Flexible mind. Flexible spine.

Flexibility is not only good for the spine, but also for the mind.

This past winter, my daughters taught me a lesson while I was teaching them how to ski.  At the time, they were 6 (excuse me, 6 and a half) and 4 years old.  The season before, the oldest proved that she could go on her own while the younger one demonstrated the competency of standing there while I held her up.  So, per their request and the egging-on of my friend’s young already skiing-proficient daughter, we started this year off by heading straight to the top of the mountain, bypassing any warm-up refresher courses on the kiddie slope.  The prospect of my kids skiing without the need of my assistance was  refreshing and I was gladly welcoming the return of my freedom on the ski slopes.   This, however, was not to be.  After two runs of straining over my four year old between my skis with intermittent episodes of saving my 6 year-old from hitting trees, other skiers, and chairlifts, we retired to the lodge.

And here is where the lesson began.  After one hot chocolate, my girls wanted to go skiing again.  We got them redressed, equipment back together and back on the lift.  As fate would have it, we took the run that brought us to the kiddie slope.  My oldest daughter came to life, hopped on the Magic Carpet ski tow and had a renewed sense of adventure.  Her younger sister was caught up in the excitement and proclaimed that she did not want my assistance and that she “can do self!”  For the next hour, they enjoyed going up and down the 300 foot slope with great confidence, bravado, and a lot of silly laughter.  10-20 runs later, they were still going and had to be pulled from the mountain.

What was the lesson?

Pay attention to The Why!  I forgot that the reason why I was going skiing in the first place was to have fun with my family and friends.  I had created an expectation in my head that “fun” could only happen a certain way- by having my kids ski down the big slope on their own so that I could enjoy my own skiing.  Once I released the expectation that fun could only happen a certain way, I was able to enjoy the new event that my children had chosen.  To my surprise, we all laughed and enjoyed ourselves much more.  To quote my four year old “This was the bestest ski day yet”.

Flexibility is not only good for the spine, but also for the mind.  I hope that you are of good health and have ample amounts of flexibility.  Today, have fun…

Dr. Jerry

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