Who Am I?
Throughout life we hold many titles. Many of them are progressive, for a specific period or time, while others are simultaneous and lifelong identifiers. A title can be as simple as a prefix like Doctor, or a rank such as Sergeant. It can also be as complex as Father or Husband.
Each title brings with it an image, an impression, a bias about the person behind the title. One title may bring about feelings of authority or power, while others may represent humility comfort and love.
The complexity of a title is wrapped in the image or feeling associate with any given title. What is the image you have when you hear Husband, Father or Grandfather. Is one a grey-haired man sitting with a small child reading a cherished kids book. A father and son leaning over a car fender working on the first ride. A couple strolling along the beach hand in hand sharing a simple moment. For many these names may conger up images of strength, leadership, and warmth. Memories of times shared with these loved ones. Maybe these titles stir up feelings of love and comfort.
In contrast a simple prefix or designator has an attached persona. A military rank as a designator is very different than the Title Doctor. Marine, Sailor, Sergeant, and Doctor all create a picture unique to your belief and ideas about these titles or designators. Military names and identifiers certainly have their own set of reactions. The image of white sailors’ hat and Popeye's uniform may come to mind. You may see a young man in dress blues standing at attention. How about crawling through the mud and muck adorned with camouflage utilities and a painted face. To many the title veteran stirs a feeling of endearment, pride, or gratitude. The title often represents strength and character. Feelings of loyalty and thoughts of sacrifice come to mind.
Doctor is yet another title which carries with it specific impression. Does identifying the doctor as a Chiropractor change that image? Do you see a Health Expert?
These are all titles I've held and may I hold still. I wish I could tell you the path, though indirect, was well thought out and productive each step of the way. This feels very untrue however, each step was important in growing and learning, allowing me to give you the best…
I initially started college studying theology and psychology. After a year I Enlisted in Marine Corps reserves. Upon completing boot camp and infantry training I returned home and bounced between college and work. After few years of enjoying working with metal and welding I felt lead to continue my education. Still unsettled I joined the Navy. I signed up for an advanced program in a Submarine electronic field. With 2 years of training ahead of me I had to quickly learn to study and apply myself to the academic world. My second duty station was the submarine, USS Topeka. Here I earned my submarine warfare pin, and a whole lot of life lessons over the next 4 years. My final 3 years in the Navy were spent on shore duty as an instructor. During this time I prepared myself for my next adventure… college again. This time to earn a Doctorate degree in Chiropractic. I joined AK Chiropractic in 2003. I've been practicing here since, with a slight break in 2012 while deployed to Afghanistan with the Michigan National Guard.
As you may have noticed my path here was far from direct. The lessons learned from a life lived are the crucial elements of who we are, what we believe and how we think. Each experience survived forms us into who we are today. If we allow all the accumulated knowledge and understanding help with each decision, each reaction, each thought, we then can be the very best of who are. The very best at what we do.
The military experience helped me develop a mission critical awareness and laser focus to accomplish any challenge at hand. Post graduate studies in Applied Kinesiology have also honed and developed powers of observation and intuition. Another critical skill set that has been developed since youth is the simple and largely lost art… I call trouble shooting. The art of understanding a system and how it functions. Breaking it down to functional components and fixing the broken element. Figure out the missing or dysfunctional link, correct it and restore function. This reasoning process is overall lost in most modalities of health care. We live in a fast paced society of instant fix, instant gratification, computer derived solutions, with no further cognitive thought. I am a system expert when it comes to the human body. The body is a fine-tuned instrument that must be kept in balance and tuned up. I understand the importance of structure and function as it relates to health. That is what I do… I look at how you stand, walk, talk, move and how your body respond and performs.
With this I help you determine the best course of action to restore recover and build a healthy you and better life.
