Can You Hear Me Now?

Hey, a break! As I await a client to drop off some work, I figured I’d make a quick update. My “to do” list (and not just the one on the right!) is a mile long, but updating my blog is probably on it, so why not?!

I went to see my doctor last week, and he told me he will be retiring in about a year. I wanted to cry right then and there. I’ve got the best doctor, and for me to say that when you know my feelings about the whole medical paradigm, really means something. I don’t know if there is another doctor out there like him! I found him when I was 21 and had just moved back from Toronto and was living downtown. I wanted to find a doctor right nearby, so I flipped open the yellow pages and made an appointment with the first downtown doctor that was accepting new patients. 15 years later he wouldn’t accept a new patient if it was his neighbour, and I am lucky as hell to have found him. He actually listens to me, spends time answering questions and cares about my well-being in every way. He supports whatever therapies I want to try and will sign off on any blood or whatever test I want to take. He knows I research a lot of alternative things and he doesn’t try to talk me out of it. He has never tried to push a drug or medication on me and won’t even suggest any unless I specifically ask. He encourages vitamin supplements, meditation, recommends books by Caroline Myss and Eckhart Tolle, and wears a Lance Armstrong “Live Strong” bracelet. He RAWKS and I don’t want to lose him!!! Waaaaaaaah!!

At least I’ll get to see him a few more times before the dreaded day of retirement, whenever that will be, he said he’d have more information next time I see him. I’m supposed to be receiving a form he will need to sign to allow me to take a meditation course I want to take in June… the instructors are worried I won’t be able to handle it because of my MS. Apparently 10 hours of meditation/day for 10 days is incredibly draining and hard on the body physically, it is in no way a “retreat”. This woman says she comes home exhausted and worn out. I never thought of it that way before, but I guess it makes sense. Trying to sit still and focus on my breathing for 10 minutes a day can be tough, never mind 10 hours! But I thought it was tough just because there is always something else to do… the phone rings, the computer awaits, music, TV, all sorts of distractions. I’m hoping going away and being in a serene place where there is nothing else to do except meditate will make it a little easier. I guess “easy” isn’t the right word though, it will be tough, but necessary for me I think.

And speaking of alternative weird things I do, I have a couple new things I’m trying out. Yesterday I was in the health food store to buy some supplements, when the 50% off bargain table caught my attention. I came across a few bottles of Bailey Flower Essences, with labels such as “Confusion”, “Grief” and “Fears”. I asked the owner “WHAT are these??” and she started telling me all about the flower essences and how they work on your mind. I guess it is similar to aromatherapy, except you actually digest these. She was clearing these ones out because the company no longer ships to Canada or something. Well, I am the first to admit that if the Medicine Man still made the rounds on his cart selling magic cure-all potions, I’d be first in line, especially if it’s only $5.00, and what the hell, why not try it for that price, right? I’ll spend that on a fancy coffee, any day. So I bought the last bottle of “Fears” (because don’t all troubles stem from fear? “This essence helps us to let go of fears so that we can live in greater freedom”) and we’ll see what happens!

Then when I got home I checked my mailbox, and the Detox Foot Pads I ordered awhile back had arrived. I used them for the first time last night. Without going into too many details, I will say I could not believe my eyes when I peeled them off this morning, and DAMN, those babies work!! I can’t wait to see the difference after a couple weeks. I bought 30 of them, thinking that was a month’s supply, but then I remembered I actually have two feet. Heh. Apparently detoxification through the feet is the next big health thing (alternative therapy speaking) in this country, so aren’t I just on the cutting edge! All hail to the sap sheet!

Oh, my mini sunflower garden is starting to grow!! There are a couple little sprouts that popped up yesterday. Oh, and the lady at the health food store has a big sunflower poster in the back room she’s going to dig out for me. With all the sunflower inspiration I am surrounding myself with, I hope it kicks in soon. The Year of the Sunflower for me is still in the pruning the earth/planting the seeds stage… I know April is an insane month with work and stuff, and the weather hasn’t been so good, so I am hoping once things get back to normal and the sun comes out and stays out for a longer period of time (and I can actually dig out from under these piles of paper and enjoy it) that things will get back on the right path. Oh, and maybe if they discontinued selling these things called “cookies” (I’m making up for the lost revenues the Cookie Monster has caused).

Fear drops can’t hurt either

Okay, client has come and gone, back to work!