Doc's Blog!
Strategic Priorities in Life: How To Get Out of The Pounding Surf & Into The Beach Chair
Nov
Life is crazy! Demands, dilemmas, and deadlines of all kinds bombard us daily. We are constantly on the go. Fast food, picked up in a drive-through and eaten in the car, has become the traditional American meal. Social media has transformed human relationships from deep meaningful “works in progress” where real growth and connection happen, to senseless, shallow nonsense composed mostly of “clicks” and “likes”. We don’t take time to really understand, communicate or connect. But it’s OK because we have some great emojis!
Our healthcare has taken a similar turn to immediacy. Have a problem? Easy peasy, take a pill. What? The pill is causing other problems? Hmmm… Wait! I know! Take another pill!
When my wife’s father died, we brought my sweet mother-in-law to our home to live with us. She was a wonderful person; sweet, kind, intelligent, and had lived a life full of love and service to others. When we got her, she was in terrible condition. She couldn’t walk without falling. She didn’t remember the names of her brothers, she was confused, angry, disoriented, and weak. She was taking 11 different medications and had been for many years. Many of those medications were being given to counteract the effects of the other medications she was taking. Several of them were for mental health issues because, obviously, if the first dozen different pills don’t fix your problem, you must be crazy!
My wife and I (both a couple of fringy naturopaths who operate under the delusion that maybe it’d be better to solve a problem than hide the symptom) looked at her list of meds and thought it was the dumbest thing we’d ever seen. We took her to our medical doctor. Old Doc Nofziger was a great physician. He wasn’t like the new breed that sit with their noses on a computer screen following flow charts and protocols. He was old school. He actually looked at his patient, talked with his patient and…listened. Then he looked at her meds list and said “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen.” He took her off all of her medicines except two or three that were actually doing some good.
The wife and I then spent some real time considering Mom’s needs too and developed an herbal plan to support her healing and recovery. For several months she went through withdrawals from the other meds (not fun by the way) and then, suddenly, Mom was back. She was sharp, happy, funny, strong healthy, and completely mobile. Instead of sitting on the couch trying to remember who everyone was, she washed dishes, played with grandkids, and read, studied, and discussed deep ideas. It was wonderful.
So what was the difference? The difference was that instead of looking for a quick fix for Mom’s medical problems (some of which were significant of the sort for which modern medicines has no solutions other than to cover symptoms…and create others), we stayed out of the pounding surf of bandaids and symptomatic half-measures and sat with Mom in beach chairs so that we could see the big picture, analyze what was really going on and then engage with some long-term solutions that could re-build her body and restore her health.
You see, unlike the pounding surf of immediacy and reaction, the beach chairs offer a completely different view and perspective. I’m not saying there aren’t things in our lives that require our immediate attention and action. When the fire alarm goes off, you really do have to put out the fire! But What I’ve learned is that the more time we spend reflecting, learning, planning, and building, the fewer fires we’ll have.
I’ve also learned that it takes real intent and decision to get out of the pounding surf on a regular basis to spend time in the beach chairs pondering, planning, praying, and proactively producing real change. Why? Because there are never any alarms going off up by the beach chairs. Going up there and doing that kind of real work doesn’t appear to be an emergency and it’s easily trumped by less important nonsense in our lives that is time-sensitive but really of no importance at all. Prioritization of the possibilities and potential of planning and preparing requires real desire and determination.
Personally, I’ve found the study and use of medicinal plants to be a wonderful gateway to really understanding the power of beach chairs. Herbs aren’t usually bandaids…well a plantain leaf can make a nice bandaid but that’s another topic. Herbs are for building, guiding, and supporting the body’s normal functions. They are complex combinations of nutrients, medicines, and energies that contribute to real change. Interestingly, when I’m doing an herbal consultation, the conversation often turns to other subjects like relationships, sorrows, joys, and dreams of the future. People often remark that no one has ever listened to them like that or that talking about those things has really made some important things much more clear for them. I’m not doing anything really…just sitting in my beach chair smiling mostly. But the fact that they sat down in the beach chair next to me and started talking, thinking, and looking at the amazing view offered by that simple beach chair is a transformative experience. They thought they were just going to talk about their symptoms or problems but, the next thing they know, they’re talking about the big picture and things that really matter and, often, important things that haven’t had their focus and attention for a really long time.
As I said before, life is crazy. But I promise it can be less crazy. Take the time to connect with those you love. Take some time to connect with the God that loves you and, perhaps most importantly, take some time to connect with yourself. Ponder, plan and pray.
Really look, really think and really listen to others and to yourself. Pull yourself from the pounding surf and spend some time on the beach chairs where real change can happen. You’ll be glad you did.
By the way (and pardon the shameless commercial announcement) here at HomeGrown Herbalist, we’ve developed a line of delicious, nutritious, herbal beverage teas. None of them contain caffeine (They taught me in doctor school that caffeine isn’t very relaxing). Brewing a nice cup of herbal tea is a wonderful, relaxing experience and sipping it in your beach chair while enjoying the view and pondering the possible is true bliss.
Here’s a video where you can meet my new product development manager John T. and learn about the teas and a wonderful gift idea. I’ve also put them all on sale just for you. Have a look. :0)
Have a wonderful week,
Doc Jones
P.S. If you’d like to learn more about how to be a blessing to yourself and others, have a look at The Homegrown Herbalist School of Botanical Medicine. There are no time constraints of any kind…no fire alarms for the lessons. Mostly we sit in our beach chairs and strive to really appreciate and understand how the body works and how these wonderful little green rascals can be a blessing.
I don’t know enough words to tell you how much I appreciate the article that you wrote! You are absolutely correct on all points! I’ve been learning about herbs from you and from other sources that have helped me, and it has helped me to help others on occasion, and I will continue to learn more. I have also been learning more about nutrition and sources of nutrients that have helped me to turn a corner in my own journey back to health. As a retired nurse and as a patient, I believe in you and what you teach and the good that you do. I left my career out of frustration with the healthcare system that we have. As a patient, I am equally frustrated. Mainstream medicine has its place and value in certain situations, but for overall health, we need to take personal responsibility for it, to the very best of our ability.
May God bless and sustain you!
Thanks Kathy. Sadly the modern system is struggling. It’s still full of wonderful folks but they are governed by protocols and policies that often tie their otherwise helpful hands. The days of the doctor having the power to decide what is best for us seem to be waning and our care, more and more, seems to be directed by attorneys, accountants and corporations.
I agree. They are bound by regulations, both State and Federal. It was very frustrating to work in the industry and I am very grateful to be out of it! There are some good people still working in healthcare. Some are not. Again, thank you for this article! I am looking forward to hearing more from you!
Truth! Thank you for sharing this! Your light has probably never shone brighter!
I’m glad you enjoyed it Wynette. Thanks for taking the time to stop by.
the power of love, clear intent and holistic orientation…would that every older person had this kind of care!
We’re trying to recruit an army of good-hearted healers to fill that need through The HomeGrown Herbalist School. My students are wonderful folks and I have no doubt they will be a blessing to many. :0)
Trying to live up to your expectations Doc! 🙂 You are an amazing teacher!
Love, Esther
I have no doubt that you’ll exceed them Esther. You’re on the right track for all the right reasons. The folks over there in the Netherlands are blessed to have you. :0)
That may have just made my day. 🙂
Thank you, Doc Jones, for the story of your loving care of your Mother-in-Law. I appreciate your metaphor of the beach chairs. I will give some thoughtful consideration to how I can spend more time there in my own life, to take myself out of the pounding surf. You and your entire team at The Homegrown Herbalist are truly an “antidote” to these troubling times. I am dreaming of the day I will join your school to learn more about how to be a blessing to people in my life through increasing my herbal knowledge. God Bless!
We look forward to joining you on that journey. :0)
I am SO excited to try the sampler! I’m going to take notes on the ones I really like so I’ll know what to order regularly.
Taking notes is a fantastic idea! I have a sampler kit at my house and I can never remember which tea I had yesterday and really liked. Fortunately, they’re all really good so it doesn’t matter much. LOL
Enjoyable read! I remember at my first real job (as a Cardiology PA) the doc I worked for told me to never run to a code in the hospital. Of course, there were the interns and hospitalists that were there who would start CPR/ shocks and push epi and such, and they would get there first. It was our job to maintain a clear head, review strategy as we walked,, and arrive unflustered in the emergency to think beyond the first protocol and try to solve the problem that caused the code in the first place.
I have very much enjoyed your material. I am always looking for more tools towards better health. The background pharmacokinetics I find refreshing! Have a beautiful evening.
That’s exactly how it should be done. Good work. :0)
So many get so focused on the tree bark that they miss what’s going on in the forest.
This came at the perfect time – I’ve been in the midst of the pounding surf and truly need time out in a beach chair. Thank you for giving me some clarity! Love the story of your MIL. Your new Product Development Manager, John T., is the cutest! You and the Homegrown Herbalist school have been a blessing in my life, and I’m very grateful. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Glad you’re enjoying the school Sharon. Enjoy the chair. It’s well worth the time. :0)