Here is an article I wrote for a really cool website called
"Slowstruck" its all about slowing down and enjoying life a little more. What benefits we can gain from taking a step back from the race of life
Slowing down. A great idea in
concept. Why don't we do it more? I was born and raised on the farm, arguably a place where slow processes and slowing down is all around me. So in theory if there was anyone who'd find it easier to slow down it'd be me. Regardless I even find it hard to slow down. Areas where slow may be beneficial include: slow food, slow exercise, slow family life, slow business growth. The list really does go on. I want to share with you a personal story of slow health. Where I, by the grace of what I
consider to be a higher power I was able to be patient and allow. Anyone who knows me knows that Im much more of a hard hitting, intense kind of personality. If something isn't working I want to fix it, and go after it in my very intense kind of way.
Let me regale you with the tale of my teeth. I played competitive level rugby for about 10 years. I trained hard, I ate everything I was supposed to and avoided everything I was supposed to. I thrive on discipline. I loved every moment of
it. At the end of my university career I came out of school to realize I had serious tooth decay due to repetitive jarring of my head and jaw. It had caused some grinding and subsequent decay in my teeth. After a visit to my dentist and orthodontist who both responded with the same answer of "no there is nothing you can do other than brushing your teeth and eating less sugar to prevent cavities" when I asked is there anything food wise I can do to prevent tooth decay or heal my teeth. I
realized that answer just didn't sit well with me, since I'd already had experience of healing my asthma as a 5 year old girl who was told I'd never play sports and would have an inhaler all my life. So I went about my regular intense way of research and talking to everyone I could possibly get my hands on. In the end it was not easy. I was experiencing a major abscess that would leak into my mouth and I was reminded every day how bad it really was. I was told I'd have to have jaw surgery, get
braces, have a root canal and pull the tooth. Through food, a rigorous regime of homeopathics and naturopathic remedies I was able to turn it around. 1.5 years later I had less discoloration, no abscess and no more symptoms of grinding. During that time, it was painful, and it was scary. Thoughts like "am I making a huge mistake". Am I damaging myself for life? Should I just give up with all this natural stuff?" All went through my head. I've had surgery on my knee and I can't tell you how
grateful I am that I stuck to my guns and didn't get the 10,000.00+ recommended surgery and protocol. I want to be clear I am NOT recommending this. I am simply sharing an experience of when slowing down, and looking at true healing from the inside out was hugely beneficial for me. It wasn't easy, even for me - someone who's well versed in homeopathic ways of healing and realizes the time involved.
I think we are quick to jump to immediate results that may be surface, instead of
looking for the deeper cause and the root of what ails us, would slowing down our health give us a greater understanding of our bodies? I remember a distinct conversation I had with my father one time while away at university where I was complaining that I didn't understand why everyone else who took pain meds could feel better so quick, while I did the natural approach and while I would feel better, it took time. I was having a crisis of faith so to speak. He responded to me saying "well,
there is no way to know, but I guess we'll see how their health is at 50 and 60, and what your health is like then. Are you in it for the long haul or are you in it for the immediate short term results." Now we can't prove that they won't have great health at that point, and many factors contribute to health or lack there of, but it was a great perspective for me to gain about my choices and why I choose slow health. In the end there is a reason my body experiences pain, and I choose to listen
to it.
