Stress is brought on by a number of factors; I presume the following to be only some of the possibilities.

1.) Will I have enough money through the end of life?

2.) If I become ill will I be cared for?

3.) Will my children and grandchildren live a happy and healthy life?

4.) I am lonely as many of my good friends and significant other have left me.

5.) I have lived long enough to experience the loss of my children, it’s not supposed to happen this way.

6.) I am no longer contributing to society in the way I used to; loss=grief.

7.) I have fond memories of what once was and I can’t get it back no matter how hard I try.

8.) I am witness to so many dear friends becoming ill and passing, it is sad to watch.

9.) My children are having difficulties with their children and their marriages, if only I could fix it.

10.) How long do I have to live? How will I die? Who will be with me?

 

These are just a few that come to mind as I observe this aging process. A process we all hope for in order to avoid an early death. I can’t help but wonder if one is better than the other. We know death is a result of being born in the first place yet we never want to leave.

In summary, life in itself is stress inducing and everything may be just fine. Our minds however play many tricks on us as we hallucinate what is really being played out in the dream of life.

The elders are our teachers and I respect and honor what we can learn from them either through observation or just simply listening to their joys and their disappointments. Maybe then we will learn to grow old simply accepting the process of life instead of fighting it, maybe then we will learn to live in peace.

Managing an Epidemic of Drug Addiction

In my line of work, holistic therapies, I am witness to some very sad circumstances that can be avoided. As we all know, there is an urgent matter of drug addiction to address. If we all get involved, we can make a difference. Education, education, education!!!

People living with chronic pain are typically those who have been injured or have chronic disease. Most are on disability leaving limited funding for alternative therapies while insurance covers physical therapy and drugs.

Although there are many available options in holistic health care; options are not covered by insurance companies. This lack in our health care system is contributing to the overwhelming number of people becoming addicted to pain killers and later turning to street drugs when the Doctor cuts off the supply of meds.

People are literally dying as a result of injuring a coccyx bone, recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident, and back surgeries! What is killing them is the ADDICTION to pain medication. There is something so radically wrong with this picture. People should be healing from their injuries and getting back to work. Instead they are lucky to heal from the injury and addiction prevents them from reclaiming their lives again.

This problem is one that seriously upsets me. Back in 1997 and 1998 I myself had to undergo two back surgeries. Ironically enough, one my clients also had the surgeries, not twice but three times. Today I am alive to write this, she was dead at 43 years old. Her death was the result of drug addiction to the point that her body shut down. She was a lively, successful, and intelligent woman with much to live for. She loved her dogs, her niece, her fiance`, was a successful business woman, and had a family that loved her. She is gone as are many others with similar stories.

Today as I continue to see people die at alarming rates it occurs to me that I can do only so much to support people. I seriously hate watching people suffer. If I only could, I would. I would dedicate my life to end suffering and on many levels I have done that, emotional or physical pain.

Here is the dilemma; I can discount services so that it is affordable but I can’t afford to give products away to support right nutrition. If I can do anything to stop this epidemic, it will be in offering a comprehensive program with a lot of options to support people in not only managing pain, decreasing their level of pain through right nutrition, exercise, floating, energy balancing, massage, medicinal oils, meditation, and hypnosis.

In order to deliver a successful program I will need to reach out to the masses for the funding of this program. People in pain need more than one session, more than one bottle of enzymes, more than one hypnosis session, and so forth. Properly funded people will heal over time and reclaim their lives.

If you or anyone you know is suffering with chronic pain issues, please let them know there are options. I will work with anyone within their budget to support a change in drug addiction in our country.