Addictions and Adoptions; Teachers and Tools

"You can't have peace until you put the pieces together." These words were the big message yesterday as I had Oprah on in the background while I worked.  My interest was piqued because it was well done show about bringing people who had been separated back together; mother's who had given babies for adoption, for instance.  Since my father was adopted and later in life was found through Adoption Exchange by a niece who also had been adopted out, a family who had someone do the whole genealogy ancestry and had this one 'missing boy' from 1921.  He'd always hoped he'd have a happy story about what the situation was which had caused his life to start out the way it did, and it was anything but that.  But it was good to get the medical history and know where I am genetically related. 

I'd been thinking about the day before's win by a young American woman skier, Lindsay Vonn, and how she melted onto the shoulder of her husband after her win -- with all the cameras and the staging they had put together.  Obviously surprised by her outburst and unfamiliar with a reaction like this from her, I had thought about how much pressure was on her which we were seeing the result of.  Another athlete then announced a press event which will happen later this morning: after three months Tiger Woods is going to make a statement and has left the hospital for sex addiction he has been receiving treatment at for months now.  I find it interesting how so little information so far has been provided to the public about sex addiction.  I hope that this blog post will inspire specialists in the field to Comment, and I'd like to get ahold of the experts I collaborate with for their input. 

The highlight of Lumigrate's Forum area recently has been the wonderful insights and sharing going on in the Spirituality Forum related to Lent beginning, with a woman named Alice who last year got very busy becoming proactive about learning, including Lumigrate, and has moved forward ever since making great headway on her health.  Alice shared with us what she has given up in the past and to me, her strength from spiritual groundedness, which we'd Chatted about half a year ago personally.  She and Yenta have been discussing the joys of grandchildren, and those two older wise women have a LOT to teach people in their lovingly gentle and humorous way and it was so rewarding to see that develop there.  I know Alice has inspired me to get back to doing things the way I know they could be done for me to feel better, as I have quite a lot of stress right now, so then I must do my BEST to compensate.  A challenge.  I know what to do, so if I'm not doing it, then I need to get inside my head and figure out why and decide if I'm going to do something about it or not. 

Wellness, according to the integrated health model, includes spirituality.  "Body. Mind. Spirit."  I wonder how difficult it is for professional athletes, or 'amateurs' that are competing at the Olympics, and everyone from there on out and maybe clear down little kiddos in preschool, might be experiencing.  Having the tools to deal with that is so very critical.  I think about the stress I felt each year just passing the President's Physical Fitness Test (and I was living a very active life living in the mountains, working property and animal care -- endless play and work opportunities.)

I very much want to develop areas of Lumigrate that provide those tools for people.  Last night I continued to read the developmental optometrist Lynn Hellerstein's wonderful book 'See It! Say It! Do It!' (link will be below) which addresses how children and adults can have stress from interaction with the activities they have in front of them every day.  Paula King, a PhD psychologist whose popular video on Lumigrate titled 'Strategies for Lasting Change' (click on the Videos tab if you are interested) has applications to this conversation today, has a fabulous book "A Trust Walk: Mindful Golf" (available on Amazon.com, which you can click through to from the "Products" tab here on Lumigrate.com.  I'm hoping to develop content with Jerry Rand, MD of Bay Recovery, whose treatment facility for addiction focusing on pain and addiction to pain medications, and wonder if his staff might have something to add here. MARDY'S NOTE ADDED JANUARY 2012: Please see the box below for more about this.

So I'm going to hop off now and start getting ahold of these experts and seeing what they'd say if we were to collaborate here a bit.  And I'll look forward to seeing someone who has had such a gift for being graceful with his wins and losses help bring attention to addiction and how to get up when you've fallen.  And much to glean from watching the Olympics.  What a wonderful tradition.  

All around us are teachers, if we take the time to think about what we're presented with.  That's how we each can take the pieces and put them together and have peace. 

Please click on the "Videos" tab here and watch the snippet for Paula's video and consider purchasing it: It's a wonderful tool.

The link for the Spirituality Forum of Lumigrate.com, where you can read Alice on Lent and Yenta, two wonderfully wise women who also have chronic illness and pain and are giving us so much here is:

www.lumigrate.com/forums/integrative-medicine-parts-make-whole/spirituality [1]

The Forums area of Lumigrate.com hosts Lynn Hellerstein in the Children's Academic Success Forum.  Link:

www.lumigrate.com/forums/collaborative-care-discussions/childrens-integrative-health-and-wellness/childrens-academic-s [2] 

Note from January 2012: I have been contacted by more than one former patient of Dr Rand's at Bay Recovery asking me to remove all information about him due to their concerns for others based upon their experiences. I appreciate that they are taking the time to research where he might be doing outreach to get his name heard, so thank YOU.  That is true 'generosity of time and energy' which might be translated into 'spirit'.  

I have opted to keep this and one other piece and adding this suggestion for researching if selecting as a physician to consult with because it is "baby with bathwater" phenomenon. This interview is an excellent resource for people to learn from and over almost two years was read/heard by many.  

To help in your researching this provider (and I suggest you do this for all your providers) here's a link to the portion of the California Medical Board related to Dr Rand:  www2.mbc.ca.gov/LicenseLookupSystem/PhysicianSurgeon/Lookup.aspx [3]