Cover Artist: Charlotte Hellings
Model: Carole Jonsson
Contact: Charlotte’s Photography
www.charlottesphotography.com
FEATURE ARTICLE
Inspiration: The Story of a Disease Conqueror
I was a typical guy when I was in my late 20’s. I loved sport, but didn’t get my butt moving nearly enough. I loved food, and frequently ate more than my fair share and the types of food I ate were not exactly what I would call ‘fuel’ for my body.
I had hopes and dreams for my life, nearly all of which were centred on the ultimate goal of having half a dozen zeros to the left of the decimal point in my bank account balance.
It seemed as though I was on track for achieving the Australian dream of owning my own house and enjoying the serenity of Bonnie Doon during my annual holidays, but life was nothing to write home about. In fact, to be totally honest, I was miserable!
Then one sunny day in June 2010, my world came crashing down around me. Much like an avalanche starts as a small volume of tumbling snow before rapidly growing in size and seriousness, when my world came crashing down it started off as a tingle in my fingertips, which barely drew my attention. Then as the hours went by the tingling slowly spread, engulfing my entire left hand and eventually totally numbing out the feeling sensations of my left arm from the shoulder down.
It took almost two whole months before I finally received a name for the symptoms I was experiencing. It was August 10th 2010 to be exact – some dates you never forget. I was sitting on the scary side of the neurologist’s desk nervously awaiting the verdict following my recent MRI scan.
The neurologist had the MRI image of my brain and spine on his computer screen and was pointing to one of the many spots of inflammation that were responsible for the recent decline of my body. He then delivered the news to me in a sympathetic yet methodical voice, as though he had done this a thousand times before.
“Curtis,” he seemingly paused for effect, “you have multiple sclerosis.”
When the neurologist gave me the news I took a couple of deep breaths to stop me from going into shock as the information sank in. I then composed myself and asked with determination in my voice, “Right, what are we going to do about it?”
It was quickly implied that there was nothing I could do about it. I was asked to return to his office within a couple of weeks once the bad news had sunk in, so we could discuss what drugs I was going to inject myself with for the rest of my life, in the hope that they would slow the inevitable progression of the disease.
Not being a huge fan of needles, let alone daily needles, I had other ideas for my future.
Over the next couple of years my wife Candice and I spent many of our waking hours Googling, reading books and attending health seminars, learning all that we could about what causes and cures disease, as well as how to maintain an extraordinary level of health. We absorbed an immense amount of information, and if it seemed logical to us, we implemented it in our lifestyle without hesitation.
I’ve made so many changes in my life that I couldn’t list them all here, but in a nutshell I de-stressed and detoxified my life and chose every morsel of food that I ate by its nutritional value rather than the manufacturer’s marketing campaign.
More than three years later I am now feeling healthier than I ever did in the years leading up to my diagnosis. All I want to do now is share my journey with others, because it breaks my heart to see people suffering unnecessarily.
Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is one thing, but a deeper wisdom emerged from the experience. I came to realise that the symptoms I was experiencing from the disease were exactly that: symptoms. They weren’t the disease at all; they were sensations my body was producing in response to imbalances in my body.
Symptoms aren’t just in relation to physical illnesses in our bodies, though. While perhaps a runny nose is a symptom from the body eliminating what we refer to as a cold bug, symptoms such as anxiety, fear and anger are usually indicators that there is an imbalance in our minds that we need to address.
None of those symptoms exist if your focus is in the present moment and is trusting of the force of nature to know what is best for your evolutionary journey through life. Only when we think things should be different to how they were, are or might one day be, do we begin to experience unwanted symptoms in the form of uncomfortable emotions and sensations.
Just observe; be a witness to your life and you will experience a joy that cannot be broken, regardless of what events may be going on external to yourself.
Curtis Aiken. Phone: 0411 554 432 Disease Conqueror, Author, Health Coach and NLP Practitioner Email: curtis@choosehealthlovelife.com
Hear Curtis speak at the Bloom Health & Wellbeing Expo in Cairns on October 12
REGULAR FEATURE
Feng Shui
French Provincial Feng Shui Entry
A few weeks ago, while visiting friends in the lovely Provence (South of France) I took some pictures to illustrate a great Feng Shui entry.
Pic 1 – Symmetrical and well-balanced entry to the block of land is a very good start!
Many of us Australians dream of visiting, sometimes even hope one day of living in Provence. We imagine hearing the song of the cicadas, breathing thyme and rosemary, getting a nice, soft brown suntan on the beaches near Cannes without being burnt like we would be in Australia. Enjoying the famous French cuisine daily (at affordable prices) and for me definitely, eating those succulent French croissants baked like nowhere else in the world.
Pic 2 – Curved path smoothes Chi flow that then knows to go between the two pots.
We know that Feng Shui originated in China many thousands of years ago. In the last two decades I have delved into the core of the Feng Shui principles, and become an international expert who incorporates the best of those ancient principles to all cultures, tastes, beliefs, lives and buildings around the world. May I encourage you to look at these French photos and adapt the good Feng Shui entry according to the plants and building materials available in your region?
Pic 3 – Olive trees to welcome peace and health; lavender curves the flow and adds scent.
Let’s have a look at the Feng Shui Steps to follow for your entry project:
1. Welcoming entry – clear of clutter, an open space clean and manicured
2. Smooth Chi flow – encourage curves and movement; avoid a straight line
3. Plants alive – fresh, happy and healthy plants, well looked after
4. Define your entry – house number, mailbox, door mat and a door bell
As soon as you follow those four easy steps, you will be ready to welcome new opportunities, good health, luck and prosperity.
Look at your entry with Feng Shui eyes and welcome good luck into your life today.
Feng Shui Yours,
Roseline Deleu, International Feng Shui Master and best-selling author is looking to train Feng Shui Practitioners in FNQ in October 2013. Please email her to express your interest roseline@fengshuisteps.com and visit www.fengshuisteps.com where you will be able to read many posts on her Feng Shui Steps blog.