A Christmas Tale
This true story gives us a free health
tip for the Christmas season.
Great luck in my early years brought
me teachers who were positive role models. A recent message outlined how
my grade school music teacher greatly influenced my life. Another teacher,
in PE was another powerful guiding light. Here is a free tip I learned from
him 40 years ago that you can use now.
His name was Frank Smith, (MISTER
Smith no one would even think of calling him Frank. This was like the name
that cannot be spoken). He was a tough guy, a former Marine who had a bunch
of machine gun bullet scars stitched across his stomach, so the story amongst
us guys in the jock room went. Perhaps he was a drill sergeant. He was at
heart. If any of us made a single mistake we hit the floor and did pushups
or curl ups till we ached.This made us good…and strong, which was
his goal. When we played badly in football games we crawled on our knees
back to the bus. Not if we lost, but if we did not give our best. MISTER
Smith did not care if we won or lost, just that we gave our all. I was the
lousiest player on the team, but he gave me the uniform of a much better
player because I tried so hard.
One day just before Christmas we
had to cross the entire playing field in a spider walk, (on our hands and
feet). This was agony for me (I was a 4 foot 11 inch 165 pound chubbo in
those days) and when everyone else had reached the locker room, I still had
thirty yards to go. The pain was excruciating, I could not breath, was hot,
sweaty and was dying, but would not give up. One hand, one foot, one hand.
I just closed my mind and kept plodding. He was there all the way. "Come
on Scotty, you can do it. Don't give up."
I made it and literally tumbled down
the stairs from exhaustion into the locker room. MISTER Smith stopped all
the boys and said, "This man plays in tomorrow's game." He knew I was not
the best player being so fat and slow, but just getting that uniform changed
my life. That energy helped me to grow. I made two keys plays as a guard
in that game, once sacking the other teams quarterback (I was more surprised
than the QB was) and a vital tackle.I cannot even remember if we won or lost
but do know this success stunned me out of thinking I could not do physical
things. That encouragement and belief helped me learn to never, ever give
up! I suddenly lost 20 pounds and as a 13-year-old boy who loved sports,
believe me this changed my life in every way. I only wish I knew where MISTER
Smith is now "Thanks, Mr. Smith, that Christmas game changed my life!"
Yet it took me 40 years and a shaman
to understand a powerful health tip MISTER Smith had taught. He made
us take a cold shower after each workout. When finished with PE, we hit the
locker room, soaped up, cleaned off and then before we left, had to get under
and stay for a bit under an icy cold stream. MISTER Smith would
stand at the shower exit and test each person's shoulder. If it was not chilled,
back into the water!
Then after school no one mentioned
this until three years ago several events (as they so often do) coincided.
Merri and I moved to the Andes and invited a shaman and his apprentices to
live with us on our land. We lived as they did, said their prayers, ate their
food, woke and rested when they did and joined in on their work and exercises.
Each morning we rose at 4:30 to 5:00am
(before the sunrise) and did a series of strenuous exercises.
Then the shaman insisted
that we take a cold shower! Here is why he explained. The body
gets heated up and our blood has lost oxygen in it. In the cold
shower the body rushes this blood to the vital organs to protect them and
keep them warm. This oxygen bath of the organs is healing, enhances
the immune system and helps the organs detoxify. Makes sense to me and
from that day (most mornings) I either take a cold shower after my morning
exercise and hot shower, or when at home in North Carolina, jump in the
creek. This is very stimulating when the temperature is 10 or 15 degrees
F!
This is the other benefit when you
can get the water really cold. The skin is so stimulated and the body really
awakens. You feel so fresh and lose your fear of the cold.
This may not seem like the easiest
way to enhance your health, but it is easier than you think. Does not cost
a cent and once you get in the habit, nothing feels better.
Start with the water lukewarm. Each
day turn it a little cooler until reaching the temperature you feel is brisk
and invigorating for you. This is not a contest. Some body types like and
need water warmer than others. Remember the important Golden Rule of healthy
living, "Medicine is dose". Also be careful in any shower (at all times)
that you do not slip. Have a good handrail and non slip surface to help you
stay afoot when the chilly water arrives!
Until next message may this holiday
season be great for you.
Gary
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