A good portion of the US is experiencing a deep freeze — some of the coldest weather in history. Our good spirits at the MVP seminar in Chicago this weekend weren’t dampened by the single digit highs and the wind chill of ten and twenty below, but it certainly provided some perspective on the power of nature and the importance of adaptability.
This morning, Regina heard rustling out in our back yard, and when she went to look, a veritable zoo awaited her — cats and squirrels, cardinals and woodpeckers, bluebirds and blackbirds and doves, unable to find much to eat in the snow. She smeared some rolls with almond butter, grabbed her sack of birdseed, and braved the elements to feed the creatures.
As they dug into their much needed repast, it struck me that these very same squirrels, birds and cats frequently found themselves adversaries, but the extreme conditions made that somehow less significant. They ate side by side, temporarily forgetting their conflicts and peacefully coexisting, grateful for the shelter of our deck and the sustenance to generate energy to guard against the cold.
Why should it take such challenging situations for harmony to manifest? I recall after 9/11, the groundswell of unity and patriotism, the feeling of solidarity against opposition — but when will we evolve to the point that we can simply choose peace and love, without difficult circumstances drawing our attention away from our differences?
We chiropractors are at a critical time in our evolution. The public has never been more receptive to a message of wellness. The limiting factors in our acceptance are no longer dependent on having enough ears to listen or eyes to see. It’s our responsibility to step up and state our case, and if we can find a way to prepare ourselves properly, we can capitalize on this wave of naturalism and culture-wide desire for longevity and quality of life.
There’s been measurable progress in unifying the profession, of necessity — for example, New Jersey has created a coalition of chiropractic associations, so the legislature will be able to respond to a single voice. Through the work of skillful and vigilant leaders like Dr. Bill Cirino and Dr. Dick Santucci, what seemed like a hopeless array of dissenting viewpoints has come together in an unprecedented fashion. I’d love to see other states model them for future success in the political arena.
In tough times, the tendency to direct all attention toward survival is understandable — there’s a feeling of "we’re all in this together" to make it easier to get along. It’s when things are pretty okay that we get to show our true colors, and we must learn to deal with prosperity as effectively. As the economy heals and things get better, can our profession stay focused enough to change the world’s orientation on health from outside-in to inside-out?
If we can rise to the occasion and seize this opportunity, the long freeze-out in health care will draw to a close, and the sun will shine on a society that finally realizes the benefits of the chiropractic wellness lifestyle. It’s up to us to make it happen, or be sorry we didn’t.
Dennis Perman DC, for The Masters Circle
PS Chicago MVP rocked — hurry up and register for SF or NJ — improve your leadership, your marketing, your patient education and your confrontational tolerance. Get motivated, and learn specific techniques for building a bigger and better practice. We’ve even added continuing education for many states — to register, or for more info, call 800-451-4514 or go to themasterscircle.com.
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