Reflections on my First 10 Years

Although it's very cliché to say, it's still hard to believe it's been 10 years since I started my practice. First of all, I'd like to thank all of my patients, from those that have been with me from the beginning, to those that are new to the practice, and to all those in between. For without you, there would be no practice.

Over the years, I have learned many things that I was not specifically taught in school. One of the most powerful things that I’ve learned is just how strong and resilient the human body and mind can be. Our bodies are capable of overcoming and recovering from enormous stresses, some of our own doing and others that are out of our control. The everyday stresses of work and home, poor eating habits, lack of exercise,  too much exercise, computers, commuting, etc., etc., the list goes on and on. And just because we are able to tolerate these stresses now, doesn’t mean that it won’t eventually catch up with us. I think what I’ve realized the most in the past 10 years, is how much we take our bodies and our health for granted. From those of us that do nothing but sit on the couch, to those of us that push our bodies and minds to the extremes and beyond, we could each do a little bit better when it comes to honoring and respecting our bodies and minds. Occasionally we need to step back and re-evaluate how we’re living and what exactly we are doing to ourselves each day; From our work environment, to our home environment, from our eating habits, to our exercise habits. Taking stock periodically allows us to make necessary changes before it’s too late. As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” So don’t wait for a life threatening situation to make changes, start now, if you choose.

Because what it ultimately comes down to is Choices. Not right or wrong choices, but better or worse ones. When we realize this, that we have choices when it comes to taking care of our bodies and well-being, and when we can own up to those choices, then and only then, can we take full responsibility for our healthcare.  It is our body and mind, and only we have control of them. If we choose to smoke or not, eat an organic tomato or a genetically modified one, take a medication rather than a vitamin, live or just merely exist, it is our choice. And when it comes to the end of life, it is also our choice to die with dignity when we are ready to, or simply just exist and disappear into dementia or prolonged agony. These are all choices that we have, and as long as we are willing to accept the consequences of those decisions, good and bad, then we will be solely responsible for our bodies and minds.

From my perspective, when it comes to taking care of yourself, trying to be somewhere in the middle is the better choice. Not the right choice, but the better choice; because, again, there is no right or wrong, only better or worse. People always say to me, “I know I shouldn’t have that piece of cake, or ice cream, or pizza, etc., because it’s “bad” for me.” But I tell them it’s ok as long as it’s your choice and in moderation and you acknowledge that decision. As long as you try to stay somewhere in the middle when it comes to your overall health and wellbeing, then straying periodically to the edges is ok as long as you try stay close to the path most of the time. Unfortunately, what most people do is swing wildly from one extreme to the other without spending too much time in the middle. This will only lead to frustration, stress, anger and depression. Choosing a better path takes a conscious decision to change; to change your eating and lifestyle habits, and to change the way you look at your health. It takes changing from a sickness model of healthcare to a wellness model. Not a fad diet, not a magic pill, not a magic exercise machine or workout, not a fast, but a change for the long haul.

What I’ve seen with most patients, and with myself, is that small, step by step changes are the best way for lasting results. When I see people try to radically change their ways, like a “New Year’s Resolution” type of change, it is almost always short-lived and the person slowly drifts back to their old ways, and usually worse. That is why diets and fasts never work in the long run, because by default, they are temporary; but changing your eating habits will work. The idea is to keep it simple and keep it manageable. Lots of little changes will eventually add up to a big change over time. This not only applies to diet and lifestyle changes, but also when you’re in pain. What do I always say? Keep moving. Even just a small amount of movement will help. You have to start somewhere, so even if you can only move a few inches when your back hurts, it’s helping to start the process of recovery. Think baby steps and then the process won’t feel so big and overwhelming. Just changing one thing a week will make a big difference. For instance, if you’re not doing any exercise right now, start with walking one day a week, even if it’s just 20 minutes, at least it’s a start. Getting up more frequently from your computer will do wonders for your neck and upper back aches and pains. So start somewhere, anywhere and you’ll be surprised at where you end up. And try to be easier on yourself and not beat yourself up if we don’t do things perfectly. Remember, you don’t have to always be perfect, just try to be better with everything you do. If you fall back into your old habits or forget to do your exercises one day, it’s ok, just chalk it up and try again tomorrow. No one is perfect, but we can all do better, it’s just a matter of making choices and then owning those choices.

So in the end, the thing to remember is step by step, one day at a time and don’t try to be perfect, just try to be better. There is no right or wrong decision, only better or worse when it comes to your health and wellbeing. Owning those decisions and taking responsibility for your choices and actions will remove many of the unnecessary stresses and pressures that we put on ourselves everyday and hopefully will make us happier and more capable of enjoying this life.

Dr. Mark