“Dad… Listen to Me.”

We had quite some fun on our staycation this past week while the boys were off school for spring break; from playgrounds, to the Ark Encounter, to the zoo, to the Newport Aquarium, we had a blast. The lesson of the week was that these Mosier boys require a lot of energy and lots of attention.

At one point Ethan, with his angry eyes, grabbed my face directly towards him and demanded, “Dad, listen to me.” He desperately wanted my attention.

Listening—a skill that is often forgotten in our overbooked, busy schedules. We, like Ethan, want to be heard and valued. Often due to busyness we get overlooked/forgotten about, or we are the ones doing the overlooking. If I’m honest with you, I’m guilty on both accounts: being overlooked and doing the overlooking.

The concept of overlooking and lack of listening reminds me of a funny story out of John Maxwell’s book called, “The Self Aware Leader.”

A couple of country boys are out in the woods hunting when one of them falls to the ground.

He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are rolled back in his head.

The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls 911. He frantically tells the operator, "Bubba is dead! What can I do?"

The operator, in a calm, soothing voice says, "Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead."

There is silence, and then a shot is heard.

The guy's voice comes back on the line and says, "Okay, now what?"

As this story illustrates—we can hear what is said without really listening to what is being communicated. The hunter above heard what the operator told him and technically did make sure that his hunting companion was dead. But had he really been listening, I don't think he would have shot his partner.

Yes, I literally laughed out loud when I read that while the rest of the family was asleep. But it is so true. Taking the time to listen has fallen to the wayside in our world today.

If you have been around me for much time at all, you have heard me say, “Everyone has a story worth sharing.” Being someone who would shy away from crowds because anything I would have to say wouldn’t be worth listening to resonates with me on a deeper level. And maybe it does you too because maybe you feel your story isn’t worth sharing.

If you’ll let me, I’d like to take the “story worth sharing” concept a little further.

Health is within each of us, but the question becomes, is it able to be expressed? If health is compromised, then the story within you gets diluted. Your victories and defeats that turned into life lessons don’t get fully expressed because… you’re tired or… you don’t feel good.

I used to weigh 150 lbs more than I do now, and I can say with certainty that your health determines the quality of your life, especially in regard to being fully present in the moment.

Anywhere from removing the interference in your spine and nervous system to having the right nutritional building blocks, health has to be our utmost priority if we want to start believing that we have a story worth sharing. Once you believe that your story matters, then you will start listening to the stories around you and be fully present in the moment.

It all begins by listening to yourself and keeping the promises you make to yourself. By keeping your promises, you build your internal trust.

I hope listening becomes a major priority and focus for the upcoming month. If brain fog and/or mental fatigue is a concern of yours, please reach out to our clinic; we have been successful in these types of cases and would love to help.

As a thank you for being an avid Back In Line reader, I want to offer a complimentary consultation.

We take our communities health seriously because we have the vision of a community knowing that health comes from within allowing us to be fully present.

Your friend,

Dr. Mosier