Virginia Institute of Chiropractic Blog

Study: American Kids take Anti-Psychotic Medicines at Six Times the Rate of U.K. Children

2008-05-05T17:13:00.000-04:00

Associated Press May 5, 2008

CHICAGO — American children take anti-psychotic medicines at about six times the rate of children in the United Kingdom, according to a comparison based on a new U.K. study.

Does it mean U.S. kids are being over-treated? Or that U.K. children are being under-treated?

Experts say that's almost beside the point, because use is rising on both sides of the Atlantic. And with scant long-term safety data, it's likely the drugs are being over-prescribed for both U.S. and U.K. children, research suggests.

Dr. Hawk’s comments appear in RED and are not part of the original article.

Scant! How about virtually NO DATA! There is no evidence to suggest that these drugs are safe for children.

Among the most commonly used drugs were those to treat autism and hyperactivity.

In the U.K. study, anti-psychotics were prescribed for 595 children at a rate of less than four per 10,000 children in 1992. By 2005, 2,917 children were prescribed the drugs at a rate of seven per 10,000 — a near-doubling, said lead author Fariz Rani, a researcher at the University of London's pharmacy school.

The study is being released Monday in the May edition of the journal Pediatrics.

By contrast, an earlier U.S. study found that nearly 45 American children out of 10,000 used the drugs in 2001 versus more than 23 per 10,000 in 1996.

Based on sales, a more accurate way to track what is purchased, the incident is much higher. One study found the rate to be nearly 150 children per 10,000. If you ask a teacher, you will find the rate even higher. It is now uncommon to have less than 3 children out 20 on Anti-Psychotic meds!!!

There are big differences that could help explain the vastly higher U.S. rate.

A recent report in The Lancet suggested that the U.K.'s universal health care system limits prescribing practices there. The report also said direct-to-consumer ads are more common in the United States. These ads raise consumer awareness and demand for medication.

While drug company ties with doctors are common in both the U.S. and U.K., Vanderbilt University researcher Wayne Ray said U.K. physicians generally are more conservative about prescribing psychiatric drugs. Ray co-authored the U.S. study, published in 2004.

The new U.K. study, involving 1992-2005 health records of more than 16,000 children, is the first large examination of these drugs in U.K. children. It found the increase was mostly in medicines that haven't been officially approved for kids. They were most commonly prescribed for behavior and conduct disorders, which include attention deficit disorder.

Side effects including weight gain, nervous-system problems and heart trouble have been reported in children using these drugs and there's little long-term evidence about whether they're safe for them, the study authors said.

"This highlights the need for long-term safety investigations and ongoing clinical monitoring," they said, "particularly if the prescribing rate of these medicines continues to rise."

And the number will continue to rise until we address the lifestyle behind the cause.

One of the most commonly used anti-psychotics in the U.K. study was Risperdal, a schizophrenia drug that is sometimes used to treat irritability and aggression in autism. Its side effects include drowsiness and weight gain.

Thioridazine, sometimes used to treat hyperactivity in attention deficit disorder, was frequently used early on. Its use decreased after 2000 when a U.K. safety committee warned of heart-related side effects, the authors said.

Reasons for the increases are uncertain but may be similar to those in the United States, such as an increase in autism cases and drug industry influence.

“…Drug industry influence.” Folks… that is what I call deplorable. The doctor is suppose to make the decision if a psycho-tropic medication is right for your or not, not the company making the potion. The drug companies now advertise regulated substances directly to the consumer. Tragic.

In both countries, the issue isn't simply how many children are getting these drugs, said Dr. David Fassler, a University of Vermont psychiatry professor. "The more important question is whether or not the right kids are getting the most appropriate and effective treatment possible," he said. Fassler wasn't involved in the study.

Dr. William Cooper, a Vanderbilt pediatrician, said the study shows the drugs are being used "without full understanding about the risks."

Correct. The doctor has the drug rep show up on a Thursday for lunch and the doc is writing prescription for the medication in the afternoon!

"I find it really interesting that we're now seeing increases in other countries besides the U.S., which suggests that the magnitude of this issue is global," said Cooper, also an author of the 2004 U.S. study.

So much for a drug free society

Down goes Vytorin!

2008-04-02T15:09:00.000-04:00

Da da dum dum dump. “Another one bites the dust…”

The rock band Queen may have been predicting the future of prescription drugs. As Big Phama tries to create the latest and greatest magic bullet, one thing stands true. They keep falling on their faces. The latest to fall is Vytorin or one of its components, Zetia.

The AP headline reads “Doctors wary after cholesterol drug flop.” I would be wary too. Zetia and Vytorin have sold over $5,000,000,000 worth of product with no benefit. Five billion dollars spent on nothing. At least the government gets a box of over-priced toilet lids or hammers for five billion! We can use that stuff and a properly functioning hammer can be used for thousands of nails.

With the Congressional hearings on Big Pharma and their “delay” in releasing the findings in a responsible time frame, they waited over two years, something will eventually have to happen.

It’s not a bad idea to know if a drug works before released or what the real side-effects are. My hope is that the government uses one of its high dollar hammers to put a nail in the coffin of unnecessary and absurd drug fast-tracking through the FDA and bring this nonsense to an end.

To learn the truth about “good” and “bad” cholesterol please watch this great informative video. Please click the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awA2fsa94MI

NEWSFLASH!

This Friday we need your blood!!! Virginia Blood Services need AT LEAST 50 units of blood that day. I have been able to get some great gifts for all who donate. Please give and bring friends and family along who are at least 17 years old and over 110 pounds. I am expecting you to step up big and help our community. All the blood collected stays here in our community. Let’s make it happen together.

Give Blood – get an adjustment on me or a certificate for a new patient.

Bella Boutique - free shampoo and conditioner to first 24 people
Arch’s Frozen Yogurt - gift certificates for the yummy stuff
Chick-fil-A - Free chicken sandwich
Salad Creations - free salads for a select few
Eppie’s - lunch at Eppie’s, what could be better?
And so much more!

2008-03-24T11:45:00.001-04:00

Symptoms

2008-03-19T16:31:00.001-04:00

What are symptoms? What is health? Simple and scientific answers.

Let’s see what the dictionary has to say about symptoms:

A sign or an indication of disorder or disease, especially when experienced by an individual as a change from normal function, sensation, or appearance.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006

Scientific: Symptoms are the body’s means of communicating or expressing an alteration of normal function to a state of compensation or adaptation to stressors. It is important to note that symptoms are not the causal agent for manifesting the adaptive physiology expressed by the individual. Rather, the symptoms are the innate expression of the body’s intelligence as it adapts to endogenous or exogenous stimuli.

Simple: Symptoms are the body’s normal response. They are simply telling you that you are doing something wrong. Symptoms are not a mistake. The body is working perfectly when you have symptoms.

Scientific: Symptoms are a necessary and required response for the full expression of health in a person experiencing dis-ease. Dis-ease is the natural response to the internal environment of the body adapting to an external stress; bacteria, virus, sedentary lifestyle, poor quality food, etc.

Simple: Symptoms are the response of the body to physical, chemical, and emotional stress.

Scientific: All nociceptors are free nerve endings that have their cell bodies outside the spinal column in the dorsal root gangliaand are named based upon their appearance at their sensory ends. Nociceptors can detect mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli, and are found in the skin and on internal surfaces such as the periosteum or joint surfaces. Deep internal surfaces are only weakly supplied with pain receptors and will propagate sensations of chronic, aching pain if tissue damage in these areas occurs.

Nociceptors do not adapt to stimuli. In some conditions, excitation of pain fibers becomes greater as the pain stimulus continues, leading to a condition called hyperalgesia.

Simple: Nociceptors are cells that detect negative stress. If you numb your nociceptors with drugs, herbs, potions, or lotions, while continuing with the stresses causing nociceptive activity, the body will react more strongly to these stimuli. Hyperalgesia means that normal pain stimuli are causing a greater than normal pain response.

What all this means is that symptoms are good. They are one of the ways that the body communicates to your aware conscious mind. Symptoms spur us on to take action.

However, waiting for symptoms before taking action is living a mechanistic lifestyle. The “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” mentality that sets the stage for degenerative or chronic problems that rear their heads up later in life just isn’t working. Living a life where one embraces change and improvement on a daily basis empowers the individual to express health and vitality. Just “getting by” day-to-day is irresponsible and has a lasting impact on the person and their family.

Chiropractic adjustments address the presence of subluxations in the nervous system. Nothing else does. Everyone should be checked on a regular basis to ensure they are not subluxated. Get checked today and live a life free of subluxations.

Don't drink the water. There are...drugs in the water?

2008-03-10T11:28:00.000-04:00

Drugs in our water! The following is from AP news dated March 10, 2008.

A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.
To be sure, the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. Also, utilities insist their water is safe.But the presence of so many prescription drugs — and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen — in so much of our drinking water is heightening worries among scientists of long-term consequences to human health.

Here are some of the key test results obtained by the AP:
_Officials in Philadelphia said testing there discovered 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts in treated drinking water, including medicines for pain, infection, high cholesterol, asthma, epilepsy, mental illness and heart problems. Sixty-three pharmaceuticals or byproducts were found in the city's watersheds.
_Anti-epileptic and anti-anxiety medications were detected in a portion of the treated drinking water for 18.5 million people in Southern California.
_Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed a Passaic Valley Water Commission drinking water treatment plant, which serves 850,000 people in Northern New Jersey, and found a metabolized angina medicine and the mood-stabilizing carbamazepine in drinking water.
_A sex hormone was detected in San Francisco's drinking water.
_The drinking water for Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas tested positive for six pharmaceuticals.
_Three medications, including an antibiotic, were found in drinking water supplied to Tucson, Ariz.

How much more blatant can it be?

2008-02-26T11:57:00.000-05:00

What is going on! The two big headlines today are that antidepressant drugs are not effective for most people:

The researchers found that compared with placebo, these new-generation antidepressant medications did not yield clinically significant improvements in depression in patients who initially had moderate or even very severe depression. The study found that significant benefits occurred only in the most severely depressed patients.

And that Pfizer’s drug ads for Lipitor lead to “to misimpressions.” Will this have any effect on the drug companies? I doubt it. If a 4 billion dollar settlement against Vioxx, where the drug company was never found guilty of anything, did not ruffle the feathers or hurt the bottom-line, what will?

I can just hear the mantra, “Pill for every ill. Pill for every ill. Pill for every ill,” being chanted over and over again by people who do not wish to confront their own lifestyle issues and take control of their life.

The headlines are everywhere. Two weeks ago, the above-the-fold full color headline on USA Today was screaming of the dangers of medications.

We all know that drugs have side effects. Most of us are willing to live with them. The pain of changing our life is not worth the cost of possibly loosing it to a drug reaction.

That is tragic.

Chicken Pox

2008-02-15T21:26:00.002-05:00

My daughter, Allie, woke up this morning with those irritating pustules prodtuding from her skin. Chicken Pox. The summer between my third and fourth grade years, (almost the same same as Allie) I got chicken pox. One of my friends mother's called and told my mom that her son had chicken pox. The call was not of warning. "Oh no! Stay 5 miles away from my house. Were are infected!!!!!" Rather, it was the rally call for all moms to bring their kids over for a day of playing so that we all could get chicken pox. Practical wisdom. Get it now rather than later, infect your siblings and neighborhood and everyone will be immune. Two weeks of being rather uncomfortable (we had no A/C) and I was back to my old self.

This new chicken pox vaccine seems so odd to me. The complications from chicken pox are very rarely severe and you have to get the shot every two years because it does not create lifelong immunity. I prefer my body's immunity and wherewithall to something from a vial. If this makes sence, come on over and infect your kids. My son should have it in 5-10 days and be especially capable of spreading this NORMAL Childhood disease to your kids.

Have-A-Heart postcard

2008-02-07T13:55:00.000-05:00

Have-A-Heart

2008-02-07T13:43:00.000-05:00

My most enjoyable event we do all year is our Have-A-Heart day. It is the one time that someone can be exposed to the services we offer in a thoughtful and education-based way. I always love the look on people's faces when the get to see their scans for the first time and their jaw drops and they say, "That exactly what I have been dealing with for year!" Sometimes they just breakdown and cry because they have been pushed through the system time and time again with no help. Others are healthy and we get to encourage them in all of their positive lifestyle choices.

What ever the reason is that brings a person or family to the office that day, it is awesome to share with so many new people. It is one week out and we only have 15 open appointments. If you know someone who would like to join us that day, have them call ASAP and get on the books. You can print off the postcard and hand it to them or just tell them about it and let them call and schedule with Kathy.

2008-01-28T10:37:00.000-05:00

You are the best people in Charlottesville! I can prove it:

Over the past 3 months we have collected over 500 pounds of non-perishable foods that you have donated on our two Friday Adjustments for Food drives. We will continue this program every quarter this year and try and raise 1,000 pounds of food this year! Great Job!!!

During December, you donated toys for children in critical care at UVA. I am proud to announce that there were enough toys for 13 children. We will do another toy drive in July and give the kids gifts when they least expect it.

Your outpouring of support for me and the team at the office over the past 6 weeks has been amazing. So many of you have offered to host small events at your home for me to share about the Ghana mission trip or a health talk, if you don’t have it scheduled with Kathy yet, please do so soon.

15 people participated in the Standard Process 21 Day Purification Program. The early reports sound remarkable. Most people have lost at least 10 pounds and many more. All they did was eat right and get the junk out.

Our annual Have-a-Heart day is quickly approaching on February 14. This is your chance to invite friends and family to the office for a complimentary consultation, exam and scans. We are limited to 21 new patients that day and we always fill up early. So get the word out and get scheduled.

Interesting Health Studies

2008-01-22T10:09:00.000-05:00

Now that I have time to write some thoughts, I would like to share some “blog-type” thoughts on research that has been released over the past few months. Let’s dig in…

National Institute of Health just accepted a paper by Tracy, MD that details the nervous systems control of the inflammation and auto-immune response. Dr. Tracy states, “Stimulation of the vagus nerve could block rogue inflammatory responses.” Rather than trying to “stimulate” the nerve, why don’t we try to “normalize” the function? That is exactly what an adjustment does! So what can we infer? The normalization of vagal nerve function will decrease rogue auto-immune and inflammatory responses. That is the same message that chiropractic has been preaching for over 100 years. When will medicine catch up with chiropractic? View a chart of the vagus nerve here: http://dtc.pima.edu/~biology/201alpha/lesson12/lesson12i.htm

"Psychological stress might alter immune function through direct innervation of lymphatic tissue, through release of HPA and sympathetic-adrenal-medullary hormones that bind to and alter the functions of immunologically active cells,” states Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco. What does this mean? Two things. First, stress decreases immune function. Second, nerves directly control lymphatic function. If your nervous system is working correctly, your immune function is much better suited to keep you healthy. If you are ill, then a proper functioning nervous system is critical to getting you back on your feet. Now how important is your adjustments every two weeks?

Nature will soon be publishing an article on the recent discovery of where optimism is located in the brain. Researchers have isolated the Anterior Cingulate Gyrus as the location for your positive attitude. This area is located behind your eyes, specifically your tear ducts near your nose and back about one inch. Incidentally, this is the area that is destroyed during a lobotomy. Did you know that a positive outlook on life contributes to a longer and healthier life than any other factor? People who are optimistic increase their life expectancy by 7.6 years! Optimism is a choice.

Now on to the “No Duh!” studies…

Childhood obesity is now a classified as a chronic disease by pediatricians. For decades pediatricians treated acute illnesses now they are learning “bio-psycho-social” conditions in their “lifestyle context.” Please allow me to translate. Our kids are getting fat because they don’t exercise and they eat WAY too much. Parents, you are to blame.

Researchers places five identical foods in front of kids. The only thing they changed was the packaging. The kids were asked to taste the food and pick which one tasted the best. They always picked the one in the McDonald’s type packaging. Does advertising and branding work?

Journal Entry #5 - Tuesday October 23 - Morning

2007-10-23T08:39:00.000-04:00

Last night was beyond anything I expected. I was invited to adjust at the Catholic Church's healing service. It started at 7:00 PM and did not conclude until 1:30 AM. There were about 700 people there and I adjusted all but a hundred or so. I did not start adjusting until after 11:00 PM so the night was long and really hot! I was pouring sweat. I had to wear slacks and a nice shirt, same thing I would wear to the office. After awhile I could not see from the salt in my sweat in my eyes. I was adjusting "blind". Of course vision does not necessarily come from the eyes. It was a new experience for me. They brought in all sort of cases. Blind, paralyzed, bleeding disorders, you name it, it was there. So many people were healed by their body releasing the healing power within it. I am sure that God was doing amazing things on the inside. I am out of time at the internet cafe. Gotta go.

Chad

Journal Entry 4 - October 21

2007-10-22T13:29:00.000-04:00

Journal Day 4 October 21, 2007

Today has seemed like two days rolled into one. This morning I awoke at 3:00 AM. When someone dies here, they have a wake where they bring in a huge sound system and party all night long. I do mean all night long. It is their way of celebrating the person’s life. They crank up the volume. Last night there were two different wakes close to the house I am staying at. I think it was the combination of roosters, cats fighting, the music, and a group of guys walking down the street blowing whistles the roused me. Wow, weekends in Winneba are a party. Tonight is completely different. It is quiet. They say that Sunday through Thursday nights are pretty calm. I think I will sleep uninterrupted tonight.

I went to the Methodist Church today for worship service. It started at 9:30 and was just getting really reved-up at noon. The music was inspired. What heart-felt worship they have. The music was a little glimpse of Heaven I am sure. They had a 40 member choir for the hymns and a 15 person praise band for the praise music. There were about 600 or 700 people there today. Most of the service was in Fanti so I could not understand it, but a dear older woman sitting next to me explained the service as it went along. I kept thinking of a church play-by-play announcer. When they offer their tithes, they come forward dancing to the rockin’ praise band. Later in the service they give offerings to different organizations in the church and offerings for the day of the week you were born. All of these are done to praise music and you get to move and groove. Even if I had not been the only white person, I would have stuck out like a sore thumb from my lack of rhythm. I used to think I could dance. Now I realize I don’t know the first thing about movin’.

There were three bishops at the service and 15 pastors. They were celebrating a lay member who was retiring from his position as director of the regions of the diocese. They asked me to offer the prayer for him and his wife. That caught me off guard. The were talking in Fanti and then I heard my name and everyone turned and looked at me. The dear lady next to me told me to get up and go pray for them. I hope the prayer was good because I don’t remember a thing I said. The combination of lack of sleep, 100+ degrees, slacks, shirt and tie, no breakfast, and four hours at church almost created the perfect example of a chiropractor impacting the ground from 6’ 2”. I never knew the world could spin the way it did as I was walking back to my seat. Anyway, I made it back with out any outward signs of distress-at least that is what I was told.

This afternoon I had the opportunity to care for many people who have serious conditions: paralysis, polio deformities, cerebral palsy, and blindness. One man I met while on a walk yesterday came and got adjusted today. He has been abandoned by his wife and kids and is now a beggar on the streets. He can hardly walk. I took him 6 hours to walk to the house which is only 5 blocks from the sea. When he left after his first adjustment, he was walking much faster than before. Of course, anything would be an improvement for him.

Another young man I met yesterday on my walk was born with a deformity in his pelvis and legs. He has never been able to walk. His legs have always been bent at a 90 degree angle. He was given two crutches a year ago and he is now able to move around as he drags his legs. When I finished working on him today, he went from a 90 degree bend to a 15 degree bend. That is incredible. He has also been unable to see any distance. His vision was limited to objects right in front of him. Afterwards, he was able to see as far as wanted.

The most heart-breaking story was a little girl 4 years old. When she was 2 ½ she became ill and went to the hospital. They did something to her and since that time she has not been able to stand or walk. I think she had meningitis and they treated her for something else. They told the parents that she has Cerebral Palsy. She doesn’t. She was crying the whole time she was with me from the pain in her pelvis and legs. I adjusted her atlas and she relaxed. I waited a few minutes and checked her pelvis. What a mess. I will see her everyday I am here. This little girl has got to walk again.

So today I saw 30-40 patients. Tomorrow, I will see a LOT of people. I am scheduled to adjust from 7 AM until 6 PM. Then I am going to the Catholic Church to adjust at the healing service that goes from 7:00 PM until 1:00 AM. Things are slow her. People will take action, but only when the time is right. They elders decided that Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be the day I will see the most people, so it will be.

Now it is time for some shuteye. I am so moved by the people’s smiles and openness to me being here. I will do my best to serve them and help as I can.

Journal Entry 3 - October 20

2007-10-22T13:28:00.000-04:00

Journal Day 3 October 20, 2007

Today was a day of opposites. I have the opportunity to serve 15 people to day. All of them had incredible experiences. I saw three people who were unable to walk with out the aid of canes leave after their adjustments on their own volition shouting for joy. One of the men was so bad that it took him 20 minutes to climb the short steps leading up the adjusting room. His grandson came with him and when they left he was holding the crutches above his head so everyone could see that his grandfather did not need them anymore. What a healing.

Another woman, the wife of the fire chief, was unable to walk more that 20 feet without being doubled over in pain. After her adjustment, she walked home…over 1 mile. The chief came over tonight and got adjusted himself. He also brought along the chief of police and told the warden of the prison. On Monday the two chiefs are going to make all of their officers come over and get adjustments. They want the best functioning officers working for them.

There is the reality that as the word gets out about what is happening, Monday through Wednesday will be beyond amazing. How cool will it be to have a town of well adjusted people running around. I think I am going to go to the schools on Tuesday and adjust all the kids. I can’t wait. They will get a brief talk on chiropractic and the we will line them all up and adjust them. I can see them all laughing now. The people here are quick to laugh and hearty about their laughs. It is contagious.

So far I think I have avoided the little bugs that want my blood and leave me with malaria. There are so many. At dusk, they are thick and fly in swarms. But, they don’t even notice I am there. That is a miracle! God works in not so mysterious ways as well. Now if that can continue for another week and a half I will be malaria free when I return home. I am using DEET 2x’s a day. It smells bad and makes your skin oily. It seals you skin so it make you sweat like crazy. The temperatures have not been too bad but the humidity has been high. Just imagine Charlottesville in the summer. Bingo. You nailed the climate here in Winneba. The breeze during the day sure does help. The moving air pulls the sweat off and cools you down.

I met Sarah today. She is a teacher at Walker in Charlottesville. She has saved her money up and came here to teach the kids until her funds dry up. What a vision to help people. I think everyone should get out and do their best to help others. You don’t have to travel all the way around the world to do it. There are people next door to you that need help. Just help.

So long for now.

Journal Entry 2 (Friday 4:15 PM Ghana Time)

2007-10-22T13:27:00.000-04:00

Dateline: Winneba Friday October 19, 2007 4:15 PM

I just woke up from a great nap. The first sleep I have had since Wednesday night in C’ville. I feel kind of intoxicated from the lack of sleep but there is a nice cool breeze blowing in off the ocean. I have only seen the water from the air when we landed this morning. I have been told it is very close to the house, within walking distance. More on distance and time in a few minutes.

I was picked up at the airport by Joe Bami. What a character! Amazing man. He has done everything form help write the country’s constitution in the ‘70s to lead and plan growth projects for the country. He lives half of the time in the D.C. area where his family lives year round. Brilliant man. He walks fast, talks fast and clearly has a purpose or ten to achieve at a moments notice. He completely bucks the Ghanaian mindset of slow down, think about it, talk about it, then tomorrow we may do something about it. Right after we got in the car I thought I was with Jeff Gordon or Mario Andretti. He took me to a friend of his, Charles Huntington, M.D. (I think that was his name) He practice in the D.C. area for over 40 years and has retired back in his home country. He still goes back and visits the US several times a year.

The purpose of that meeting was two fold: 1. feel out my motives, goals, and the like, 2. Give me information I need fit into the culture and society. The one thing that was stressed was the slow pace of life. I met a couple from NY at the good doctors house that were here visiting. She is a native and he is from Buffalo. He pulled me aside and said just let the people come you to you. Don’t try and hurry. He said that I would probably not start seeing people for 3 or 4 days. It’s the culture’s way of bringing in a guest. Joe and Charles both told me that I would have to meet with the chief of the area in Winneba. I will not be able to address him directly, but will have to speak to his assistant and his assisitant will turn to the chief and repeat what I just said. The chief will never speak directly to me. This is when I will be given the formal blessing to begin seeing people.

The society here (in Winneba) has deep native cultural roots and a strong since of the formal nature left by the British. The two combine with a proud people to take me back two centuries to the way business/relationships were done. It seems odd to be writing about something as formal and old as these traditions on a laptop that was charged in NY.

Journal Entry 1 (Friday 2 AM Ghana Time)

2007-10-22T13:25:00.000-04:00

Dateline: Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean 2:00 AM Ghana

I have nodded off a few times since 9:00 PM GT (Ghana Time), but no going into a deep sleep. I want to, but my mind is not letting me take that voyage into La La Land. My mind keeps thinking about what the next two weeks hold. What will happen? How will I “fit” into the culture.? Will I be a bumbling American stepping on local customs or will I be able to take a step back and let time and observation take over and give me wisdom in my actions. My coach, Alan Rousso, continually tells me that I can say I am doing what ever I want, but it is my actions or fruit that tell the truth of what I am doing. Behavior never lies. This keeps banging around in my head. What do my daily behaviors tell others. I am reminded of a mother who has been a patient for quite some time who brought in her two boys. She had a bad experience at the office one day because I said one thing and then did something different. Where are the contradictions in my life? I am sure this time away will force me to think outside the box and discover more about me than I ever knew. At least more than I have previously been willing to admit!

Something that stood out at the gate at JFK while I was waiting to get on the plane. The Ghanaians were dressed so nice. Beautiful colors that had so much personality. There was lots of gold jewelry that was used as an accent to create flair. All I can say is that the attire was joyful. Fully expressing life. I then considered my dress, khaki pants with a dark blue polo shirt, and gray hiking shoes. I can tell I choose comfort over style. I will see if I can’t spice up my wardrobe while I am in Ghana. We all need more joy in our life. Speaking of joy. There is a man in the row in front of me singing in his native tongue. Normally this would bother me. It is the middle of the night! Let’s get some sleep. But, his voice is soft and ever though I cannot understand a single word. His word are speaking to me. I am sure he is singing some form of hymn. I feel my spirit being lifted by his words. At times I will just listen. Listen to the emotion behind the words. Once again joy.

Nana, my friend who is a native Ghanaian in C’ville, told me that it will take me 30 minutes to walk down a block because everyone will want to talk to me and hear my story for that day or share their story. Community. I look forward to that level of connection to “strangers.” I don’t like the word strangers. I guess I don’t see people that way. We all share the same air, water, Earth, and needs. The way I see it we all are looking for some connection with each other and God. Sorry my secular humanist friends, I must disagree that there is no God. Music, joy, love, connection, sadness, a smile tell me there is something more.

Going to Ghana, Guatemala, or anywhere is just an opportunity to meet new people, share in their life, reveal more of who you are and serve another’s need. One of the principle factors that God has impressed on my heart about this trip is to do for other as I would love some else to do for me. That gets thrown around it almost seems trite. It isn’t. It is amazingly powerful. The more you meditate on it and listen for God’s inspiration; it will knock you to your knees. Everything is tied up in it. Love. Forgiveness. Why do we need Oprah or Dr. Phil?

I will try and post some comments tonight before I go to bed. I love all of you and thank you for your support. You are all in my prayers and thoughts. Good night (morning?).

Chad

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2007-10-03T16:22:00.001-04:00

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