Client Story: Positive Change Over Time

Patience is a virtue. We've heard that before. The definition of virtue is: "behavior showing high moral standards". I'd argue then that a BETTER more REALISTIC phrase to start using is;

PATIENCE IS A SKILL.

And it's a SKILL that is becoming increasingly rare unless we are concious of practicing it.

A client that I've shared stories about previously on the Zen Blog, has given me another recent one. This client is retired. His wife is now retired. Both of them keep themselves active in a variety of ways.

I've known this client since 2003 and have worked with him for many years in those 22-years and over that time what continues to impress me is how he takes what he's worked with and learned, and puts it into action for himself. He does very well with that. What is also great is that he recognizes the benefits of keeping himself active and healthy when he notices change over time.

Not only is he active in various ways, but in retirement he also works at a small winery in PEC when he's needed. This involves very physical work often. Recently he was at the winery to help put up fabric to protect the vines over the winter. This involves overhead lifting and reaching, squating, bending etc... All day long.

As a wine lover himself, PAIRING comes as a second nature to him, so he (inadvertantly?) paired this hard work at the winery with renovating a bedroom in their house which had him finishing painting the room. That ALSO involves overhead work and plenty of shoulder movement.

Needless to say, our last session of the week, his right shoulder was quite sore/tender (muscle soreness). We adjusted accordingly and did some things to promote continued recovery. Speaking of which, he already DID begin to put recovery into gear by getting into his hottub after his long day at the winery and busy week with the bedroom painting.

The point to sharing this, is that HE SHARED WITH ME, that when he first started at the winery, he would finish a day of work like he did this week and seriously consider the fact that he may not be able to drive home (because his shoulders were tired and sore).

And that includes NOT paining/renovating at the same time. But now, that's not even a thought. It's now more to the tune of "Wow, that was a hard working day. Time to get in the hot tub and do some exercises to help the shoulder recover".

And then he does it!

This is a significant change in this client's work capacity, physical abilities and self confidence in his own abilities... over time. As I mentioned in other posts previously sharing stories about this client - We do NOTHING fancy:

👉2 x 30min video call sessions per week

👉We adjust accordingly based on how his body feels and what it needs on any given day

👉He utilizes tools and exercises learned from past sessions to HELP HIMSELF and KEEP HIMSELF active and healthy

And then... Patience + Time.

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We are too complex to think that we can create a "black and white" approach to health and lifestyle. There are WAY too many nuances involved. This is why putting in the work, being consistent and being patient will lead us to positive change. We can certainly try to force things and created quick results; But as quickly as they came - they'll go. And you'll be left in the SAME situation... or worse.

Learn to be patient and look at the bigger picture. There WILL be setbacks along the way. There WILL be successes along the way. But when you "zoom out" and look at things from the big picture you realize, the entire time you were creating change in the direction you wanted. Learn to PRACTICE patience. It TRULY is a SKILL.

This client is proof.