I’m generally not a nostalgic person. I strive to live in the present and have always felt that living in the past hinders forward progress and growth. That being said, I’m 24 hours away from witnessing my oldest daughter, Lauren, walk across the stage of my Alma Mater, Life University, to receive her diploma and become a Chiropractor. Her fiance will follow her moments later and I promise that at some point in my life I will introduce him as Matt: my son-in-law-the-doctor! This picture above was taken 28 years ago when I walked across that stage. Excited? Yes! It was, at that moment, the greatest day of my life! I wanted to make a change in the world. I wanted to touch as many people as possible, give people hope and tell everyone on the planet that with a properly functioning nervous system, the body can and will heal. Today, I feel that I have been fulfilling my mission AND I’m not done. There are a lot more people who I want to get my hands on. 🙂 Yea, I’m also remembering Lauren in diapers (cloth of course) and I’m feeling that “Mom Pride”; however, for me it’s deeper. I KNOW how she feels… I’m feeling it again today. Excited for Her future… My future… Our future! Tomorrow when she takes that oath, I will reconfirm mine. To serve mankind!!
Walking across that stage I had a feeling that I’d marry a chiropractor (check) and that my kids would be chiropractors (check) and that they’d marry chiropractors (looking good so far), and that my future grandchildren would be chiropractors (stay tuned).
You see, I always encourage my girls to listen. Listen to their inner voice. The one that knows what is best for them. The one that will keep them on THEIR own path. I encourage them to find something they are passionate about and move towards that. I never once told them to be chiropractors. What I want for them most is Freedom. Freedom to be who THEY ARE regardless of anybody or anything. Mission Accomplished!
I was going to blog today about Lauren’s birth story. Planned home birth. 51 hours of labor. Emergency C-section. Punctured lung. NICU. One chiropractic adjustment by her Dad. Normal lung. Leaves hospital against medical advice. Grows up healthy. Becomes a chiropractor…I’m going to save that story for another time when I’m feeling nostalgic!
Dr. Mary