Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Scars



Our duty, as men and women, is to proceed as if limits to our ability did not exist. We are collaborators in creation.
-Teilhard de Chardin

 I recently compared scars with someone, at a wine tasting, after a wonderful game of tennis. It was more an exploration of life than it was a competition. Each scar existed as a bookmark in an ever unfolding story. Some scars were tied to painful memories, some to happy memories and some that were in existence without any memory of the happening at all.  The uniqueness of each story and the reaction from both the teller and the listener was incredibly interesting. There were scars that brought us to our childhood, our adolescence and all stages of development.  The most confronting element of this was the sense of distance, in terms of how far along we had come from events that left such a permanent mark. What I came to realize is that there are times in life when it feels like nothing else will ever happen again and all of things that have led you to this point have somehow vanished. When those times arise it's important to realize that we have the power to take that next step, physically, spiritually and otherwise. 

Having compared scars it became clear that we are all going to leave here with a few reminders of our mortality, however the most important thing is to not let our mortality distract us from our limitless ability of creation. It is when the mind becomes focused on a singular goal that it is the most powerful and with the proper focus our possibilities are truly infinite. That considered, if there is something which is not happening in life that you feel should be...take a moment to recheck your focus, there is a possibility that something is hindering your vision, and it's a good chance it's you. Get out of your own way, refocus your lens and go find whatever it is you are looking for. 

To Give, To Love, To Serve. 
Photo by A. D. Davis
 -A

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Calm

 
photo by A. D. Davis

Maybe it's the sweltering heat, the mild dehydration, the accumulation of a few nights out with the "family", the sound of the waves, the XX (band) and/or the amount of direct UV loving I've gotten over the last few days, but I find myself in a very calm, almost euphoric state. It's the kind of calm that comes only after a storm. It's the calm that manifests out of need and desire. The kind of calm which is necessary to reassess and reevaluate what is most important to accomplish after the storm has passed over and toppled trees, torn off roof tiles and scattered lawn furniture.

It's about taking that first step...no amount of panic, stress, guessing, or finger pointing will begin the process of creation. Once the storm passes...stop, take stock of your situation and find the most important thing to accomplish first...the most important task is often the hardest. This should be met with excitement not fear. Once the "hardest" task is accomplished all tasks from then on will be easier.

When the clouds roll over head and the sound of rain begins to emerge...smile and appreciate that hard work is coming. For it is through hard work that we become stronger. As we get stronger the universe will provide us with more to handle and that is how we are rewarded for our accomplishments.

The universe will provide for you only that which you can handle! -said to me by Alan Davis.

To Give, To Love, To Serve.
-A

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Happy


It's my mother's birthday today and besides being a Loving mother she is also a great inspiration.  Everyday working hard and continually pushing herself to learn, create and do.  I'm so fortunate to have a mother (and father) who are such amazing role models.

Family is so important, whoever makes up your "family". Surrounding yourself with people who not only appreciate what you do but support what you do and who you are is vital in life.  Having people in your life that motivate you to be a better person and hold you accountable on a daily basis will greatly improve your ability to be successful. 

The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher.  
~Thomas Henry Huxley

It's important to challenge yourself everyday, because it's been said that it's all quiet before the storm.  Avoid the quiet and avoid the storm.  Always push to get to the next level!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Freedom!

Think about all of the people throughout your life who have helped shape your existence...given you advice, positive or negative that has led you to making a decision.  Now consider times in your life when you gave advice to someone and try to remember if that advice had any agenda behind it. Be honest with yourself, this is not an easy or comfortable exercise. Did you tell someone to do something or ignore someone because somehow you might gain from it, or you were jealous of this persons opportunity. In some way "guiding" someonelse's decision was a way for you to gain some kind of control within your own life.


If you answered yes or recognized a time you have shaped someone's actions with personal gain in mind, relate that to all of the times other people have "helped" you make a decision.  Although the idea that many of those around you  are providing biased advice, because there always the "good ones", sounds a bit gloomy, the intention here is positive.  The most important decision you can make is to follow the voice within.  To get very quiet and feel out that universal vibration of energy that exists within yourself, tying you to the universe and the higher powers.   True freedom is not just the ability to make your own decisions, rather it is the ability recognize the callings of your innate and the willingness to give yourself up humbly in total service to it. Freedom is not the act of "doing whatever you want", it's the process of removing yourself from your ego and physical desires...it's about doing whatever it takes for a cause greater than oneself, no matter how demanding or hard those steps may be.  Freedom is work! Work towards a Lasting Purpose! That is the key to life...

"Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water"
-Zen Proverb

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Mission

Recently on the mission trip to Cambodia I got to serve at a major temple in the Floating Village on the Tonle Sap River. While we were there, news was delivered that the Head Monk was very ill, he had been in seclusion for weeks with debilitating migraines and vertigo. He had tried all kinds of healing (acupuncture, cupping, herbs, etc.) with little to no results. His congregation was very concerned about his well being and were essentially without a leader. 
I was given the honor of seeing him and was escorted to his private living quarters. He was helped by two of his monks into the prayer room, where my table was set up. After going through a prayer ritual to the golden Buddha, that can be seen behind us, and then one to the head Monk, I was granted permission to touch the monk's head and neck; something that is usually forbidden, because the head is considered your temple. I began to palpate and quickly discovered his Atlas and Axis (the first and second bones in the spine) were severely subluxated, in opposite directions, putting tremendous pressure on his spinal cord. This was the CAUSE of his symptoms. I steadied my hands, took a few deep breaths, cleared his subluxations first in my mind's eye and then delivered the adjustments. I sat him up and re-palpated, his spine was in alignment and interference free. After a few moments the Head monk got up off the table and walked around the room, these were his first unassisted steps in days. He then spoke with my translator about how bones out of place in his neck could lead to the problems he had been experiencing. Once he understood, he placed his hands on my head and said a prayer, wishing me long life and prosperity. I again bowed to the Buddha and to him and was led out to the main temple to rejoin the group and continue adjusting the crowd of villagers who had gathered to receive care.  
This was an incredibly humbling and amazing experience, something that will be cherished forever. The power of Chiropractic is immense, it restores life, not only for the recipient, but in many cases, those who depend on the recipient as well. we are all connected and interference in one of us, is an interference in all of us! 
 "Be willing to give. be willing to sacrifice. Be willing to take a chance. be willing to sacrifice your comfort for those whose need is much greater than your own." 
-Sid E. Williams, D.C.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

LIVE

print by: Shepard Fairey
The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered "Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."

I've said it before, Nothing worth having is easy. Accomplishing desired goals takes self control, preparation, a clear mind, efficient action and most importantly the ability to adapt. Life is about adaptation. Every step taken should be a step forward. Work smart, Play hard and smile big!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

King!

Photo by AE
Insist on yourself, never imitate.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Everyday is just one day.  There is no other day in your life. Look in the mirror, right into your eyes and tell yourself how much you love you, 3 times (don't look away...or continue to say it until you can keep eye contact). It's amazing how much better the day goes when you start it from a place of love. This whole house of cards can come down at any time...so here's the key to life:

Do what makes you the most happy and have as much fun as you can, as much as you can. so long as it doesn't harm you or anyone else.


Friday, February 18, 2011

The Absolute

 Enso circle by famous early 20th century priest and Daruma heir to Nantanbo,
Kutsu Deiryu

Ensō  is a Japanese word meaning "circle" and a concept strongly associated with Zen. Ensō is one of the most common subjects of Japanese Caligraphy even though it is a symbol and not a character. It symbolizes the Absolute, enlightenment, strength, elegance, the Universe, and the  void; it can also symbolize the Japanese aesthetic itself; as an "expression of the moment".

In Zen Buddhist painting, ensō symbolizes a moment when the mind is free to simply let the body/spirit create. The brushed ink of the circle is usually done on silk or rice paper in one movement (but the great Bankei used two strokes sometimes) and there is no possibility of modification: it shows the expressive movement of the spirit at that time. Zen Buddhists "believe that the character of the artist is fully exposed in how she or he draws an ensō. Only a person who is mentally and spiritually complete can draw a true ensō. Some artists will practice drawing an ensō daily, as a kind of spiritual exercise. (wiki definition)


My version of an Enso circle painted with light
Photo by A.D.Davis, 2007

Monday, February 7, 2011

Clarity


photo by A. D. Davis 
 -China, 2007


Only in quiet waters things mirror themselves undistorted. Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world.
-HANS MARGOLIUS
In the Universe, in life, in people, in the being, in the mind, in the body, as a principle, interference leads to distortion. Without first recognizing and correcting the cause of the interference, all of the results of the actions carried out from that point on will be directly related to that principle. Distorted results will lead to even more dysfunctional outcomes. The magnitude of this idea is alarming.  The amount of people, ideas, situations, and so on, that are operating or were created, often unbeknownst to the responsible party, in direct correlation with distortion due to interference is vast.  There is a very simple solution to all of this...remove the interference and the system will function properly...distortion fades to clarity. All of the noise is quieted. In the calm, stillness of quiet, it's amazing how much more makes sense.

We have the power and ability to hear the quiet through the chatter...to start viewing and acting in the world with purpose and vision. There is and has been interference and distortion in my life, much less now than ever before.  Every day I work at removing more and more...Chiropractic is the most significant contributor to this process...providing Lasting Purpose, removal of interference, and the connection to a universal network of shared energy.  The more Positive energy that goes in, the more that comes out. Do Right, Get Right!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Perception


The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.
-ROBERTSON DAVIES
Reality is not only what you make it, but what you are truly capable of comprehending at any given time.  It's easy to ask for more and always feel wanting or empty, but consider that the universe provides you with only so much as you can handle at any given time.  Master what is in your life currently and more will be provided. The time we have here is so precious, make the absolute most of it and you will know fullness. 


R.I.P Nanni
1915-2011

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Vision

What we see depends mainly on what we look for.  
 John Lubbock

Look inside for what is truly important...most of the things we can see we don't really need, it's the invisible that is most necessary, not the visible. Slow down, be still, really listen and then act when the time is right, with no hesitation.  When it's right, it's right! When acting from a place of internal and external agreement, things happen easier and more frequently, However the most important part of this is, to always honor the source...be humble and thankful for all the things that happen and...Smile BIG!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Service

photo by A. D. Davis  
 
Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness.
- Leo Tolstoy

Monday, January 24, 2011

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Balance



     Finally settling back into the groove, after 5 weeks of SE Asian living is a process. Although I feel like a third party observer at times, with everyone moving at a different pace all around me, things are starting to regulate though.   Right around the time "the Secret" (which is just a modern day version of Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, in my opinion) was getting popular; a very successful Chiropractor said to me..."you want to know the real secret? Just go to WORK!"  Getting to see the amount of people I saw daily at the clinics, in Cambodia, has left me with a profound understanding of what it means to "go to work" everyday. The energy I had while working was tremendous...I felt stronger after every patient, yet at the end of the day, was completely wiped out.  It was as though, I gave a little bit of my energy to each patient with every adjustment.  That was one of the more interesting things I gained from this trip, was really learning to connect with the patient.
     Considering most patients did not speak English, communication was more on a physical level than a verbal one. Even though I learned enough Khmer to get by, really tuning into the patients nervous system was essential.  In a way, I felt more connected to many of those patients than many of the ones here in the States.  Having the ease of sharing the same language here, much of the "connection" is verbal...in Cambodia where I had to use alternative means of communication, really connecting to the patients system was crucial and taught me how to slow down and be present; something that I will continue to do here in the states.  It's amazing what can be learned when things are slowed down...taking myself and my "knowledge" out of the equation, starting at square one and gaining all the information from the patient's Nervous System, is frustrating at first and incredibly humbling. In a fast paced world, where everyone wants immediate results...it is important to respect the process of wellness and educate accordingly.  95% of the fun is the process...5% is problem solving for the unforeseen variables.
     Whatever it is you do, I challenge you to stop and start with a new outlook...take the time to appreciate the process and find gratification in accomplishing each of the steps, no matter how many times you have done them or will do them. Once you are able to derive gratification from the process, it will flow into your life in abundance and overflow into the lives of the people around you.   Hard work is just that...Hard (mostly because of the consistency and commitment necessary to do the work), but nothing worth having is easy!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Gentle Giant



photo by A. D. Davis 


 "Elephants are symbols of might and memory, harmony and patience, power and compassion." unknown

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Easy Rider

We bought bikes in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Heading to Hue, blue skies and farmland. With how fast life can move take a few moments to breath and reconnect with that voice inside your head that tells you how amazing you are. 

I love you all.

Midas Touch


Everyone needs a pair of GOLD kicks, hand made in Vietnam!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

The Boss!


Asia is such a wild and mysterious place, everyday provides such unique expressions of life!