Where were you when 9/11 occurred? It was one of those moments of your life that you will never forget. Where you driving when you first heard the news, at work, school or home? How did you react? What did you do? How old where you? Some of my interns were kids in middle school then. Some of my staff were even younger. My son was 6 and still remembers it vividly. Today we honor the victims of 9/11 and those brave first responders who ran up the stairs as everyone else ran down. And we honor those who came from all over the world to help the rescue efforts, including chiropractors who adjusted first responders at no charge at a church near Ground Zero. Never ever forget 9/11.

Ever been to an iMax movie, where your entire sensory experience is taken over by a huge screen and loud sound? When a child comes into your practice with a confusing set of symptoms, that is where you must place yourself in order to fully appreciate where they are coming from. Are they ok with you examining them? Or frightened? Respect where the little child is at and approach them not from your perspective but theirs, and you will win them over.

Have you ever seen something from a certain angle, and then upon closer inspection, it looked very different? That's what it takes to be a pediatric chiropractor. Sometimes what you are looking at runs contrary to what the child's diagnosis is, and it is your job as a chiro-detective to come up with what is really going on with the child. They are NOT a diagnosis; they are a unique and special person with very specific ways to reach their particular nerve system. Studying paintings from MC Escher helps to open your perspective... look at some of his best work here: (https://www.mcescher.com/).

In the 1950's, dentistry was a 2nd rate health care profession. But they got together and create a mission to change the minds of America. By the 1990's dentistry had taken on a whole new image. Cosmetics, periodontics, orthodontics, and dentists are the premier non-medical health care providers. How did they do that? Chiropractic should learn a lesson from their dental friends...

The way chiropractic works is by putting an unexpected gentle force into the body, and the body then trying to make sense of that force by doing work on its own. The same is true with exercise, nutrition, meditation, yoga...all these unexpected health deposits make your brain and body think. Doing the same thing over and over again will produce less beneficial results. Do the unexpected. (Based on the video on YouTube showing a child with Autism delivered a graduation speech...see it here: https://youtu.be/mviCb2uFLCs)

How many times has a patient or friend said to you, "I'm fine" but you knew that something was 'up'? We have the unique ability to pick up on these cues and Dr. Rubin suggests you train your brain to be a radar for the subtle signs of distress. One way that this can be trained is by actively looking at works of art and seeing how many details you can notice in a short period of time.

Neurodiversity asks that we look at children with Autism as part of our diverse culture. We celebrate so many types of diversity but try to medicate Neurodiversity. Why is that? Every child has their unique gifts...it is our job to help each child find those gifts and foster an environment to nurture them to their fullest expression.

My father-in-law passed away last week, and in his passing, I was taught many lessons in how to live. He was an incredibly powerful and inspirational man with over 50 years practicing as a medical doctor and almost 60 years of marriage. Here are just a few of the things he showed us on the path of a well-lived life. Miss you, Dad.

Comparing works of art done by famous painters like Monet and Klee to art created by children with Autism reveals incredible similarities. These children have had little or no formal training but are able to create artwork that is masterful (see example here: https://irisgracepainting.com/). How is this talent in a 5 year old possible? Because she has an unfiltered connection to her gift. We all have gifts to share, no matter what is happening with us. What is your gift? And are you sharing it with the world?

Autism, ADHD, Concussions, Seizures, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's...all on the rise! Why? What is wrong with the brains today? Not just in kids with developmental or behavioral issues, but in adults with weakened brains too. Dr. Rubin postulates some new ideas as to what is happening and why in this well-researched and passionate talk.