Relaxing to some people is like “gold-dust”! They can never chill out, they are allways chasing their tail, and even just the word RELAX seem to bring them out in a rash. You need to relax otherwise you will burn out, and become seriously ill. So my answer, if you have problems with swithing off from everyday life would be: FRIENDS

Good friends should have the ability to relax you, by just being in their company. I have just spent a day in North Lincolnshire with some dear friends of mine.  You know the “put the world to right over some good food” kind of day.

What I would like to share with you good people, is the “Thank you Poem” I received today, after the visit. This style of writing is just perfect to sit and almost meditate on. So here is the original. ENJOY…..

How to become a Zen Master

~

Take lots of years

    Of being ‘laid back’.

Add to this the Buddhist

    Theory of ‘non-doing’.

Live for a long time.

    Read the lovely tales

Of the eccentric Zen Masters

    Of old and their

Anti-logical teachings of

    ‘Non-being’.

Mix in a little of Mr. Miyagi

    And the lovely Yoda.

Create a secret Zen garden

    Far from the madding

Crowd. Adopt the arts of

    Za-zen – ‘just sitting’ -

’non-thinking’ and ‘non-doing’.

    Just listening to the bird song

And the sound of wind in the pines.

    You are now on the path

To becoming a real Zen master.

    Mix in with a little of Thick

Naht Hanh’s philosophy from

    His recent book from Amazon -

‘Nothing To Do Nowhere to go’

    From now on you will be in

‘Perfect harmony with the universe’

And you will be living in Nirvana.

~

Oh!

        I forgot – Tesco will deliver

~

                        Izu 7/6/09 for Ida

WARNING, you may find the following a bit controversial. I do not mean to upset anyone, but I am just highlighting a possible connection between back pain and the “superwoman” of today. So if you have a weak constitution, or get easily offended, you may choose to stop now and come back later!!

Over the years I have seen a number of cases of low back pain suffered by ladies who have been married for many years to, dare I say, “non-house-trained” husbands. Husbands of the generation who expect that the wife does EVERYTHING for them.

Now, I am not in any way, shape or form, saying that the wife is “putting on” the back pain. But, the mechanical pain, is a way for the wife to get a bit of time-out, to recover, to regain some strength.

The pain is very real, often caused by something relatively minor, and it needs proper chiropractic treatment. An aspect the husband will find very frustrating, as he expects her to be better instantly.

So, to you Husbands who may recognize yourself from this little piece. Give her a hug, some help and let her get better in her own time.

To you wife’s, who will be nodding in unison. Tell him you would like another cup of tea, and a bit of peace.

In today’s busy world it does not have to be an injury that will put you out of action. STRESS can do it! Yes, that feeling, when you are just about to lose your temper because you have so many things to do. A pain so nasty you have to stop the hectic life and just “be still” for a few days.

Nonsense I can hear you say.”Stress is a mental thing. That does not give me a physical pain”. “YES IT CAN” would be my answer. Any mental stress you may be feeling will aggravate what ever weakness you may have in the skeletal system, hence you get a REAL physical pain.

A real life example:

Mr. C called the office yesterday for an urgent app. He is a school teacher. Over the weekend he had started with some chest pain and pain in the left arm. It became gradually more severe to the point, where his wife called the ambulance sunday afternoon, and off he went to Arrow Park Hospital! They did a complete check on him, and ruled out a heart attack, so he was out of hospital again monday morning. He then called me!

I checked him over and told him his neck and upper back was very tight and tense. Immediately after the treatment, the numbness of his left arm eased off and the chest pain was gone by the time he left the Clinic. Another happy customer!

So, think about how stress can affect you. And do call if you have a pain, you are not sure about. I will be the first one to send you to the GP, if there is ANYTHING I am not sure about.

In the meantime: CHILL and enjoy life.