Why The Tortoise Wins

Aesop’s fable about a tortoise who challenges a boastful hare to a foot race has several interpretations. Some consider the negative consequences of overconfidence, others the virtue of perseverance, and others still that speed and haste do not always yield victory.

I was recently in the Columbia River Gorge on a trail that was leading up to the mouth of a waterfall. There is an epic beauty to the glacially carved stretch of that river and a deep sense of geologic time. Being there affords a natural shift in perspective.

At one point I stopped along the wall and watched a tiny caterpillar effortlessly descend a vertical route that would be impossible for most other creatures. As it moved, every segment of its body unfurled like a wave in perfect coordination, each point of contact from its many legs perfectly positioned to continue the descent. There was no haste.

It reminded me of the Somato-Psychic Wave of Network Spinal Analysis and also of the tortoise, but with a new interpretation. The tortoise wins the race with the hare because by moving at his natural pace he has already won. His competition is not with the hare, who he cannot possibly beat in a race, but rather with himself - “because he competes with no one, no one can compete with him.” I believe the tortoise wins because he knows his true nature, lives in congruence with it, and because he undoubtedly stops to smell the succulents.

Ease and Dis-ease

Our experience of life and the world around us is mediated by our senses. Our senses feed this experience to the brain along the channels of the nervous system. The brain then takes that information, processes it, and sends signals back into the body directing the tissues, organs, and organ systems how to respond. When this occurs with coordination and balance, a healthy nervous system adapts to the stresses presented to it. When there is interference with this loop, with the communication between the brain and the body, the ability to coordinate and efficiently respond to stress is reduced. More energy is required to perform the same vital functions. Less energy is available to go above and beyond vital tasks (see: Autonomic NS) and there is a shift from responding to stress to reacting to stress.

Another way to describe this lower energy state is dis-ease. Dis-ease is the precursor - the intermediate step - between health and ill health. It is a state in which there may or may not be pain or symptoms associated with a condition or diagnosis, but the body is exerting excess effort to maintain balance. From a clinical perspective, dis-ease is observable and can be measured by assessing where and how these areas of imbalance are affecting normal, healthy function in the body.

For me, chiropractic offers the invaluable service of supporting people by promoting communication within their bodies. Supporting the health of the nervous system has a positive impact on how folks relate to themselves, their environment, and the stresses of both. As with all relationships, when there is ease, balance, and clarity with communication, life is better.

Brushwork

How often do you brush your teeth? Once a day? Twice a day? Floss, mouthwash, perhaps a coconut oil pull? It is widely acknowledged that brushing your teeth routinely is an important aspect of dental hygiene. I, however, am not a dentist. I’m not here to critique your teeth.

I do have a particular interest in how the brain works. The brain thrives on novelty. One of the most important elements of learning is based on this concept. Is the brain excited to make sense of some new idea or information that doesn’t fit neatly into what it already recognizes? Brain health depends on constantly learning and learning is stimulated by novelty.

I am using “learning” in a very broad sense. You can learn from books, or from podcasts. You can learn from conversations with interesting people or gain knowledge from an experience, especially if it’s not part of your normal routine. On a biological level, the definition of learning neatly summarizes the major role that the nervous system plays in the body - “the acquisition of knowledge and skills”. In a literal sense, your life depends on the ability of your brain to acquire knowledge and develop skills. The quality of your life also depends on whether and how much you choose to learn.

One of the best ways to introduce novelty to your brain is by adding creativity to your life. You don’t have take painting classes with Bob Ross or consider yourself “the creative type” to make this happen. You do have to acknowledge one very simple, but very profound fact:

being creative is a choice that can be made with every thought, every word, and every action.
 

Piece by piece, choice by choice, and day by day, you have a chance to create something for yourself, of yourself. Remember, it’s on you: no one is going to live creatively for you.

So start small. Take a different way home, try cooking without a recipe, cross your legs the other way. Read some poetry, tell the truth, or see what happens if you pay attention to your breathing for 10 seconds. Have you ever tried brushing your teeth with the opposite hand?

Brushing your teeth lefty might not change your life overnight, but it’s a start.