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Reflections
is published quarterly by Dr. Alexander R. Lees & Associates Inc.
Please contact us if you would like to
start receiving this free newsletter. "M.F.A.Q." (Most Frequently Asked Questions) Without a doubt, the No. 1 question is: Q: Are we staying in Spain? A: Yes, for the time being. I have contracts for seminars until the end of the year. At that time we will re-evaluate and maybe make a decision. In other words, (or as they say in Spain) "manana." Q: Am I working? A: Again, yes. I teach both here in Spain and abroad. I also maintain a small private practise, with referrals from medical professionals. Q: What is the food like and cost? A: The food is varied, tasty and tremendous value for money. Open markets (held once a week in every town and village) offer excellent, fresh produce and also provide a social gathering for people to meet. An excellent 3 course dinner with wine costs $10.00. We can also pick oranges, lemons, olives and almonds right from the trees outside our house. Q: What’s the weather like? A: During most of the year the temperature is in the mid teens and low 20's, with July and August in the mid 30's. The sun shines 300+ days a year. Q: Do we speak Spanish? A: No, not yet. Many nationalities are represented here, and English is the common language, thus making it all too easy to let Spanish lessons slide. We will learn though. We will. Q: What are the differences between Spain and Canada? A: Well, that would take a book! Let me share a few examples with you. When was the last time your phone melted? Well, ours did just that. It snapped, crackled and popped. Then smoke came pouring out. Got a fan going and blew the smoke out the window. Of course, it was the start of a 5 day holiday, so the phone will be repaired "mañana." You are familiar with Flamenco music? Famous throughout the world. We had a friend translate one song we enjoyed. "My wife has left me for another man. I am in pain. Oh, Oh, Oh." We prefer it in Spanish. Alicante Airport - "Thank you for the ticket, which gate?" "Don’t know. Follow the people that do." "Which people are they?" "The ones that get on the plane." Spaniards believe in having fun. On any given day there is a fiesta somewhere in Spain. For example, Religious fiestas, the Tomato Throwing fiesta, the Running of the Bulls, the Blessing of the Animals; any reason or not, is "fiesta time." In which country (Canada or Spain) do you find:
Another time I will write about the differences in attitude towards life and living. Right now, I have to go chase and catch some mice. Berit doesn’t like uninvited houseguests. But, that’s another story! Know, that I look forward to seeing you in September. Dr. Alexander R. Lees
Picture a bridge. One side of the bridge is cold and dark. We stood there with others in the cold and darkness, doubled over in pain. Some of us developed an eating disorder to cope with the pain. Some drank; some used other drugs. Some of us lost control of our sexual behavior. Some of us obsessively focused on addicted people’s pain to distract us from our own pain. Many of us did both: we developed an addictive behavior, and distracted ourselves by focusing on other addicted people. We did not know there was a bridge. We thought we were trapped on a cliff. Then, some of us got lucky. Our eyes opened, by the Grace of God, because it was time. We saw the bridge. People told us what was on the other side: warmth, light and healing from our pain. We could barely glimpse or imagine this, but we decided to start the trek across the bridge anyway. We tried to convince the people around us on the cliff that there was a bridge to a better place, but they wouldn’t listen. They couldn’t see it; they couldn’t believe. They were not ready for the journey. We decided to go alone, because we believed, and because people on the other side were cheering us onward. The closer we got to the other side, the more we could see, and feel, that what we had been promised was real. There was light, warmth, healing, and love. The other side was a better place. But now, there is a bridge between us and those on the other side. Sometimes, we may be tempted to go back and drag them over with us, but it cannot be done. No one can be dragged or forced across this bridge. Each person must go at his or her own choice, when the time is right. Some will come; some will stay on the other side. The choice is not ours. We can love them. We can wave to them. We can holler back and forth. We can cheer them on, as others have cheered and encouraged us. But we cannot make them come over with us. If our time has come to cross the bridge, or if we have already crossed and are standing in the light and warmth, we do not have to feel guilty. It is where we are meant to be. We do not have to go back to the dark cliff because another’s time has not yet come. The best thing we can do is stay in the light, because it reassures others that there is a better place. And if others ever decide to cross the bridge, we will be there to cheer them on. Anonymous
- More Questions - "How is it possible to have a civil war?" "If there really is free speech, why do we have phone bills?" "Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?" "If the black box flight recorder is never damaged during a plane crash, why isn’t the whole airplane made out of the stuff?"
and Dr. Candace Perr, Neuro Scientist Question: You have been studying and mapping something called "neuropeptides" for 15 years now. Can you please tell us more about this subject. Answer: The best hypothesis my colleagues and I can come to is that the neuropeptides are the biochemical equivalent of emotions. Question: Aren’t emotions psychological? Answer: In one form, in the mind, they may be thought of as abstract. Somehow, the emotions then become physical, and are then both observable and measurable. Question: Can you elaborate? This sounds quite astounding. Answer: We now know that each cell of the body has receptor sites on their surfaces. These receptors are like a satellite dish, or antenna. The neuropeptides are the signals the cells are listening to and responding to. And the cells use the same mechanisms to "talk" to each other. Question: What do they talk about? Answer: Good question! It’s useful to remember these are chemical messages. One might say, "Make a little more of this protein, or less of that protein." Another message might be, "Stop cell production for now, and redirect the energy to digestion." Question: Is the mind doing all this? And where and what is the mind? Answer: That question belongs to "old think." The mind and body are the same thing, in different forms, with each affecting the other. Question: You are saying the mind can influence the body, and the emotions are the "currency" of exchange. Answer: I’m just a researcher. So are my colleagues. The science, the hard factual evidence being discovered, is pointing in that direction. The neuropeptides direct where the body should pay attention. They direct where the energy should go, and influence, if not control, what happens there. Question: So these neuropeptides aren’t just in the brain? Answer: At first, that’s where they were located. After 15 years, and hundreds of people’s efforts, we now know these molecules are throughout the system. And it appears they are the "interface" between mind and body. Question: The mind does talk to the body? Answer: It’s more accurate to say the cells are listening, and responding to the messages.
Did you know that --- An ear of corn never has an odd number of rows. The most sublime French Fries are cooked in horse fat. The average American consumes about 73 hot dogs, and 12 gallons of popcorn a year.
Berit’s Corner As some of you know, I was in White Rock recently. It was very important for me to come home and see my Dad, as he was not well. Unfortunately, Alex could not come with me as he had business commitments that could not be changed. So I made the journey alone, which was OK until I started to contact people and had to explain, "NO ALEX!" I must admit that they all recovered quickly and assured me that they were happy to see "just me." I cannot find enough, appropriate words to describe my feelings when I met with some of you. The heartfelt and sincere messages you wanted me to pass onto Alex were wonderful. So many of you credit the happy and healthy lives you have now, to work you did with Alex. When I passed on your news, Alex was truly moved and even speechless. Now we all know that’s a rare occurrence! But, seriously, he really appreciates your comments and, as always, says "they did all the work, I only helped them along the journey." So, my trip home was a wonderful experience. I’m happy to report that my Dad is doing well with his treatments and I look forward to more visits with him in the near future. It was fun "playing daughter" especially when I have such a great Dad. To those of you that I was unable to see or speak to, I’m sorry. I simply ran out of time. But, please know that I have my list, and the next trip will make every effort to contact you. Alex and I hope to come to White Rock in September. A number of people expressed an interest in Alex presenting a seminar and doing some counselling and therapy. Our Canadian co-ordinator and very dear friend, Fran Anderson, is going to organize just that. We have enclosed a flyer with all the details and trust that you will contact Fran to register and/or get more information. Alex and I are very excited about the prospect of seeing you all again and September can’t come fast enough for us. Till then, take care and have a wonderful summer. Thank you all for making my trip home so memorable. See you in September! P.S. My special thanks to my hostess, Fran, for treating me like a princess during my stay. "How do I set my laser printer on stun?"
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