What Is Chiropractic Anyway?

In writing these newsletters, I usually wait to pluck something ripe from the Idea Tree. But with exams of late I've forgotten to water it. So today is more something I want to get off my chest, or send out vibrations of general inquiry, rather than discuss function.

I'm not sure whether we were raised to retort this statement reflexively, or whether it's because it's supposed to be said reflexively as a universal truth and we just choose not believe it... but I've lost count of the times people say HEALTH when I ask them what is most important to them. Why I find this so peculiar is because when one has a scan of their priority list, invariably health features somewhere at the bottom - so why tell me it's thee most important thing?

Why do you say this, Neil? Well, let's consider what health actually is. Health is a function of a number of factors. Hah, I lied: just can't get away from that word function. Function is a correspondence in which values of one variable determines the value of another. Health is a function of physical, structural, mental, emotional, spiritual, electromagnetic, psychosocial, psychoenvironmental and socioeconomic factors.

The value of one variable... determines the value of another.

A shift in any one of these factors changes your health. That's just the way it is. Because your health is that intangible, vital force, which allows you to go about your everyday business without you realising it, yet quietly grateful I'm sure you are. But since we don't see it, no ones pays any mind. Until the force falters. It's an animate force, not unlike a tree in the sunshine, in the wind, in the storms, in the rain - requiring all the best opportunities to flourish. But I don't see many forests because today's value systems are completely distorted.

What is the one major measurement of value used in society today?

Money.

Money is not the root of all evil (I know I have a lot of biblical references in my work but it was how I was raised, 'kay?). It's just an easier method of exchange than cows and chickens. But like cows and chickens, money has value. Yet is this value directed at the aforementioned mental, physical, spiritual and emotional variables - the things of which health is a function - or is it directed elsewhere? I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, folks: Health costs money! It also requires effort. It costs more to eat organic. It costs money to visit practitioners of the preventative healing arts. It takes effort to exercise every other day. It takes discipline to meditate when you're stressed.

Alright, I realise money isn't the keystone to enlightenment, but it illustrates my point on modern day society's value system. As a flow process, one can literally see where value is directed. The distortion comes in, I find, where money is misdirected into the Rainy Day Account: insurance. So now because I am insured, I can treat my animate vital force how I please because I live in an age of instant gratification, where healing does not require time, nor patience, nor love, nor understanding, but merely a pill or the removal of an organ which I never really fancied anyway.

Now don't you find the expression, health is wealth, strangely ironic?

posted by Neil Bossenger  # 4:04 pm