Connection

Welcome back Natural Health Family.

It was a good long weekend to enjoy some time with friends and family. I also got to see Western Illinois Football play for the first time in a long time. It brought back some good memories, but also reminded me of the many lessons I’ve learned over the years.

One of those lessons is that life can hit you over and over again—until you understand that you need to approach things in a different way, or see them through a different light. Another is that sometimes it’s not about having the greatest skills, but rather about doing your best and bringing out the best in others. That’s what will get you where you need to go.

Have you ever heard the statement, “Life is our greatest teacher”? While it’s great to learn skills and perform tasks, many of the things we truly need to know are brought to us through life experiences.

At times, we feel like we always need to be getting things done—knocking out to-do lists and staying productive. But in doing that, we can lose sight of another job we each have every single day: to connect and be with others.

Of course, we have to work and accomplish tasks—but where are we coming from when we do them?

When I played football at the collegiate level, the times I made the biggest impact were when I stopped trying to outdo the opponent and simply had fun playing the game. That’s when I made the greatest impact for the team.

It’s these kinds of lessons and experiences that help us to slow down and really learn to connect with others. Many times we don’t realize how much it can mean just to have someone see that we are there for them.

Health is important, and it’s essential to do things that promote our health and well-being. But there’s something powerful about connecting with others, with ourselves, and with our faith that can bring about great change in our lives.

I encourage you to be there for others, to sit with them and enjoy their presence, and see how the world changes around you when you do.

Have a great week. 

- Dr. Chip