Reaching
for a right crimp while shaking and sweating, I slip on the cold
smooth wall, and whip out over the triangular crag. Unseen and
unheard, my climbing partner belays from above. Fingers scrabbling on
uncompromising rock, I dangle under the overhang, swinging back and
forth over the ocean. As the sun rapidly sets, I focus, clamber back
onto the crux, zone in and, one deliberate move at a time, send it
home.
Surfing
the next day, the swell fills the horizon. I paddle into position,
anticipating the surging wave. As I power through the pinkening
pre-dawn water, I feel it push. I pop up, merging with the wave. I
gaze down the line with single-focused present moment intent, body
graceful, actions aligned, brilliantly alive.
I
share this crystalline clarity and vibrant aliveness with the
athletes, artists, and healthcare practitioners who I support through
pain, trauma, and complex chronic conditions in my Earth-centered
acupuncture and Chinese medicine practice. They know that my
adventures hiking, backpacking, surfing, climbing, and traveling
inspire my dedicated clinical focus, and their positive treatment
results. The joys and challenges of wilderness adventures creates
internal resilience in both me and my patients, inspiring love and
understanding for our Earth, while empowering personal and
environmental stewardship.
