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!