I will never forget an evening in 2003, when I met an amazing gentleman. I had, for several weeks, had a problem with my foot and ankle, having great trouble walking because of the pain. It was a bit swollen, and I thought it was an injury of some sort, although I could not recall how it had happened.
The doctor at the local hospital did not examine it. She looked at my age on the notes, glanced down towards my foot, and said: "Oh, that's gout. It comes with your age." As I was only 53, and feeling quite healthy, I was not impressed. I never went back; I knew for sure it was nothing arthritic. I had long experience of arthritic pain in my younger days. This was not right; I was convinced it was an injury, but was baffled.
I decided just to rest it as much as I could for a few days, and it did show some sign of easing, but not a lot. I had started to fathom out how it may have happened. I lived then, and now, in Palawan, a beautiful province of the Philippines, something of a tropical paradise. Then, I still slept with the air conditioning on, albeit down low. More often than not, my feet would become uncovered during the night, and they were right under the air conditioning unit. So, I was waking with cold feet every morning.
Then came that evening I will not forget. A friend had told me she knew of a herbalist who people turned to when conventional western medicine had failed. That evening, she brought him to our apartment. We all sat around and there was polite chatter, with the gentleman sitting opposite me. As he came in, and then sat down, I had admired his agility and remarkably healthy appearance.
I noticed that he was observing my foot; and I had been observing him, too. I thought to myself that he was probably about 65, but as he was so healthy, only looked about 58. He had a young face, and good skin. My friend looked over with a big smile.
"Roy, Mr ??.. is 100 years old."
I was shocked, and aghast. I think he is used to that reaction.
"What?......Really?"
My friend laughed: "Yes, 100 years old. And he has 45 children from 4 wives."
I observed him from a different viewpoint now, and with disbelief. I was too polite to ask at what stages each of his wives died, but he had outlived them all. All his children had been successful one way or another, and he was a proud and happy man.
What was his secret? He was a man of the forest. Palawan is still blessed with historic rainforest, which hide many secrets in and below its trees. It was the trees of the forest that he used to treat people, and had achieved some wonderful results over the years. He was too modest to have told me that, it was my friend who told me of his successes. He shrugged if someone asked his secrets about his being 100 years old, and appearing so healthy and young. His answer was a fairly short one:
"I eat only good healthy food. I have never drunk alcohol. I have had a happy life. I pray every day, and believe in God."
There was one more reason he gave for his longevity: "I always wanted to live to be very old. I always saw it that way. Every day I imagined myself over 100."
Now, those may not be his exact words, as my friend translated for me as he spoke. But one thing I do know, he spoke with great sincerity, calmness and a subdued authority. He was the epitome of confidence. I was in awe at this small, lithe, 100 year old Superman.
My ankle and foot? Eventually he sprung out of his chair, and examined my foot.
"No arthritis," he said, and I did understand that as he spoke. Then my friend had to translate. He had observed, I walked on cold tiles. He said I would go from the outside, where it was hot, and come in and immediately walk on cold tiles. The blood was no longer reaching my feet properly.
That reminded me of what I had been thinking about the air conditioning while I slept. I explained, and he nodded knowingly. Each morning I would get out of bed and immediately do over 100 push ups. While the exercise is mostly on the arms, the tendons on the ankles get stretched with each push. Cold tendons being stretched over 100 times? Every morning. For months. That was it; that was probably the cause of the swollen ankle.
He said not to worry, it could be cured in 3 days of treatment. He had to travel down to the south of Palawan, and go into the forest in search of the barks and leaves he needed. It was the rainy season, and he was gone a week. I was still struggling to get walking when he returned, but it was only 2 days to go until I was due to fly to Cebu, so no time for the 3 days of treatment.
I need not have been concerned. He came back twice to apply a hot compress, steaming with the magic ingredients of the rain forest. Then, I had to get my flight. "Don't worry," he said, that should be fine. He was right; apart from an occasional twinge while in Cebu, it was fine, even as I walked around.
All he asked in return was the payment of his travel down to southern Palawan and back, as it was a journey he had not planned to make. He gave his time, knowledge and attention for free.
My ankle, though, was not why I remember that 100 year old gentleman. To me, his was the ultimate example of positive thinking. He always told himself he would live to be 100, and he did.
Ever since then, I have had a plan for my 100th birthday. It is a day I think of a lot. My guest of honour that day will be, if I can track him down, that gentleman of the forest. He will be 147 then, and with the way he was looking at 100, he will still be around, surprising people as much as ever.
This positive thinking article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner of the Routes To Self Improvement website.
elite cleaning services Mundelein ..People with negative attitudes may wonder why they never achieve... Read More
Can you really plan a life-changing experience, or do they... Read More
Failure is my favorite subject. For I have spent my... Read More
Our attitude makes seems to control just about everything about... Read More
I encountered several interesting people that really taught me something.... Read More
You've been looking for a job for as long as... Read More
There are countless books that describe success principles. Here are... Read More
Most of us carry on a running internal dialogue at... Read More
Why do we have such a downer on Pollyanna? After... Read More
What is a paradigm? In my own words, a paradigm... Read More
Who are you?We all know that we are composed of... Read More
There are times that we encounter fearful thoughts that can... Read More
You've probably heard this idea at one time or another.... Read More
It is widely believed that just anybody has the intrinsic... Read More
What is an affirmation? One possible definition is a specific... Read More
Visualization is the art of using ones imagination to influence... Read More
Would you like to be confident in the things you... Read More
Music penetrates our mental barriers and influences the deepest areas... Read More
Part 1Recently, in a women's therapy group that I run,... Read More
Wahms, do you constantly compare yourself with others and come... Read More
Do you ever feel sorry for yourself? Do you ever... Read More
Words, Ignorance, and Casper The Friendly Ghost!Do your best to... Read More
Recently, a dear friend who has been both a coach... Read More
One Friday in November, I began a journey from New... Read More
Our thoughts define who we are. They can make us... Read More
Airbnb cleaning service Mundelein ..There are many dynamics that go into making a great... Read More
Music is very powerful. The kind of music you listen... Read More
You are already a winner, and so am I.Although you... Read More
Have you ever read that you should think positively when... Read More
I encountered several interesting people that really taught me something.... Read More
Almost everyone experiences some form of worry one time or... Read More
Just 2 nights ago my partner and I were watching... Read More
Smart folk have always realised how vital it is to... Read More
What I mean of course is, to appreciate life through... Read More
"We can change our circumstances by a mere change of... Read More
In many ways the Star War movies are simply a... Read More
Uncle Liam was very kind to me again. He gave... Read More
There are very many methods for achieving improvement to our... Read More
Have you heard of the FABS? The FABS are quadruplets;... Read More
Living without limits. Living your life to the fullest. Living... Read More
There is a growing appreciation of the impact of psychic... Read More
When you're feeling "low," or out of the flow, it's... Read More
Many of you may look at my title and wonder... Read More
Recently a great idea popped into my head about creating... Read More
When you feel lost and confused, it is easy to... Read More
You are the only one that can give confidence to... Read More
Philippians 4:6-do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,... Read More
How are you? That's a loaded question, and I'll tell... Read More
Want to improve your personal performance? Positive self-talk can help.Edward... Read More
Human nature is created so that you can choose your... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |