The Practice of Love





"Lord, grant that I might not so much seek
to be loved as to love."

St. Francis of Assisi, as pictured
by Francisco de Zurburan





This type of love takes practice. Constant practice. But, it is so worth it! Valentine's Day, a celebration of love, is this Saturday. Is it just about romantic love? Doesn't have to be. Holidays (like all days) are what we turn them into.

Romantic gestures and gifts are a fun part of love, and we need some of that. Once we have gotten married and made the babies, it is great to remind ourselves that there is something besides the "labor of love". It can sometimes get pretty laborious!

St. Francis and others with a very high vision remind us that for a higher level happiness and satisfaction, we must shift our focus to lovING, and away from neediness, attachment and self-centeredness that go with wanting to be lovED.

Last weekend, my wife and I celebrated an early Valentine's Day alone together. Our son had a rare weekend off from work, so he got to spend it with his daughter, Jazmin. Shannon works in the restaurant business, which means that most weekends, we grandparents have Jazmin with us, as we will this Valentine's weekend. Gitesha and I have been together for 30 wonderful years.

Being "in practice" is an opportunity to practice love, too. I started practice just a few months after marrying Gitesha, and have taken care of many thousands of people. One at a time. For more than half my life.

It is not just a business to me. During each session with a patient, I have a purpose for being there. My whole being has to be present and clear. In that moment, with that person; rather than far away or lost in my own concerns and thoughts. Love takes practice, and practice requires love.

Time Sensitive: Aromatherapy Certification Course

My dear old friends, Meg and Lou, are starting an Aromatherapy Certification Course this weekend. Gritman Oils has been involved in aromatherapy education for a long time. They make, use and teach about essential oils with great dedication, and they have a beautiful place in nearby Friendswood. If you are interested in aromatherapy, you should take the course. Registration was supposed to be closed already, but Meg and Lou told me that if you tell them I sent you, you won't need to pay the usual late fee. There are two parts to the class, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. 10-5, lunch included both days. The registration fee for each day is $125, and the value goes WAY beyond that! Call 1-888-Gritman or email info@gritman.com for more information.

A New and Better Office in Which to Serve You

Get ready for the new office! And relax...It's in the same place you're used to seeing me (sort of, but better!) When? Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

The new office will still be located on the 12th floor of the same office building. Same reception area in the glassed-in area by the elevators. Once you are in the reception area, you won't have retrace your steps, cross the hall and wait for me to push the buttons and enter the secret code, open the door, wind through the corridor and finally get to the door marked only with the numeral "7".

When it is time for your appointment, I'll pop into the reception area, and you'll just have to walk a few feet into the new office, which is almost 1/3 larger. If there are several of you traveling together, you can each have your own chair. The panoramic northern view is reason enough to visit, all by itself!

Seriously, I look forward to sharing a more comfortable and less cramped environment with you, just off the reception area. The extra space will allow us to do more creative work together during our sessions. You'll see.

Miscellaneous Short Items

Please schedule early morning appointments only if you can realistically be there on time. Traffic "is what it is", so if you live far away or have a hectic schedule, please wait until the rush hour is over so that we don't keep others waiting.

Thank you for your referrals! Over 2,000 people have visited me in this Houston office during the short time it has been open. Within the last year, we are getting many international visitors from Mexico, Peru, Guatamala, Colombia, Canada, Italy and other countries (as well as from around the U.S.) They come because YOU spread the word.

If you have some favorite Standard Process supplements that you are running out of, please let me know well in advance. The company has switched to UPS Ground shipping, so it now takes a week for supplements to get to me. I only order once a week, so please don't wait until the last minute.

Testimonial: Lower Back Pain

If you suffer from lower back pain PLEASE READ THIS!

I am 63 years old and have had lower back pain since I was 13 years old and fell and injured my back. For the most part, the pain has been manageable and I have be able to live a full active life but the pain was always there. As I grew older I found I couldn't walk very far without the pain becoming intense, sitting for long periods of time also was very uncomfortable. I have been to medical doctors and to chiropractors for the problem but never received any help or treatment that made any difference at all.

I originally started seeing Dr. Marmorstein for some shoulder and neck pain which he took care of with just a couple of visits. Recently I began to talk to him about my constant lower back problem sort of assuming that it was just an old injury and something he would not be able to fix. Well after two visits, I am pain free for the first time in 50 years! I cannot tell you how wonderful this is and I can never thank Dr. Marmorstein enough.

Susah Johnston
Certified Wellness Home Consultant
Bayou Vista, Texas
bythesea@mynikken.net
www.mynikken.net/bythesea

My heartfelt gratitude goes to Susan for graciously sharing her personal story. She travels a great distance to see me, and has told many, many people that I can help them.

You can see many other testimonials at http://www.drstuart.net/testim.htm, and elsewhere on my website. Wouldn't you like to spare someone all of the misery you've gone through by simply telling the truth?

If you are camera-shy, we can just print your story. If you just want to tell me what got better for you, I'll be glad to help you rustle up some words. These true accounts may inspire someone who really needs help to seek and find it!

Yours in and for good health, and may Valentine's Day and all your days be full of love.
Stuart C. Marmorstein, D.C., D.B.C.S.