By now, many of you know about the challenges that I have been facing over the past few months. There have also been many other challenges that I haven’t told people about either. It’s been overwhelming to say the least. And absolutely exhausting. It has raised many questions, and put long-term plans on hold. However, I know I’m not alone. Many people, and you may be one of them, are facing their own challenges every day. Which got me thinking about the way we deal with our struggles…

Everyone has their “stuff”

One of the best things about being a chiropractor is meeting so many different people. Add living in Singapore to the mix with people from all over the world and you can quickly see that I get to learn about many different races, cultures, religions and ways of living on a daily basis. Which means that I also get to understand the many different ways that people think about life.

As you know by now, I love getting to know my patients. And I love getting to know their story. Which means that you also know my story. Some of my patients have been or are going through divorces. Some have lost a parent recently. Some have moved or are considering moving to another country. Some are really struggling in their jobs. Some are struggling to make friends since moving to Singapore. Some are having a tough time financially. There are some of you who have children with health issues, or who have children that are struggling at school. And there are some parents who are struggling to cope with a newborn child.

We all have our “stuff”. We are all dealing with different issues. That’s life. Sometimes life throws you a curveball. Other times it hits you in the face with a sledge hammer, as it has done to me recently. It sucks! And it can be very overwhelming. But please remember, you are not alone, even if it feels like it at times.

You Are Not Alone

To quote Mark Manson, you are not “some special, unique snowflake who has problems that nobody else would ever understand”. In the way that only Mark Manson can, he is saying that we are not the only ones dealing with the problems that we are dealing with. Lots of people are losing jobs. Lots of people are struggling with anxiety and depression. Lots of people are dealing with health issues, or ending relationships, or losing loved ones. Which means that we are not alone, as much as the complexity of our problems are unique to us.

There are people going through the same things that you are. These people might be family, friends, colleagues or the local café owner. Many of you have confided in me over the years, and I can safely say that many of you have experienced the same or similar things.

Don’t be afraid to talk to someone. It doesn’t have to be a family member or a friend. It could be someone in your mother’s group. It could be a practitioner that you trust. Or it could be a professional, such as a councillor or psychologist. Sometimes just knowing that you’re not alone can help you navigate through your “stuff”.

Be kind always

We don’t always know what people are going through, which means that we should do our best to act from a place of kindness. That person who gave you a dirty look. They may have just lost their job! The person who cut you off on the road. They may be rushing to pick up a sick child! The person who was short with you on the phone. They may not have slept in weeks because their baby isn’t sleeping!

It’s amazing what a smile can do. Or offering someone help. Or holding the door open for someone. Small acts of kindness are contagious. The more you do them, the more you will want to do them, and the more other people will want to do them too. With so much negativity in the world right now, these small acts can make all the difference.

My journey

Dad is still recovering, albeit very slowly. He is still in hospital, but we are in discussions about the next move. A return home is unlikely at this stage, although we are still hopeful. As you could imagine, this throws up a million questions. The main one being how the f*** do I manage this from Singapore?

It’s still early days, but my intention is to stay in Singapore. I’ve been here for over 8 years now, I have Hafi and Charlie, I have my friends, and I have my practice. Honestly, I love my practice. It’s still young, it’s still relatively small, and it still has a lot of growth in it. But I love it. I love the energy. I love practicing Applied Kinesiology and helping people with conditions that others can’t help with. I love chatting with you and getting to know your story. I consider our relationship to be more like a friendship. I love playing with the kids who I get to see. And I absolutely love having Hafi and Charlie out the front looking after you.

My practice has provided me with so much, and I have put it through so much too. It’s so resilient, and that’s because of you. You have supported me through every challenge that I have endured over the past few years. And I have every intention of repaying your faith in me.

I’m here for you

As I have said, you are not alone. If you need someone to talk to, please know that I am here for you. I also have some amazing therapists that I can recommend if you need support. I will always do my best to help you in whatever way that I can. I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me, but I know that it’s also my job to be there for you, and you can trust that I always will be!