October 2008

A new conversation

by Dr. Richard Barwell

The storage shed had that musty smell of old blankets and wet cardboard. There was a layer of dust on everything and just being in the space made me feel like I wanted to wash my hands. Articles that I had once prized as a brand new purchase sat forgotten. How did I get all this junk in my life? Why on earth did I continue to pay storage for this unused debris?

Well, this was the day I was going to end the madness. I was there to clean out the space to make room for new "stuff" that needed to be stored.

I grabbed a box of old oils I used to sell. Wait a minute. These are first issues and just have to be collector's items. Hmmm ... couldn't get rid of them.

Well then, how about the box over there? Just some of the tapes I used to use to improve my practice. Before I dump them, I'll just check the titles. Some Parker tapes and a few of Reggie Gold. Here's one with BJ speaking.

Wait a minute -- these are too important to be in storage. These tapes aren't just part of my life they are part of the history of chiropractic. I wonder how many of the students in chiropractic colleges today even know who BJ Palmer was, let alone have actually heard his voice? Or Reggie's or Marcus Bach's or Henri Gillet's or even Guy Riekeman?

I guess we are in that neutral zone of the profession. Like a car which isn't new any longer, but isn't old enough to be special. It is just a used car. Wait another 20 years and people will pay some ridiculous amount of money for it.

Chiropractic isn't old enough as a health profession -- even though the concepts have been around for a very long time -- to generate a great deal of interest in our history. Unfortunately, we are in the lost years where the excitement of the newness of chiropractic philosophy has been dulled and the commitment of those entering the profession is but a ripple compared to the enthusiasm and dedication of the pioneers.

I recall listening to tapes from different presenters and even though the basic material was the same, Vertebral Subluxation and correction for health, I always got some value out of it. There were tapes on practice management, new patient education, personal growth and others. We would share them with other DCs or even make copies of them (not me, of course!) but they were, and still are, of great value to the field. Tapes (if you can find something that can play them) and now CDs are certainly cheaper than going to a seminar and will last longer than the two-week "pump" of a live performance.

I don't know about you but after all these years of listening to these tapes, I'm ready for a new conversation in chiropractic. A new message! While I love this profession, I have enough science background to know that the old message does not tell me the real story and after all these years there has to be someone out there with an explanation that will stand the scrutiny of modern day knowledge. I say this with all the respect in the world for what has gone before and I value the old talks but find that they just don't fit the profession's needs of today.

It is time for a new conversation and I just found exactly that, which is the reason I am writing this article.

The profession's history is important and thankfully some of it has been saved. In fact, I just learned about four lost BJ recordings, which will be made available to the profession. Better than that, there is going to be a new series about an expanding direction for chiropractic which will be historic in the making, and you can be part of it.

I urge you to get on board with this new series because it isn't the same old jazzy redo. It is an entirely new opportunity for the profession. Just promise me that you won't simply stack them in a corner to gather dust. Use them over and over until this message gets out and helps this tired profession back to life -- providing a witness to chiropractic's growth thus taking its rightful place in history. Currently the profession needs an adjustment and "Subluxation in High Definition -- a New Conversation" is the best care we can give it. Find out more, or order this new tape series by visiting www.SubluxationInHD.com or calling 877-233-0022.

Looks like my visit to the musty shed made me realize the value of recording history -- perhaps the dust had a little magic in it.

(Dr. Richard Barwell is the founder and president of the Chiropractic Equity Offices, Inc. program, and has more than 30 years of experience in chiropractic practice. After graduating with honors from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1964, he started a family Wellness Practice in British Columbia. He has since established numerous successful practices, won several awards and guest lectured at various chiropractic institutions. Before establishing CEO, Inc. Dr. Barwell was the director of seminars and programs at Quest and executive director of the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance.)