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Father’s Day during this fine year may or may not be one of joyful celebration for dads and their families. 2020 has been a challenging year, to say the least. And yet, there is always reason for hope and there is always something to do to strengthen a sense of efficacy and confidence that things will get better. One way to celebrate this day is by promoting wellbeing. By that, I include not just a father’s health but, instead, that of the family unit. Expanding outward, we might even be called to look into and nurture community health as a gift of love to our fathers and father figures.
What do you think?
Chinese medicine looks at the body as a holistic system that is part of a larger whole. We are all connected to our larger environment. More and more, we are all becoming aware that nobody is an island. We need each other, don’t we? Yes, we do. The wellbeing of one affects the whole; the health of the whole reflects the wellbeing of one. Self care, in essence, is not selfish and gifts of wellness can be the best way to say I love you to the recipient.
~~~ What about dad’s health? ~~~
If you really want to give your father a meaningful gift for Father’s Day, why not consider one that supports his health? Heart disease and cancer are two of the top causes of death for men and prevention, whenever possible, is much better than trying to close the barn door after the horse has escaped. Your dad might want to try acupuncture or other forms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). One of my specialty areas is men’s health, and I’ve found that acupuncture often can help guys to be calmer and, as a result, healthier. Better sleep, lower blood pressure, and reduced stress all make a tremendous difference for my men’s health patients. Old sports injuries and desk duty-related chronic pains drain the joy out of anyone. If dad doesn’t like the thought of needles, he surely remembers the news about Michael Phelps and other Olympic athletes who rely on cupping to keep them healthy and strong (see here for my blog post on that topic). Even a wellness audit and a few coaching sessions (see here for information) can make a difference in your dad’s health.
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~~~ What about your health? ~~~
What is your relationship with your father? Some fathers and kids are happy and this is a day of joy. Others are not. Maybe your father is no longer with you; maybe when he was, he wasn’t the father you needed. There are many ways that Father’s Day can be joyful or, instead, this day can be crushing.
Are you close to your dad, and happy about this day? Then maybe you can join him in some health activism (one dad I know who does this is an activist for prostate cancer survivors, as you can see, here). However you feel, this may be a good time to look inward and decide to take some care of yourself, too. Do you need to take a self audit of your own stress levels? Here are some tactics to help you to help yourself with chronic stress. Many you could use some acupuncture or other modalities of TCM to nurture your inner wellbeing and sense of peace. Are you by yourself this year? Maybe you could watch Tim Burton’s Dumbo and, as I discuss in this essay (linked) notice the vagaries of family ties and find some sense of connection and release in so doing. What ways can you find to get in touch with your feeling about families and fathers? How can you take care of yourself at a time when we all need a little extra compassion and care?
Especially today, when families may be separated by the demands of social distancing and virus amelioration, Father’s Day is not what we usually would expect from what, generally speaking, can be a happy holiday. But there is always room for optimism, and there are always ways to make things better.
What do you think? And what gift would you give (and love to get) on this holiday?
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Paula Bruno, Ph.D., L.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, an AOBTA-CP traditional Chinese bodywork therapist, and a wellness educator. She maintains an active and growing practice at her Austin, TX offices. Dr. Bruno is also available for distance appointments for wellness consultation or coaching.
In her first career, she was a Spanish professor.
Dr. Bruno’s specialties as a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner include: • Musculoskeletal health (acute or chronic pain relief; Ehlers Danlos syndrome & hypermobility support) • Digestive support, gut health, and weight loss • Aesthetic treatment, including scar revision • Men’s health • General preventative care and immune support for all persons.
When you are ready to discover what traditional medicine plus a vibrant and engaged approach to holistic health can do for you, either contact Dr. Bruno or book an appointment online.
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Two Hearts Wellness does not accept paid advertising on this website
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Note: Material on this web site site is not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease, illness, or ailment. A TCM practitioner in Texas identifies syndrome patterns but does not diagnose illness. Material on this web site does not purport to identify syndrome patterns.
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Two Hearts Wellness 