Have you ever considered: how we look after our elderly says a lot about our values as a culture?
There are beliefs that erode our value for our elderly and beliefs that build up our appreciation for our seniors.
Unfortunately, it’s often our seniors themselves whose beliefs have been effected the most by changes in our culture.
Many of our precious seniors have bought into the same “errors of thought” that have our younger generations in trouble too.
A popular belief that has been taken too far. . .
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.”— Matthew the Apostle
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.”— Eckhart Tolle
“Life is a preparation for the future; and the best preparation for the future is to live as if there were none.” ― Albert Einstein
“Why not just live in the moment, especially if it has a good beat?” ― Goldie Hawn
Have you seen how our present culture has taken these statements to an extreme?
Our time management, how we relate to our families, the health choices we make, AND no where is it more evident than in our finances. Just the reality of credit card debt is enough to prove the point.
There is nothing wrong with these quotes and “living in the moment”. The point is perspective. And if all we do is live in the moment, we’re sacrificing our best future.
Consider these quotes. . .
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”― Mahatma Gandhi
“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” ― Yogi Berra
“Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind”— King Solomon
Choose your path. Joan or June? What future do you want?
Joan is a retired nurse who started to experience sciatic pain 2 years before I met her. She knew the medical approach and was familiar with the medical system so she naturally went to her family doctor about it.
I don’t really know what was done, but I’m sure you have an idea.
2 years later it was worse and she was worried that she would eventually loose the use of her legs and face a very nasty future.
Fortunately, she found today’s chiropractic, started working on correcting the problem, and is now more active the ever. That was 18 months ago.
Here are her before and after x-rays. The spine was shifted about 3/8″, which may not seem like a big deal BUT turned out for Joan to be a big deal because it was interfering with the spinal cord and along with some pelvic issues was causing her pain and disability.
This is an example of “small shift” causing a big neurological disturbance.
She continues to get adjusted, do her home based exercises, and does some type of exercise most days.
Joan is a super active grandma that is with her grandkids most day’s of the week and living an awesome life.
June came in during the time I was working with Joan.
Joan or June? What future do you want?
June was suffering with back pain and every once in a while she would have pain shoot down her leg. She was also developing sciatica.
Ironically June’s x-rays were far worse than Joan’s but June was not in as much pain.
Here is her x-ray below.
June didn’t want to follow through with the necessary care.
Because I know what happens to people with x-rays that look like June’s, I can say with 100% certainty, she is worse off today.
June didn’t like the fact that it was going to take time. That fixing her spinal problem was going to take her involvement and it was going to take some hard earned money.
June wanted to get out of pain and did not consider where she was going to be in a year or two.
Another case, almost as severe as June.
This is the before and after picture of Ron.
When I met Ron he was in his late 50’s, been to many doctors and most said there was nothing they could do. Ron was on several pain med’s, had given up on chiropractic because all they were focusing on were his symptoms and was filing for long term disability.
He was not a happy man.
Ron did the work, was committed to the process, and now he get’s to live the reward of hard work and intelligent decisions.
He thought about his future and decided to take the necessary action to change the direction his health and life was going.
I can guarantee you that Ron would do the work again based on the gratitude he had when he didn’t need his cane and got back to work.
June’s vision; for the moment, just today. Joan; a better future and a better today.
Joan wanted to be able to keep up with her 3 grandkids. Ron wanted to get back to work.
June was living in the moment with little to no focus on the future.
Joan and Ron were considering both. Today and tomorrow. Yes, they wanted to get out of pain but the real reason for consulting me was to protect their future.
And because Joan and Ron started planning for a better future several years ago, they get to live it today.
The outcome is inevitable. Positive or Negative. . . .
Sadly, I don’t know where June is but unless some major recovery and restoration work was done on her spine and nerve system she likely not walking today. That’s what happens when the nerves to the legs get damaged from arthritic spinal bones and poor postural alignment in the pelvis and lower back.
So the question we need to ask ourselves is where do we want to be in 20 years and who do we want to be when we show up there?
In the last 20+ years of working with elderly clients, I eventually get around to asking them the question. . . . “would you sooner live longer or better?”
So far the answer has always came back better. . . . give them 80 or 85 quality years rather than 100, with the last 20 in a nursing home.
That’s the greatest benefit of today’s chiropractic. Because it’s about nerve system performance, rather than just chasing symptoms, it releases the healing ability of the body so you can get those quality years.
And the exciting thing is you can have both, quality and quantity years.
I am fully expecting to see many of my clients do what longevity experts are saying is possible. Live to 100 to 120 years in great health. I believe that with The 100+Living Plan we will see many live to 100 and beyond and still enjoy their families, active living and vibrant health. . . . .
But you need to focus on the moment AND plan like you’re going to live forever:)— Dr. Jenkins
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If you are having trouble finding a chiropractor in your area that specializes in postural correction then connect with us. Leave a comment below or contact us at our office (250-870-9136) and we’ll try our best to connect you with a chiropractor in your area that does corrective work.
