Man-Flu

After having several good days of feeling pretty good, yesterday I was hit by a heavy cold.

I was due to participate in a Kuk Sool Black Belt seminar, which I was really looking forward too, unfortunately due to the circumstances I was unable to attend.

When I awoke early on Sunday morning I had a thumping headache and high temperature. For the rest of the day I was just totally wiped-out and slept through most of it on the couch.

Today (Monday) I'm coughing and sneezing all over the place and my family will confirm that when I get a cold - stand clear as I've been known to sneeze at least eight-ten times in a row, enough to blow your socks off.

The good news is that the worst is generally over within a twenty-four hour period. So I'm now starting to feel a little better, hence me finding the energy and desire in writing this post.

Having the flu thankfully only happens to me once or twice a year, but of course like most men - you have to make the most of it and string it out as long as you can.

AHHH - CHOOOO!

Rachey's Home

How are you feeling today?

For myself it's one of those neutral days I neither feel good nor bad, excited or depressed. I suppose you could say, I'm feeling rather balanced and I recognise that's a nice place to be.

I know that I'm feeling good because there is nothing at present that I desire. I don't want a holiday, a new car or house. I'm just grateful for what I already have.

Possibly one of the reasons for this, is that my daughter Rachel is once again living at home. It's wonderful to once again have a complete family all under one roof.

One of the best feelings in the World!

Family Harmony.

Shiatsu Treatment

This morning (Sunday) I've been performing a Shiatsu treatment on a very close friend, who is in need of some re-vitalisation.

I might not have mentioned it before in my blog that apart from being a martial arts teacher, I am also a registered Shiatsu practitioner.

I started learning this traditional hands-on Japanese therapy nearly twenty years ago, however I only wanted to study the theory side of things to basically enhance my martial arts knowledge.

Initially I didn't physically want to 'touch' or 'treat[' anyone, however after a short period of time I realised that it would be difficult to grasp the fundamentals without actually touching people.

I also recognised that Shiatsu could help a wide range of conditions, from specific injuries to more general symptoms of poor health. It can also create a deep relaxing experience that can help and prevent the build-up of stress in our daily lives

After graduating from the Shiatsu College in 1995, I then further completed my Shiatsu Society exams to gain registered practitioner status. (MRSS) I opened my own clinic in the small town where I live and started to treat people.

Over a period of about four years I literally treated hundreds of people with a wide variety of ailments including, back pain, headaches, joint pain, and depression, to mention just a few.

I gained some very positive results and my sessions became popular, so much so that even the local GP's were referring patients to me. I couldn't even walk through my own high Street street without people stopping to ask me If I could fit them in for an appointment.

My workload increased to such a degree that I was working all day treating lots of people and then working every evening teaching martial art classes - eventually - you guessed it - I burnt myself out and became quite ill myself. (what a great lesson that was for me.)

With this in mind I made an incredibly tough decision to stop treating people and decided to shut down my Shiatsu clinic. Although disappointed, many of my regular clients soon found other therapists in the area to go to.

These days, I am still able to treat the odd one or two people and have maintained my registered practitioner status.

At present I currently treat only immediate family members and friends, but I still have a couple of clients from those early (clinic) days that I still see.

Shiatsu is a very effective therapy and as I've already mentioned it helps a wide range of disorders.

If you would like to find out more about Shiatsu - then look up the following website it will tell you everything that you need know and more.

http://www.shiatsusociety.org/

Autumn Trees

Although I mentioned in one of my most recent blogs how much I dislike the relatively cold and damp days here in Britain, especially this time of year. I have to admit when you look at the trees and the changing colour of the foliage, I have to say it really is most spectacular.

I live in a small village in Suffolk (UK) and we are lucky enough to be absolutely surrounded by a variety of different trees. For the majority of the year they go mostly unnoticed, however at the present time you can't help but be aware of the splendor of all the different colours.

So if for some reason you just haven't noticed the beautiful colours - just spend a moment looking out of your window at the amazing wonders of nature - you will be truly inspired.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Having returned back from the USA myself only a few weeks ago, while visting I happened to pick up on many peoples desire for change in their country.

Last night Barack Obama made history by being voted as the first black president of the United States of America.

For many of the people this monumental achievement not only represents a change in the level of thinking throughout the USA, but also for many the end of an era after the 'Bush' years.

After watching the BBC news this morning I feel that there is a real sense of optimism, not just in America but also world-wide.

Lets just hope that the new president and his party can bring about some positive change not only to the USA but also to many of the worlds other problems, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It's such a big responsibility for one person, however after listening to Obama's winning speech he said, 'all things are possible' so he certainly sounds like he's the man for the job.

God bless America (and everyone else for that matter)

Good Days and Bad Days

We all have good days and bad days, in fact that's what makes life interesting. However I must admit that just recently I've had a few dismal days in a row and I know that I shouldn't use the weather as an excuse, but yesterday was an awfully grey and miserable day here in Suffolk.

I'm not sure if I'm affected by the SAD (seasonal affective disorder) syndrome, but I certainly respond better to a warm sunny climate. When it's cold, damp and dreary all I just want to do is hibernate.

To combat this I generally try to exercise and motivate myself, but it takes all of my self-discipline to do so. Of course I'm usually the one who motivates others when they're feeling down, but I ask myself - who motivates the motivator?

Well I have to say the thing that gets me through these difficult days is 'focusing on' those little things that makes life worth living.

For example; looking for a ray of sun through darkened clouds, observing the golden autumn leaves glistening on the trees, the smile and warmth of a loved one, hearing a favourite song on the radio. listening to children laugh, and of course finding peace and solitude in reading a good book and relaxing.

What makes you glad to be alive?

Thinking about the above question, I suppose the overall quality of our lives really depends on what we truly focus upon.

Today I'm going to look for everything good that comes into my life and
see if thinking 'postive' really does create postive results.

Oh - just to let you know while writing this post the sun has decided to shine.

Hallelujar!!

Halloween - Love it or Loathe it?

Last night (31st Oct) we had another exciting night at our martial art school with our Halloween fun night. The kids were very hyped-up and excited. I believe that I only added to the problem by providing plenty of yucky, sticky sweets as prizes.

Although in Britain Halloween has become more popular in recent years, there are those who find Halloween literally a very scary experience, especially for the older folk living on there own, like my mum. She locks her door and doesn't answer it for anyone after nightfall on this particular evening.

I have been a visitor to the USA on several occasion when Halloween has been celebrated and I have to say the Americans really do know how to have good old fashioned fun and it's a family affair.

I've never ever seen any eggs or flour being thrown or any kind of mistreatment or abusive behaviour. I'm surprised to see adults who take the event as seriously as the kids, but it's all very good humoured and entertaining.

I recall a few years back finding myself in the centre of a British city and it looked like a war zone, everything around had been pelted by eggs including cars and peoples houses and there were gangs of youths wandering the streets obviously looking for trouble.

So if you also had a Halloween party last night or went trick or treating - I hope you had fun.