Navigating the Holistic Path

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I’m pleased to announce the launch of my podcast series Navigating the Holistic Path.

A series about integrating holistic health practices into everyday living.

Throughout the series I cover the differences between holistic and allopathic approaches to health and welness and share stories to give context.

I also share tools and resources to keep in your holistic bag of tricks.

Topics in the introductory episode include

  • The long windy path to my becoming a holistic doctor

Includes the story of how life derailed my plans to put me there.

  • A holistic approach to anxiety

Includes holistic remedies and resources.

  • Alcohol as a holistic tool

Includes factors to consider when deciding whether to incorporate.

And more.

Be well!

Ice Cream Man: We Need to Tell our Stories

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I volunteer to help kids with literacy.  I showed up on a recent day and was asked if I’d be willing to work with a special needs child because the specialist had to call out.  Happy to do so I soon found myself in a secluded part of a hallway listening to a little boy read about a tour of an ice cream factory.

The nature of the program means the volunteers and students find places to sit together which may be in an overcrowded room with a cacophany of voices or in a hall where students changing classes walk by.

At one point he looked at me and asked “Why so many screams?”

This was after watching him struggle with the fact he was trying to form the thought.  Telling him to take his time seemed to help him relax and articulate what was on his mind.

Why So Many Screams?

I immediately picked up his concern over the word scream but also knew he lacked context.  I quickly explained it was a childhood rhyme.

I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream.

I suspected my explanation didn’t fly because he wasn’t familiar with the rhyme so I quickly explained it was something kids would call out when chasing the ice cream man.  This necessitated I explain what the ice cream man was.

And why kids would be chasing him.

I admit – I have not seen or heard an ice cream man in all the years I’ve lived in this region of the country but that didn’t stop me from telling this sweet boy

“I’m old.  When I was little in Michigan my friends and me would chase the ice cream man – you could hear him coming by the music in his truck – yelling “I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream.”

I watched him think over the honest explanation then slowly nod.  And then he smiled.

A beautiful smile that lit up his features.

He said “I can’t wait to tell my mom.”

I don’t know if his mom is a translplant from another part of the country – maybe a place where she grew up hearing the telltale sound of an ice cream truck coming in her direction – but it reinforces my belief that we need to share stories with our kids

and grandkids …

I saw first hand how the lack of knowledge confused and alarmed.

We need to tell our stories

To share wisdom and give context.

And to reassure.

The Cosmic Justice of Adversity

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I was opening a bottle of malbec and reflecting how it came to be I’m able to use a sommelier’s corkscrew to open a bottle of wine.

The man who first taught me to use a corkscrew told me since I wasn’t strong enough he’d show me a different way.

He taught my mom and I at the same time.

This man – a doctor – explained since women didn’t have the upper arm strength to use a sommelier’s corkscrew without risk of injury we should put the bottle between our ankles and use a specific type of corkscrew.

No no no

The man I married apparently had a different opinion as evidenced by his teaching me to use a Christmas gift he received when we lived in the San Francisco Bay Area.

A sommelier’s set.

I remember him holding up a corkscrew I’d seen wait staff using.

Including women.

I’d always admired their quick dexterity, lamenting I didn’t have the strength to do so without injuring my … wrist?  Arm?  Rotator Cuff?

Or so I was told.

Aaron held up the other contraption while promising there was a better way.  When I explained the why of which I used the other he set a wine bottle on the counter and said “Watch.  I’ll let you do it but I’ll show you what you’re going to do.”

Under his patient guidance I succeeded the first time.

Years later I’m using that wonderful gift and feeling – not smug – just good.

As I was pouring it through an aerator I thought back to a similar situation.

Where adversity threw an opportunity in my direction.

As Fate Would Have It

It was a wild set of coincidences that led me to working at DEC.  A novice who needed to prove myself it came to be the senior TCs told me to clean out “the closet.”

In exchange for helping me become a Technical Consultant.

It was filled helter-skelter floor to ceiling with old VMS manuals

As well as bits and pieces of God only knew what in terms of computer parts.

I spent an entire weekend on a ladder organizing that room.

Method To The Madness

My tech mentor showed up “unexpectedly” to help me.

He spent four hours on a Saturday advising which manuals were worth keeping and which had truly outlived their usefulness.

He told me not to get rid of one piece of hardware.

I Might Use It Someday

Uh-huh where have I heard that before?

The other TC’s came in Monday beaming and suggesting I might be worth investing their mentoring in after all.

If…

Blackmail is Such an Ugly Word

They more or less collectively pointed to the pile of bits and pieces and told me if I could get the 8088 to load an OS they would agree to train me to be a consultant.

Unforseen Consequences

Not everyone was on board with promoting an administrative to the “elite.”

I was given a tiny cubicle so close to the back door it wouldn’t take much for me and my bits and pieces to go careening – helter-skelter – down the stairwell.

Less than three feet as it happens.

Who Was That Masked Man?

Aka Cosmic Justice

One Friday afternoon I was testing apps on this tiny little computer I put together.

I literally had to build the 8088 from parts and these were long past the days of an 11/780.

We’re talking MicroVAX era.

A gentleman popped his head over the cube wall and asked where everybody was.  I smiled and said “Oh it’s Friday.  They don’t come back from lunch unless there’s a proposal due Monday.  Then they work all weekend, often staying to 3 in the morning and coming back at 6 or 7 til it’s done.”

I told him I was always there helping out – which was 100% truth.

He pointed to the antiquated piece of equipment and asked, “What are you doing?”

I explained “Oh this is an 8088…”

He smiled and said “Yes, I know what it is.  It’s old.  Why is it on your desk? What are you doing?”

I explained the blackmail.

The “deal” negotiated by those making 2 – 3/x what I made.  

He smiled and we chatted for some time.  

I told him of the exciting OEM deals I was helping with and how I had just taken over managing the LAVC. 

Among other projects – having proven myself – I was working on.

I remember thinking he was a pleasant man but – being semi-customer facing and part of the region’s headquarter team – I was used to chatting with wonderful interesting people whose identity I didn’t know.

No Way!

The kind gentleman thanked me and went on his way.  A short time later a colleague I wasn’t aware was in his cube came rushing into my tiny piece of corporate real estate and gasped “Do you know who that was?!”

“Who?” I replied.

My apoplectic colleague hissed, “That was Uncle Ken!”

“Ken Olsen?” I replied my stomach dropping.

What had I said?

Though nothing was ever said directly the path to my aspirations was smoothed out.

The tiniest tiniest bit.

I will never forget that day.

The Take-Away?

You never know what Adversity is doing for you.

Even after a lifetime of it I don’t.

Walk the Talk

Podcast Update: Specifics

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Practice reading for the upcoming introductory podcast and thought it a good idea to provide a few details.

From the podcast

Throughout the series I’ll cover the differences between holistic and allopathic approaches to health and wellness and share stories to give context.  I’ll also share tools to keep in your holistic bag of tricks.

The Tools

  • Homeopathy

Success stories and guidance

  • Minerals

Utilizing  antagonistic properties to your advantage

  • Alcohol

Success stories and guidance

Exercise

  • Including when it can be harmful to health

Replacing pharmaceuticals with holistic remedies

  • Examples and guidance

Status

  • Polishing things before recording

After which it needs to be put through post-production.

Stay tuned

Be well!.

Life Balance Starts Early

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I’ve been volunteering to help kids with literacy.  

I work with 2nd graders from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds.

A recent blunder helped me become aware of something I believe we can all appreciate.

If not learn from.

I alternate volunteer dates with a partner and because I messed up I wound up showing up on the same day as my partner.  Knowing there were more kids than volunteers I offered to stay and be an extra.

I figured the teachers would assign me somewhere I could be useful.

While one of the sessions – we do three 30-minute sessions – stands out – it’s actually what I learned after the mistake that drives this post.

Stand Out

We were waiting to start the third session when the teacher overseeing the program asked if I’d be willing to work with a student whose reading specialist had to call off.  Naturally I was cool with it.

She advised me that while he may read he may need me to read to him.

Shortly after finding a relatively secluded space to read

Most of us hang out in a hall or in a room where we have to try to work with students while ignoring a cacophany…

I noted the student was barely above See Spot Run level.

He was behind by about 1.5 years.

Locked Inside

The first thing that stood out was that this sweet kid was so intelligent but frustrated because he  had some sort of “wall” between what he was thinking and what he was able to articulate.

A high functioning autistic perhaps?

I did what I could to assure him I was in no rush and was perfectly willing to wait while he gathered his thoughts.  We had a great session and at one point I did ask if he wanted me to read.

He was tired and I considered that though he seemed really comfortable with me he might be a bit stressed because I wasn’t his normal “reader.”

It was a perfect session and while I felt wonderful it isn’t the session that inspired me to write this.

Both Ends of the Spectrum.

In some sessions it’s one-on-one with a student but in others it’s two-to-one.  It was while in the two-to-one I came to see a classic example of equilibrium.

A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.

Too Fast Cancels Too Slow

Basic math.

While both students in my third session are amazing it occurred to me that they made other sessions stand out because they brought them into balance.

They were ahead of the “average” whereas the others were a bit behind.

I suddenly realized why the teachers so appreciated the volunteers.

Which include a fireman and many others from all walks of life.

By us working with standouts from one end of the spectrum or another we allowed the teacher to work with the norm which allowed the class to progress smoothly.

The Lesson?

Extremes bring the middle into balance.

And makes for harmony.

Holistic Podcast

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I’m starting a podcast!

Holistic Style.

Entitled Navigating the Holistic Path it’s a series about integrating holistic health practices into everyday living.

Throughout the series I’ll be talking about the differences between holistic and allopathic approaches to health and wellness and sharing stories to give context.  

Some of the topics I’ll be discussing 

These topics will be spread across multiple episodes.

  • Mind Body Spirit

What is it and how can we use it to help health and wellness?

  • Experts in the Field

What are the different options when it comes to finding a holistic health practitioner?

  • Family Care Holistic Style

How do I find the right health care practitioner for my family?

  • Why doesn’t it stick?  Why sickness comes back

Environmental impact on illness.

Will include the impact of a toxic workplace on health and well-being.

  • Nutrition

Dietary and supplement advice in the media

  • And more.

Stay tuned.

Mushed Back Into the Cookie Dough

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Taking a much needed music break.

Listening to Solar Echoes by Sir Nigel Stanford which – interestingly – maps beautifully to my Metatron’s Army series and NO – the brilliant creative does not endorse my work.  

I didn’t even realize this until years after I published the series.

Doubt he knows I exist or knows his Cymatics video put into motion parts of my EMF Sensitivity experience that were difficult to explain.  His Solar Echoes?  Well that’s a whole other beautiful ball of interconnected creative wax.

I’ve spent the past weeks pedal to the metal on an upcoming project – at times truly asking myself what the hell I was thinking.  I mean aren’t I the person who just spent 2 plus years putting myself back together after Covid Lockdown induced burnout scattered my soul to the wind?

To Burn Out

Or Not

I honestly never thought I’d write again.

Didn’t think I’d be able to read fiction either – I was in that much pain.

It wasn’t until I ended up in the hospital because of this fun that I was able to find a way out of the soul cave-in my life had become.

The ER Visit? I translated their allopathic mumbo jumbo into my holistic “This is what I need to do.”

Including stopping medication in lieu of holistic alternatives – something I’ll be discussing in this upcoming project.

Walking for weeks that turned into months – hours spent in silence with only my wounded soul as my companion – I slowly put myself back together.

It was painful because I would start to think of something I could write which gave me immediate severe psychic pain that almost had me doubling over in the middle of the sidewalk at 6:45 am.

Music Soothes the Broken Soul

I just took a moment to see which song was playing as I write this.  

Because it speaks to my healing soul.

Solar Echoes.

I’ve long written about music as a healing agent.

Playlists for EMF Sensitivity among other uses.

In this context it isn’t just a break but a reminder that I can’t wander into that creative swamp again.

I’d drown.

And as my need to create wars with the thought of having to pick up the pieces again I realize that like a cookie cutter segments pieces of the whole to put on display at holiday time the place and time I live in has forced me to carve out pieces of my work.  

Pieces of my creative soul.

And the Burnout?

What do we do after we’ve punched out a number of shapes to showcase?

We mush the remainder into a ball and bring out the rolling pin.

To Start All Over Again.

Back into the Mush.

Generations: Why We Need to Tell Our Stories

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Finding myself staring at the sceen and knowing I needed to get out of my environment to break it loose I decided to take advantage of a bit of chilly winter sun and walk to a place I could get lunch.

It’s a further walk – more Vitamin D – and with my laptop in my backpack – more of a workout.

I was seated at a booth on the other side from a table of adults where I proceeded to set the laptop on the table and open it up.

And dig into some awesome chips and salsa.

Not long after and before ordering a woman with two small children came in.  The younger one – a boy about 4 – was already whining.  

Diagnosis?  Overtired and very hungry.  Maybe some molar action too.

I’d just gotten my lunch order when a mom came in with a very whiny toddler – about 4.  

They put them on the other side of me.

Working diligently I was able to block out the chaos going on on either side of me.

Mostly.

At one point I saw the mom take both kids who’d be in competition with a fire alarm outside.  At the same time I heard the woman behind me explaining to a 4-year-old what  SHE does when she has a tummy ache.

Ummmm – did that translate?

I kept at it making awesome progress on my project.

To the degree I was happy I followed my instinct to go to this place for lunch.

At one point I saw the mom of the two youngins crouch down and ask a very teary-eyed 4-year-old – bawling from being overly tired – while his older sister – also whining – stood by his side.

“What do you want?”

What Do You Want?

A for effort mom but – um – not the most productive approach.

His wailing would have been heard at Ford Field after the Detroit Lions scored a touchdown.

Not being critical just realistic.  I seriously wonder if – bawling his eyes out – he even heard the question.

Generations.

It was at this point I recalled a conversation my son and I had recently wherein we talked of the benefits of multiple generations being involved in family life.

I went so far as to suggest a big part of why fewer couples are having kids is because they don’t have the support they need and don’t want to have to choose between the well-being of their kids and the need to bring more income into the home so they can make a better life for their kids.

As I watched both moms struggle to control kids who were going further and further into meltdown territory…

At one point a woman came in to help the mom behind me and I heard her shortly after order a Jim Beam with lime. 

 Kiddo was fun!

I thought how different the day could have gone for each mom if they’d been coached by someone who’d been there before and could explain why their go-to strategy was making the situation worse.

Grandparents?  Older Sibling?  Cousins?

All People I watched guiding family members through those fun days.

And who later guided me.

It made me think how I grew up in a large multi-generational family – holding babies on my lap from the time I was old enough to bear their weight so my aunts and uncles could get a break long enough to eat.

And listening to my grandma coach her daughters – new moms – on the normalcy of what they were experiencing and offering other advice.

Which included “THROW THAT BOOK OUT!” when it came to the Dr. Spock book.

It brought me back to the conversation with my son and how even though the realities of today’s economy makes it so some have to move far from home

Having lived through multiple economic downturns in Detroit – thanks to the Manufacturing Industry – I understand the need to move so you have peace of mind to start a family without having to worry about being laid off shortly after you do.

There is a need for people to tell their stories!

Email?  Cell phone?  SNAIL MAIL?

Why not me?

Oh sure I considered offering a word of encouragement to the harried women or even distracting their kids by telling the little girl how beautiful her dress was, etc but I remembered how well that turned out for me last time.

I was at Target and needed to go to the bathroom.  There was a very young toddler girl in there by herself asking for her mom and putting her head under every stall door – including mine – in an effort to find her.  Alarmed when this went on for several minutes I decided I’d go to a customer service representative after I washed my hands so they could page for the mom …

This poor little girl was so scared asking all these strange adult women for her mom.

After drying my hands I stepped out to find a woman standing in the general area.  I inquired whether she had a young daughter to which she replied yes.  When I mentioned she was scared and going under the stalls asking for her mom the woman turned on me like a rabid animal and snapped “Well you’re just perfect aren’t you?”

???!

Um – no.  

Never came close to suggesting as much either.

She followed up by screaming at me with a lot of – well – it wasn’t great to be on the receiving end.

At the restaurant? My heart went out to the moms but with the memory of the Target fun – which happened years back – inflicting fresh wounds? I elected to stay silent rather than offer a word of encouragement.

Or to compliment the little boys on how cool their sweatshirts were which might have distracted them long enough to give the mom a chance to catch their breath.

Once Bitten Twice Shy, No?

All the more reason we need to tell our stories!

I offered silent support but thought how much better it would have been for those women had they had the type of support that comes from generations of moms telling their stories.

So they would have a plethora of tools in their toolbelts.

We Need to Tell Our Stories

Note: Image by Richard Anderson of San Jose, CA