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The Newsletter for the Entire Essence Community
25W330 Geneva Rd., Carol Stream, IL 60188

I was shoveling snow one morning and I had the thought that shoveling the sidewalk was a little like adjusting people. Now I know that there are obvious differences. I typically don’t bundle up and wear mittens and a scarf when I am adjusting, and I can’t remember when I last had to use a big scoop shovel (although it does get a little deep in the office sometimes if you know what I mean). But there are some interesting similarities especially in the layering effect of snow and the choice of whether to shovel as you go along or to let the snow build up.
I have two sidewalks, one in front of the office and one in front of my house. Now the one in front of the office gets used regularly while the one in front of the house almost never gets used because when I leave my house it is typically through the garage to the office or to my car. I don’t often even think about my front walk. This being the case, the office walk gets shoveled regularly whereas the house walk not so much. Well this morning when I shoveled the snow (it snowed all day yesterday and a little the day before) the office walk was a breeze. I had cleaned off the walk the morning before at about 6am, again a little after 8am right before I started work, and then again when I was done working. After each time I shoveled, more snow had accumulated but nothing drastic and so cleaning off a little more was no big deal. In fact all I did this morning was sweep off the walk and I was good to go. The house walk however was an entirely different matter. It, having not been shoveled at all yesterday and actually even having snow from the previous days fall, was up to my knees and had compressed, icy mounds under the fresh snow. Now I know that I am not of an impressive height but even to my knees is pretty deep. Cleaning off this walk was anything but quick and easy. Suffice to say, by the time I was done, my workout for the day (and perhaps credit on the next days workout) was complete.
It strikes me that the stress in our lives that creates the subluxation (interference to the expression of the body’s innate wisdom and healing ability) accumulates in a very similar way as snow in the winter and that we have choices on how we choose to deal with it or not, as the case may be. Stresses in life, or learning opportunities, are inevitable, what we choose to do with them is what is optional. We can, like the snow on the sidewalk let it build up and build up and build up and end up with a sidewalk that is at best difficult to clear off and at worst seemingly impossible to clear. As we let things build up more and more, it becomes harder to traverse, creating more stress and fatigue, and often creating a feeling of futility at even trying anymore. The bad news with that is that often people do give up. They just keep walking through the drudgery of the thickness of the snow (the stress that builds up), working harder than they need to, taking drugs for the soreness in their muscles from having to work so hard, taking other medications to help them deal with the stress on their bodies and their lives from the constant battle, depleting themselves even more, becoming more fatigued, more depressed, more depleted, more stressed. Yeow, that’s depressing!!
But there is good news too! With a little daily work and attention, it can be cleared and the path can get easier. That’s the amazing thing! Even though it may seem impossible to clear, it is possible. Often when people first come into the office to see me, there is a significant amount of stress and thus interference (subluxations) built up. In the snow analogy we would be talking several feet and not inches. But as they get adjusted, more and more of the accumulation starts to be released and we can not only get to the deeper layers but also keep the current stresses from building up. With each adjustment life has the chance to more fully express and the path gets easier to travel. It is truly the difference between walking on a nice cleared path and one that is deep with snow and has ice and bumps under the snow. It’s a cool thing to see.
No matter how your “walk” looks now, built up with snow and ice or somewhat clear, getting started is the key and the more regularly you address and attend to those elements that congest it, the easier your walk through life, the healthier your system, the happier your heart.

 

EQLC Mission Statement

The purpose of the Essence Quality of Life Center is to awaken each individual to their own internal wisdom, whether by touch, by word, or by community participation, thus releasing more vital energy and improving the quality of their ife.