Helping Others Learn to Help Themselves

Not long ago I was asked by an Osteopathic medical school student what my greatest achievement was. Not only did that question catch me off guard, it caused me to pause and reflect on my life.

Many of us have accomplished much or will do so over a lifetime. Some have earned academic achievements.

Some have received awards for military or public service. Many have succeeded in creating strong family bonds. Some might consider their sporting achievements to be the pinnacle of their accomplishments. Others are founders of successful businesses. Thus my dilemma. My mind raced through decades of experiences. Still in a quandary, I asked the student for clarification. She said she was asking about my professional experience in holistic healing which, thank goodness, narrowed the field considerably. Like a laser, my thoughts focused on a young man, 15 years of age, who had spent much of his life in a wheel chair. Let's call him Josh.

The first time I met Josh, we talked about his illness. He informed me he suffered from severe MS and was bound to his wheel chair. As he related his story, his eyes clouded with tears and his gaze fell to the floor. Without looking up he told me he would never be able to do much of anything as he was paralyzed from the waist down. Before me was a broken mind, broken body and broken spirit. Like a flickering candle burning low, Josh's life was fading.

While talking to his mother, I discovered Josh was not eating well and not engaging in his prescribed physical therapy. His grades were suffering. She said most people had given up on him. Right then I vowed I would not be one of those people.

I saw Josh the following week. He was as glum as ever. His chin was nearly hitting his chest as he sat in his wheelchair. I walked up to Josh and asked him how he was doing. He looked up in disbelief and said, "How do you think I'm doing? I am in this chair for life." I responded by asking him if he would like to do more. Josh told me he would but again motioned to his wheelchair. With a smile, I asked Josh if he would like to study Martial Arts. His expression was priceless. He thought I had a screw loose. Josh replied, "Peter, don't you see I am a cripple? I can't do anything." I told Josh he was capable of far more than sitting in his wheelchair. I continued by telling him there is a Martial Art style that may fit him well. I then asked if he had heard of Bruce Lee. Josh looked up mouth agape and said, "Of course I have heard of him! Who hasn't?" I told Josh about meeting and spending time with Bruce in Oakland, California and how that gave birth to my keen interest in Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do. Now Josh was clearly interested. His eyes were fixed on mine. I had his attention. I continued by describing the history of Wing Chun and Ip Man and how Bruce Lee had studied Wing Chun which became the springboard for Jeet Kune Do. Then all at once came Josh's realization that he would not be able to study and practice Martial Arts. Like a balloon that had been pricked by a needle, his smile faded and his spirit deflated. I rested a hand on his shoulder and said, "I will teach you the first Wing Chun form." I explained that Siu Nim Tao only requires movement above the waist. Now Josh had a twinkle in his eyes and for the first time I saw him smile broadly. I am happy to say it wasn't the last time.

Thus the seeds were planted that led to what I believe was my greatest accomplishment in holistic healing. Over the ensuing weeks and months, Josh studied and practiced Wing Chun. His grades improved as did his upper body muscle tone. Josh's physical therapist called and asked what I had done to turn the young man around. The answer was simple... I gave Josh purpose and a feeling of self worth. I tactfully explained that healing is far more than a prescription for exercise or a pill. Healing is treating the whole person which translates to healing mind, body and spirit. Now Josh was eating well, actively participating in his physical therapy and applying himself to the study of Wing Chun. His self worth and confidence had grown markedly. He was on a path toward improved well being. Although a few years later Josh would succumb to complications associated with MS, he enjoyed a higher quality of life than he otherwise would have.

The story doesn't end there. Josh remains an inspiration to many who knew him. His legacy is the example he set for all of us. I will always miss Josh and will always cherish the memories of teaching a broken, wheelchair bound, young man that he could help himself succeed.