Be Kind, Always.

2 Comments January 20, 2015 drworobec

I have a ‘Notes’ section in my phone called ‘Blog Ideas’, and whenever an idea strikes me I try to jot it down for easy access when I’ve got time to write. The first entry under ‘Blog Ideas’ says ‘you never know what someone is going through.’

Now isn’t that the truth?

I jotted that sentence down more than two years ago and have yet to write about it….. but now’s the time. The event that brought this thought to mind initially was the tragic passing of my neighbor. A father of two teenagers, he was in his early 50s when he died. These neighbors are private people, and we had only lived in the neighborhood for a year, so we didn’t know them well enough to know that they were enduring a lengthy battle with illness. It was his teenaged son who came to share the news of his death and it came as a shock. He didn’t look sick, they didn’t act like he was sick, but he was sick. Very, very sick. So, it’s true, you never know what someone is going through.

I’ve certainly learned this through my work. My treatment rooms are often a place where people feel comfortable enough to divulge their secrets, share their troubles, discuss their burdens. In a place of confidentiality and comfort, their physical complaints are often exacerbated by the stressors that lie underneath the surface. I am happy that they share with me, I’m happy to listen, I’m happy to try and help. In fact, I wish there was more I could do. I’m a sensitive soul, and emotion rolls through me like tidal waves crashing into the shore. You may be surprised to hear that, as I usually present an even-keel disposition to the world. But the real me is sensitive, emotional, and yes, dramatic.

Author Regina Brett wrote: “If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.” I have many friends fighting many tough battles right now. If you’re reading this and think I may be referring to you, you’re right. You’re right too. And you and you and you.

So, please: be kind, always.

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A Jar Full of Rocks. Oh, and Garth Brooks.

2 Comments January 13, 2015 drworobec

Remember the story of the philosophy professor who filled a jar with rocks and asked his students if it was full? Then he added pebbles, and the students again agreed it was full. Then he added sand, and the sand filled the empty spaces, and the jar truly became full (you can read the extended story here if you don’t know what I’m talking about). The professor was using the jar and its contents as a symbol of life and priorities- the rocks signify the ‘big stuff’ like health and family, the pebbles signify the ‘medium stuff’ like work and school, and the sand signifies the ‘small stuff’ like material possessions. If you put the sand into the jar first you will have no room for anything else.

Let’s use that to segue into how I view my children: they’re like little beautiful jars just waiting to be filled up. And it’s my job to fill them up.

I didn’t always feel this way. In fact, probably barely a decade ago, I wondered if I’d ever have children, if I would ever want to have children. I thought the maternal instinct had bypassed me, and I was all-consumed in myself and building my future. Then I became a mother and the sand dumped out of the jar to make room for the rocks.

So I’ve very carefully set up my life geared towards this goal. My kids are little scrapbooks that I’m filling up with memories. They’re the empty canvas and I’m the artist painting the brushstrokes of the masterpieces they will become. I’m get-out-there-and-DO-it instead of get-out-there-and-BUY-it, presence more than presents, quality above quantity.

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Why the mush and gush today? Well, it’s all Garth Brooks’ fault.

You see, I’ve got tickets to his March 7th show, and the country girl in me has been out in full force. Even if you’re not a country music fan or a Garth Brooks fan (gasp!), have a listen to this song (click here to hear ‘Mom’) and I think you’ll feel the emotion too.

“Cause there’s someone down there waiting whose only goal in life is making sure you’re always gonna be alright”.

True.

Writer’s Block

Leave a comment January 6, 2015 drworobec

I’m having a rough time this week. Usually, I can’t type fast enough to get my thoughts onto the screen, but this week I’ve been drawing a blank. I’ve sat down to write this week’s post three times and come up with a whole lot of nothing. So I’m simply going to write about what’s on my mind, and what’s been consuming my thoughts as of late. Perhaps you’ll agree.

The World Junior Hockey Championships.

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Did you see that game last night? C’mon! I will be suffering today through the stayed-up-too-late fog, but happily so. I think World Junior hockey is the best hockey of the entire year and I’m a huge hockey fan. I’ve been to three WJHCs (Red Deer 1995, Ottawa 2009, and Buffalo 2011) and here it was, practically in my backyard, and I didn’t get to a single game in-person. But I cheered from my couch, with my kids, so I’ll take it. Nostalgia and memory-making all rolled into one.

The Pan Am torch relay.

Torch Relay Celebration Community

If you’ve been following my posts, you will know that I’ve been selected as a finalist to run the Pan Am torch through Burlington this Summer. My neighbour nominated me without my knowledge, and it has consumed my thoughts ever since. What an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity it would be; it puts a smile on my face just to think of it. Please take a moment to vote and help me win this chance: click HERE to get to the City of Burlington’s Pan Am website. Voting is open until January 15th. Thanks in advance.

My energetic patient, 3-year-old M, who’s had such incredible results from chiropractic care.

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I blogged about him a couple of weeks ago, and his improvement continues to grow. His mother has written such powerful words about the positive effect that treatment has had on him:

“So anyone that has children has talked about poop at some time or another? I just have to say how ecstatic I am about my child’s poop today! I know..tmi..but this is worth the read. I brought Mason to a chiropractor after so many failed attempts to get his constipation under control with diet and medication. Low and behold after my second visit to see Ashley Worobec we saw results, but nothing like we saw today after our fifth visit! I can truly attest that seeing a chiropractor has changed our lives. Do not just go to anyone, Ashley Worobec truly cares and has been fanstastic through this whole process. Even potty training is coming along. Here is to a great start to 2015. — feeling thankful.”

I feel very lucky to have the job that I do, and it’s times like these that make me even more grateful.

New Year’s resolutions.

I think of the New Year as a fresh start, and fully support resolutions/goals/modifications for the year ahead. I will be doing another Whole Life Challenge (I did the first one in the Fall) and I invite you to join me. It’s 8-weeks of challenging many aspects of your life, including nutrition, exercise, and mental well-being. It begins on January 17th.

Also, I’m thinking of this graphic:

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