So you’re sailing along, getting on with your life, when suddenly a storm hits, and you are blown onto the “Acute Beach”. Now you are ill, or injured. If you’re lucky you’ll find your way to the “DMC” (Disease Management Centre – that’s probably a hospital, clinic or doctor’s office) where the broken bit will get fixed and you’re back down on the beach, into your own canoe, and paddling off into the rest of your life again.
Except, often, that’s not what happens. It turns out there isn’t a simple part to be replaced or fixed, and before you know it you’re mired in the “Chronic Bog”, only to spend the next few weeks, months, or years trudging back and forward between the DMC and the Bog. Doesn’t feel so good, and it doesn’t get you back into the flow of life again either.
So, what next?
Maybe you meet an “integrative medicine” specialist and they take you on a journey, up the “Hill of Understanding” where you get a good overview, check out the lay of the land, and see more clearly just how you got here in the first place. That feels better. It’s good to be understood. It’s good to be able to put all the pieces together, see the connections, and work out just what needs to happen to get healthy again.
Maybe some time down at the “ITS” is going to be needed (“Integrative Therapy Spa”) – where health-making therapies stimulate and support your recovery, and give you a helping hand to start to heal.
After that, your health coach can help get you some time down at “Education Lake” where you can learn about health and healing, find out what the connections are between the mind and the body and learn what you need to know to get well.
You might also benefit from some time on the “Practice River” learning some new skills, like “mindfulness meditation”, stretching and moving exercises, ways of dealing with stress and so on.
Luckily for you that “integrative medicine specialist” is with you all the way, and you follow the path back down to the sea, and onto your boat to sail off and live the rest of your life.
Wouldn’t that be a good idea?
Heroes Not Zombies 
Brilliant analogy! Love it 🙂 I’m doing that tour…and, no-one is laughing at me for wearing my arm-bands (even at the times when I’m on dry land) – they give me a kinda ‘quiet confidence’ in my own journey towards building deep self belief and healing. (I think my coach knows I don’t need the arm-bands all the time – but understands why I’m not ready to swim without them) 😀
Seriously fun but seriously informative, tx:-)