Don’t Hide Because You’re Different BERNIE


By Bernie Siegel, MD


hat would you hang in the lobby of schools and pub- lic buildings with a sign over it which reads; “Look at how beautiful and meaningful life is.” If you have been through a major loss or life threatening illness you are far more likely to say a mirror than if you haven’t had that experience. We are all so involved with our imperfections that we lose track of our divine nature and origin.


W When I spoke before several hundred personal health trainers


who were the most attractive and fi t group I have ever seen, their responses were: rainbows, baby pictures, or fl owers. After several minutes I realized they have a problem with their self image too and that’s probably why they are doing what they are doing. Try- ing to be perfect...which will never happen. We are all perfectly imperfect to begin with. I fi nally stopped them and said the an- swer is a mirror. That created a silent thoughtful moment.


I recall a young woman admitted to the hospital to be force


fed. She was anorexic and starving herself to death. I asked her to draw a picture of herself. When I show people a slide of her drawing and ask why was she admitted to the hospital most yell out, “She’s pregnant.” A few wise health care professionals say, “Anorexic.” Think of what we do to ourselves by being critical of who we are, what we look like and more.


Learn from Lassie again. Our pets never request a shampoo


or grooming because they just don’t look well or because guests are coming over. So relax and accept your body for the gift it is. The problem is we don’t love our bodies and create much disease and disability because of our dislike of ourselves. The body knows how to heal and tries to protect you and keep you well as best it can. But do you nourish it properly and exercise it and love and respect it as the gift that it is? I doubt most of you do until some disaster strikes. You never hear about Helen Keller complaining. Learn from her, the children and the animals. They know who they are and what makes them complete and it is not the number of parts they have.


I just learned of a premature infant born with a


malignancy in her foot. Arielle had her foot ampu- tated and home she went after months in the hospi- tal, proud of herself and her body and not fearful of showing off her stump. Her mom has written a book, “Arielle’s Footprint”, because of what she has learned from her. The following is my foreword to her book.


Footprints have always fascinated me. Every win-


ter as I walk through the snow, many times I benefi t from the footprints of others who have walked before me. At other times their footprints are frozen and dif-


40 Natural Nutmeg - June 2016


fi cult to step in as I struggle in my attempt to follow them. I learned from my experience that there are times in life where I need to create my own path, let some one assist me when the going was tough, or crawl. When you are willing to face life’s adversities and the obstacles they create you can choose to learn how to climb or stop living. We are all unique and need to fi nd our way through life rather than hide because we are different.


I think that Arielle’s footprints are a guide to all of us as we make our journey through life. I can recall a child with a con- genital problem, who was my patient; ask me, “Why am I differ- ent?” I answered, “Because it makes you beautiful.” He responded with a knowing smile. Children and animals understand that being complete is not about having the correct number of body parts, but about how we live. A veterinarian I know said she was able to get through body changing surgery by thinking about the dogs she operated on. She said, “I can amputate a leg or jaw and they wake up and lick their owner’s faces. They know they are here to love and be loved and teach us a few things.” We are here to live and learn and see that what is evil is not the diffi culty someone must live with, but to not respond with compassion to the person experiencing it.


For many, Dr. Bernard Siegel-or Bernie, as he prefers to be- called-needs no introduction. He has touched many lives all over- the Planet. In 1978, he reached a national and then international audience when he began talking about patient empowerment and the choice to live fully and die in peace. As a physician who has cared for and counseled innumerable people whose mortal- ity has been threatened by illness, Bernie embraces a philoso- phy of living and dying that stands at the forefront of the medical ethics and spiritual issues our Society grapples with today. Read Bernie’s regular blog posts on his website where you will also fi nd his books, articles, and CDs: http://www.berniesiegelmd.com. See ad on page 39.


On...Nutrition & Reflux in Children...


“No infant or child need suffer with painful reflux. Safe and natural options exist.”


HolcareNutrition Vicki Kobliner, MS RD | vicki@holcarenutrition.com 3 Hollyhock Rd. • Wilton, CT • 06897 • 203-834-9949 • holcarenutrition.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42