This is a short story about a `friend'. My `friend' spent most of his adult life as an unhappy individual. This `friend' hated the work he was doing but stayed with the same employer for 25 years. He didn't particularly care for his neighbors but is living in the same house for 17 years. He didn't want to keep in touch with friends or relatives unless he absolutely had to.
During his 30's and 40's, he was always complaining about his health and the aches and pains that conveniently kept him home from work and was also a good excuse to avoid keeping in touch with friends and family. He spent too many days going from doctor to doctor and hospital to hospital, throughout his life, only to get the same answers to all the tests he subjected himself to. The tests were all negative, but this `friend' was not convinced that there was nothing wrong with him.
This `friend' was living a self-fulfilling prophecy. He had used his failing health as an excuse for so long that he had convinced himself that he was really sick. Instead of being happy that all the test results were negative, he complained that the doctors could not find the problems, which made him feel sicker.
Finally at age 58, this 'friend' went to see a doctor who happened to be of Korean origin. After another round of tests with still negative results, this doctor told this 'friend' that he was in good health, in fact, he was in very good health. The doctor recommended that he should get into an exercise and diet program before long or his health would start to deteriorate. The doctor suggested that he should look into a Yoga program which is both physical as well as educational.
So this `friend' found a Dahn Yoga Center only a few blocks from his home. He gathered enough courage to go upstairs and speak with the Instructor. After a 20 minute initial exam, the instructor was describing all the ailments this 'friend' was experiencing, and he was right on. After an introduction to the Yoga exercise routine, this 'friend' attended his first Yoga class the same evening. Although he was always skeptical and doubting everything in his life, something about the Yoga class made him feel different. He continued with the classes and participated in educational programs called B.E.S.T.
The instructor recommended the he read a book named; In Full Bloom: A brain Education Guide For Successful Aging, by Ilchi Lee and Doctor Jessie Jones. This book helped this `friend' to understand how he was creating his own problems and how to start to correct his physical and mental balance back to a healthy body and mind.
If you didn't guess by now this `friend' is really me. At age 58, I am now able to realize that my negative outlook was causing my aches and pains. It all took place in my head. For over 25 years my constant complaining and whining brought myself and everybody around me down.
Just to be able to write this story shows how much I have changed. In one year I lost 14 lbs., my aches and pains have gone away, and my attitude has changed from negative to positive.
But writing this story serves another purpose. If anybody reading this story has the same or similar attitude, I urge you, I'll even beg you, don't wait for your life to pass by without changing how you feel. Get a copy of: In Full Bloom, and / or visit a Yoga center near you. You owe it to yourself to enjoy the rest of your life. It's never to late to change.
My dad is going to turn 70 this year (wow). So despite the fact that his health and mental clarity are currently great, the aura of fear around aging in our culture especially regarding mental decline has caused him and the rest of our family to become increasingly more concerned about ensuring his continued good health throughout his latter years. Yet when I read this book, it really helped me see that aging can actually be a very positive, empowering process. Ilchi Lee and Jessie Jones are a perfect match for this book: combining Lee's wisdom and spiritual know-how with Jones' years of expertise on the aging process. Together they've managed to create a compelling (and even reverent) case for a person's final years to be their very best, while maintaining a sense of light-hearted simplicity throughout. By presenting the latest scientific discoveries about aging (which challenge many preconceptions we've all had about aging and mental decline), providing helpful holistic exercises for body and brain, and delivering a powerful spiritual message about being in charge of your own health and wellness as you age, this book is sure to make its mark as an essential guidebook for anyone who wants to be at the top of their game until their last moments on this earth.
If you want another great read by Lee, check out this book: Human Technology: A Toolkit For Authentic Living
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I'm still in my 30s, but I found this book very inspiring. It presents an overall approach to health and explains how the brain is the basis for our health and our overall quality of life. It really puts the responsibility on each person to take charge of their life and create a life and a world that they want. But the book doesn't just confer responsibility, it gives step-by-step directions on how to do it.
In Full Bloom's approach to health is very holistic, offering methods that anyone can use without taking medication. As part of the whole picture it explains some scientific basis, as far as it exists, for the concepts and techniques it teaches. It also debunks common myths about aging that makes getting older seem full of possibility and hope.
I am already taking advantage of everything I learned in this comprehensive and useful book.
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As someone who is always looking for new ways to create health and find ways to age gracefully this book is a treasure. It clearly explains some of the concepts and uses of meditation, showing how simple it can really be. I particularly enjoyed the smiling meditation. I felt a little silly, and that helped me relax and enjoy the experience. After only about five minutes of smiling, I really felt better!
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This book is a whole lot more than your typical brain development book. It really looks at your whole brain in relation to your whole life. Like the title suggests, it is all about living a fully realized life, right through to the end of your life. This one by Ilchi Lee is a good companion: Principles of Brain Management: A Practical Approach to Making the Most of Your Brain.
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I was rather disappointed by this book. I was looking for some cute everyday styles, and some formal styles too, but mostly everyday. I have long hair. This book has decent formal hairstyles, but in terms of everyday looks it's slim pickings. A lot of the styles were ugly in my opinion (extremely crimpy or with hair sticking out randomly), or they were for short hair, bangs (don't have) or involved artificial hairpieces (really?). I was hoping for classier looks, things with braids, different parting techniques, etc.
