[Andrea Barnett Budin]

My dear Maryanne, you're quite right. I should have been more specific. I think what I was looking for were ALL THINGS SPIRITUAL, which would include signs from above (from the Spiritual Domain).

And, Debbie, your example of MINDBODY connection was great. We are each capable of so very much more than we think. If we were to consciously alter our thoughts (as you did w/your kayaking venture, or as Olympians do facing tremendous challenges)we would find that we can see miraculous (and rewarding) results.

It is a good example, one we can each relate to, to feel like crap and cave in to that -- OR -- to push ourselves (because we truly are required to be at an important occasion or event) and *somehow* miraculously not only appear there, but feel better in every way.

I had a kidney stone the size of Texas in 1980. It was lodged somewhere between my kidney and the urethra. The pain was excruciating, as you can imagine. An IVP and my urologist deemed this killer stone too large to pass on its own. He wanted to operate. I only do surgery if my life depends on it (i.e. mastectomy), so I said, I am going to try to pass this on my own.

I drank 80 oz of water a day, trying to flush it out. I strained every time I urinated to try and catch something for analysis (at the doc's suggestion). I WENT WITH THE PAIN, learning that when the pain went from horrible to intolerable it meant the stone was ON THE MOVE, which was a good thing. So, like with childbirth, I allowed the pain, believing I was soon going to give birth to my stone.

I used guided imagery, based on the plastic figure of our innards that sat on the doc's desk. He took it apart, like a puzzle with pieces, and showed me the exact route my stone needed to travel.

I jumped rope, trying to jar the stone into moving, which was effective but difficult when you would rather just fall to the floor and writhe in agony. I WAS DETERMINED.

After 10 wks, I passed that sucker! I retrieved it and brought it to my doc. I will never forget the look on his face, grin from ear to ear, and utter disbelief. He truly did not think it was possible. I believed I could get my body to cooperate with my commands. (I had been reading about the MINDBODY connection wherever I could find info. I had watched PBS specials about the *new*, yet old, phenomenon. I had met my remarkable physiatrist who dealt with the physiology of the body and totally embraced the power of our thoughts to cause and yes to heal ailments and dysfunction. I had my own experience which I described above, after 2 yrs of back pain and immobilization. I was/am an excellent candidate doctors tell me.)

So, I was hoping to inspire some others to try this out and help themselves heal. And to collect other personal experiences for all of us to read about. This is the motive behind this thread.

Another time, I will tell you about the news report I saw on CNN about a woman and SOMETHING that suddenly told her to run... Cliff hanger...


Andi