Bodily Adventures

It's the height of summer in the Canadian Rockies and I'm spending minimal time in front of a computer.
I've had a wonderful one-day, silent retreat at The Hermitage, a cabin on the properties of King's Fold Retreat Centre, north of Waiparous, above the banks of the Ghost River. A true place for healing and feeling close to God.

However, right after the retreat, all kinds of adventures happened to my body.
First, it was prolonged, severe stomach cramps that eventually convinced Jacob and me that we needed to go to the hospital. Painkillers did the trick and "switched off" the symptoms. In the following days, it was soreness in my lower back, alternated by a few more, not so severe, stomach upsets, that let me know that the body wasn't happy.
I agreed that we need to get a CT scan sooner than later, but until that's done, I do not want to go into all kinds of negative speculations as to the cause of my symptoms.
In the meantime, my doc and I agreed that I can take a break from one of the drugs in my arsenal (because it has a record of causing bone pain and stomach upsets). We'll see what happens.
These latest bodily adventures have made me very appreciative of the days when my body feels "normal". For whatever reason, my "earthsuit" is giving me all kinds of messages. It is my task to decipher them, and to do everything I can to support the body's own healing powers.
I am still reading The Presence Process - a profound self-study for emotional healing, and I am hoping to do more spiritual work in the fall.
As for now, I am happy when the body is happy, so I can hike and swim and enjoy the summer.

Yesterday, I called the Simonton Cancer Center and learnt that Dr. Carl Simonton passed away suddenly on June 18. I am very saddened, but I also feel blessed to have been able to meet him during our time in Santa Barbara in March. Dr. Simonton ("Carl" as we called him) had a wealth of wisdom and experience to share, and his program is a lifeline to anyone dealing with cancer. I will try my very best to become an honour student of his program.

Well, this is a short blog, and no pictures, either. I'm still looking the same, perhaps a bit thinner. My next short-term goal is to gain some weight without ditching my healthy eating habits. So, it's avocadoes, nuts, olive oil, healthy grains, whole milk yogurts and more.. Yumm.

The adventure continues. Stay tuned.