Life According to Darwin

This amazing quote was reinforced to me the other day when reading a booked called “legacy,” a beautifully written book by James Kerr, but unfortunately a book written about the most successful sporting team in the history of all sports, the All Blacks. As a proud Australian I felt like I was cheating reading this book however, it completely drilled home the point that we need to adapt. What got me wanting to read this was that I am a huge believer in that true health comes from within. That is why I feel like I am here to help you and your families express your health potential. Additionally creating my legacy, where every generation lives better than the last is not just a reflection of my family but also of our wider Newcastle family. Even when you are at the top of your game, adapt, otherwise it is a pretty quick drop back to the middle of the pack.

So how do we adapt? I believe that adaptation is a process that can only occur if the 5 spokes in the wheel of health are all finely tuned. In no particular order here are 5 essential spokes:

1. The environment that we put ourselves in- without the necessary external stimulators we will probably never be forced to change. For example, if we did not have to move offices we wouldn’t be changing, and just as surely- Merissa would not have gone through childbirth if she wasn’t pregnant (it just wasn’t that much fun).

2. Willingness and wanting to change and improve. The mindset of wanting to be better, to grow and to do things differently massively helps otherwise, it is way too easy to stay in our comfort zone. Life always begins one step outside of your comfort zone.

“I have realized; it is during the times I am far outside my element that I experience myself the most. That I see and feel who I really am, the most! I think that’s what a comet is like, you see, a comet is born in the outer realms of the universe! But it’s only when it ventures too close to our sun or to other stars that it releases the blazing “tail” behind it and shoots brazen through the heavens! And meteors become sucked into our atmosphere before they burst like firecrackers and realize that they’re shooting stars! That’s why I enjoy taking myself out of my own element, my own comfort zone, and hurling myself out into the unknown. Because it’s during those scary moments, those unsure steps taken, that I am able to see that I’m like a comet hitting a new atmosphere: suddenly I illuminate magnificently and fire dusts begin to fall off of me! I discover a smile I didn’t know I had, I uncover a feeling that I didn’t know existed in me… I see myself. I’m a shooting star. A meteor shower. But I’m not going to die out. I guess I’m more like a comet then. I’m just going to keep on coming back.” ― C. JoyBell C.

3. Movement is a prerequisite. Our human ability to move is what was our key to our evolution years ago. It was what led us to go from apes to bipeds and it is why I recently brought a climbing rope and registered for a 2 day Spartan obstacle course race. This will force me to do something different, train and move my body in different ways and to be adaptable in the process; a winning combination that I’ll be watching Peyton do daily especially in the first few months of life.

4. Recharge- rest and recover. All this mental stimulation without proper recovery will just lead to burn out. Give your body time to adapt to the changes you are putting it through and you will certainly maximise your adaptation. For us with this pregnancy, we gave birth at Belmont Birthing Centre. I know this isn’t for everyone, but Merissa and Peyton were home in less than 4 hours after delivery. This meant they could both relax in the comfort of our own home, with better access to food and a comfy pillow. This has definitely helped our family adapt.

5. Wiring the right way- having the brain body connection at its optimal is a great way to ensure that the body can roll with the changes. Without this the muscle memory is just too rigid to its old patterns and we break instead of bending. Chiropractic helps to assist the body absorb what we are throwing at it and also what is happening to it. I can guarantee I adjusted Merissa in between contractions and I certainly checked little Peyton within the first 2 hours of her life.

There we go, 5 key ways to help you respond to the changes that are inevitably happening in your world. I believe that if you take care of these simple things, you will be healthy from the inside and chances are you will change, adapt and create your own legacy.

Thank you for being part of our Transitions Chiropractic family, for believing that health comes from the inside out and for helping us help our Newcastle family where every generation lives better than the last. We look forward to serving and helping you as we Transition our way into the future.

Regards

James Staciwa