October 2006

No limits

by Dr. Ogi Ressel

I have share something profound to share with you. A few weeks ago, on a Friday evening, I had the pleasure of sitting in the front row of a student play. There were approximately 75 student actors and they put on an amazing interpretation of "Peter Pan." In order to have everyone involved, there were approximately two‑to‑four students for each part. In other words, there were four Peter Pans, four Captain Hooks, three Smees, etc.

All the kids, even those who were five years old, and even those who were disabled, were on stage.

How was the play?

It was the worst production of "Peter Pan" I have ever seen! But... it was also the most amazing experience.

The role of Tinkerbelle was played by a 10 year‑old girl with cerebral palsy. Her face was slightly disfigured from a flash fire, and she relied on a hand brace to help her stand. She stood on her toes and wore ballerina slippers. It was not until the end that I realized that she could only stand on her toes ‑‑ severe foot contractures and shortened Gastrocs muscles.

One of the boys who played the part of Smee, was autistic, and danced to his own music... and no one cared! And there were a number of children who simply couldn't act at all. But, again, no one cared!

Nobody in the audience and no one in the student group cared one bit. As far as the kids were concerned, they were the best! And they acted their parts to the very best of their abilities. They lived their parts. They were their parts. Their joy and enthusiasm was astounding and limitless!

Yet, what struck me the most was that none of the children were aware that they had a disability. And their friends were not aware of it either. Neither were the directors nor was the audience.

The kids acted as if there were no limits. They sang as if they had no limits. They danced as if they had no limits. They embraced their life as if it had no limits! And they looked at their future with no limits. Because there are none.

NO limits! Not a one. Niet, nic, zilch, squat, zero.

I looked at those sitting next to me and everyone had rain on their face and a look in their eyes that spoke volumes. I was touched. I came away feeling very humbled. I felt I'd been in the presence of greatness.

I don't believe in coincidence. I believe that all things happen for a reason. I believe that the reason I was invited to the play was to pass their message along to you.

Think of this for a moment: What if your life had no limits? What would you do? Where would you live? How would you conduct yourself? Would you still complain and gripe?

I can hear some replies now.

"But you just don't understand, I don't have enough new patients because ...blah, blah, blah." ... "The people in my town all want therapies with chiropractic." ... "You really don't get my situation, because the people in my town all want insurance." ...You really don't get my city. No one wants to spend money for chiropractic."

I'm sure you can come up with your own version of some other entertaining excuse.

Listen. You need to lighten up and get over yourself! You need to realize that you are where you are because, you are where you are. No more whining, no more whinging, no more hoping, and no more dreaming. You need to have the realization that this is YOUR life. You are the problem as well as the solution.

You also need to realize that your life has no limits except those you place on yourself! No limits at all. What an awesome thought!

So, here's my sincere wish for all of you. As the saying goes, sing as if nobody's listening, dance as if no one is watching, love as though you've never been hurt, and embrace life as if there's no tomorrow.

(Dr. Ogi Ressel, author, researcher, and an x‑ray and pediatric specialist, teaches The Practice Evolution Program, the "fastest‑growing coaching program on the planet." Visit online at www.practiceevolution.com and take the Practice Health Mini‑Checkup. Dr. Ressel may be contacted by e‑mail at drogi@practiceevolution.com or by calling 800‑353‑3082. Interested in receiving his weekly THOTS "on seeing tons of children and families in your practice?" Send him an e‑mail and asked to be added to the list.)