I’ve been reading a lot on Thanksgiving since the American holiday just occurred. I love hearing what people are thankful for.
A more fulfilling life
I’ve read many articles lately that focus on the importance of finding joy and giving thanks as THE best way to lead a more fulfilling life. This even affects our health.
I first heard about this concept when I joined AA in 1981.
“Attitude of Gratitude”
For long-term sobriety and any hope of happiness, I was told to cultivate an “attitude of gratitude.” My first AA sponsors, Ginger Boyce Price and Anne Galvin, reminded me to make a gratitude list when I started “sharing my issues” (complaining).
That is great advice and works for everyone, no matter what your spiritual beliefs are.
I continue to let go of resentments, perceived failures and fears as best I can. When I radiate joy, I find that many times others respond more positively to me. And if they don’t, I have decided to keep my joy, just in case I get to see it reflected back in the next person I encounter.
In Chandni Chowk market,Old Delhi with real cobras.
Just got back from a week in India with my kids Patrick and Andrea.
Incredible. Awesome.
One of our guides, Deepak from Agra (where the Taj Mahal is located), said, “America is a rich country.”
My first thought was,
I’m not rich. You didn’t see me flying to India in the First Class section.
But when it comes to basics, we’re doing pretty well, America.
I was shown that HOT water upon demand, air conditioning, social security and access to a decent education – even at the grade school level – is not a given everywhere in the world.
If you are having trouble finding stuff to be thankful for, I recommend starting with any of those basics.
Express your gratitude
A great way to hold onto gratitude is express it in the physical world.
Find a good cause that moves your heart and give whatever you can as often as you can. Or spend some time helping people. Call someone who would love to hear from you.
Do whatever makes you feel joy about who you are and reminds you that you’re a caring person.
A Healing Story
This section will feature stories about healing modalities and experiences. If any of my clients want to provide a story, please contact me and we’ll share your story.
Trigger Points
I’d like to introduce you to trigger points.
They are small cramps in your muscles (about ½ inch in diameter) that cause headaches, pain in your arm, your neck, your shoulder, your back, your butt, your legs….you get the point. They limit the your range of motion.
Slept on your neck wrong? Can’t turn your head? Trigger point. I would bet on it.
Most of us of a certain age have them. And younger folks who work out or play sports sometimes get them.
What’s fascinating is that many times the pain is referred – you feel the pain somewhere else in your body from where the trigger point is located.
I had a pain in my shoulder that I could not get rid of no matter how much I worked on the sore muscle. I went to my trigger point textbook and saw that a trigger point in my neck that could be the culprit.
Lo and behold, I found and released the trigger point in my neck and my shoulder pain went away!
If you have chronic aches and pains, let’s first check out your muscles and fascia and see if trigger points are the cause.
Trigger points are not glamorous, you don’t need an MRI to find out if you have them and the solution (massage) is low tech.
But it is effective. Once you release the trigger point, the muscle usually feels better immediately.