The Dung Paw
A major concern through the years has been the way our bodies talk to us, and our remarkable ability to ignore the messages. A recurrent theme in these Dead Pecker Bench notes is the value of practice, practice in picking up into signals that say WHOA. We have the two peripheral autonomic nervous systems; both are under marching orders from the cerebral cortex. When the survival system is stressed out, dysfunctions are present. The most notable ones show up as tightness in the chest and upper abdomen. These are associated with inhibition of breathing, heart rate picks up and we are off to the races. (No, not the races at the horse track)
The dung paw or shit hook is an old fashioned concept which basically means the "the hand of the past reaches in grabs" us. This happens when one has been on stress or survival response for sufficient time to produce an excessive response or activation of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system (SYNS). What is noticed is an increase in muscle tension, increase in heart rate and cooling of temperature of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Typical areas of tension are the upper abdomen, chest and shoulders and are identified as stress, anxiety and pain, leading to some confusion in thinking 'I am having a heart attack". Hopefully, such is not the case --and usually is not the case. Which comes first, the dung paw or a negative thought based on a disappointment of an expectation or an unfavorable comparison of self to other is a chicken or egg question. I pick the egg. A shift in thinking is helpful--from oh my God here it comes again to "My dung paw has me, I need to breathe". The speed with which this response occurs is lickety-split, a more functional term than a New York second for anyone who lives west of the Hudson River. In addition to the shift in thinking, focusing the mind by listening to an internal repetitious signal or listening to the sounds of the environment is helpful. The most important objective is to regulate your breathing. Each breath is important and is taken for granted. Inspire--------expire. This is too heavy a message for most of us--so how about "Take in-------Let go". If you place your finger in an infant's hand , the infant grasps the finger. My observation is that it takes a lifetime to let go.
The end results of galloping through the day and therefore your life is what I call the John and Jane Wayne and pony express syndrome. Our egos are the John or Jane and our bodies are the horse (same as a pony for those of you who live east of the Hudson River) and off we go. Gallop-gallop-gallop-gallop---slide into the way station - new pony, - gallop-gallop-gallop-----slide into way station - new pony, and a long list of etceteras. About ten years ago, I slid into the station and looked around for my new pony. The kindly caretaker said, "You've worn the old son of a bitch out, doc". The hell you say--a slight bullet wound in the heart, broken knees, so slow I'm moving backward, wet diaper - and I won't bother with the constipation, loss of smell and hearing. I thought I had found an advantage to loss of hearing and smell so should I break wind (fart), it would not make a sound or smell. Wife says wrong on both counts--tending to be a kill joy.
Me, I'm waiting for a total body transplant--get a new pony and gallop off, making the same old mistakes expecting a different outcome.
