Kahlil Gibran said, “When you are born, your work is placed in your heart.”

Occasionally I am asked why I became a chiropractor. My answer is simply because that’s what I’m supposed to be doing. I feel it is my calling. I remember while in high school talking with the father of a friend as we walked. He asked me what I thought I would do when I grow up. I told him that I’d like to be a doctor. After all, I liked science and I was interested in health. But like my mother, I did not like to take drugs because they seemed to cover symptoms rather than cure the problem. I would sneak in the cupboard and take extra Flintstone vitamins. To me, nourishing the body made sense. At the university, I began with the general education courses getting them out of the way until I declared a major. I still had urgings of becoming a doctor. My mind at the time told me that all doctors went to medical school. I had never heard of chiropractors, osteopaths, naturopaths or the like. I was always very healthy and had only seen “doctors” for broken bones. During my early years in school, I struggled with the concept that I would be prescribing drugs someday for people. I had a roommate that was interested in becoming a chiropractor. I thought I had heard of chiropractic before but really had no idea what they did. I remember going to the career center at the library and looking up chiropractic. As I began leafing through the material, something ignited within my soul. In an instant, I knew my path. Rather, I should say my heart knew. It took a little longer for my mind to follow. Questions ensued from well meaning friends and family in the genre of “why don’t you become a real doctor?” But my course was set.

I was the only one I knew who entered Chiropractic College having never seen a chiropractor before. In all honesty, I never had the need. On the shoulders of my chiropractic education, I was able to deepen my skills and understanding of health through continued study of herbs and natural medicine. This led me to beginning an herbal manufacturing company – Western Botanicals, Inc. I really have found my purpose and my passion.

My younger brother early in his college education thought he might like to go into chiropractic as I did, but discovered he did not enjoy the science courses and was taking language classes for “the easy A’s”. He realized that his passion and talent were for languages – in his case Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin). He earned his PhD, and in the process led a committee at Ohio State University developing the language training program used by the FBI and CIA. He was hired by a University that uses the five Chinese language textbooks he wrote and is now the chairman of the Asian Language Department there. He would have hated being a chiropractor, simply because that was not his calling or mission in life.

I have a friend who called me one evening desperate and despondent. When I arrived at her home, I noticed there were sticky-notes on all of her possessions labeling who should get what after she killed herself. Her crisis was averted and at some point I suggested she take a class to learn something new. She decided on a painting class. After her second class, her instructor informed her that the student had surpassed the teacher. In her 40’s, she followed her inner music and became an artist. Several of her paintings are hanging in my office today.

Henry David Thoreau said, “ If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away.”

Each of us has a mission in life to fulfill. Listen to your music (your inner voice), and do what you know you have to do to feel whole, to feel complete, and to feel as if you’re fulfilling your destiny. You’ll never be at peace if you don’t get that music out and let it play. Let the world know why you’re here, and do it with passion.

Being Passionate Means Taking Risks. But know this for certain: Whatever your passion may be, you can make a living doing it and simultaneously provide a service for others. I guarantee it. The only thing that will keep you from pursuing your passion is fear (Fear has been defined as F.E.A.R. = False Expectations Appearing Real).

The music that you hear inside of you urging you to take risks and follow your dreams is your intuitive connection to the purpose in your heart since birth. Of course, you need to be reasonable, moral, responsible and have well thought plans. Pursue your interests and you will discover your talents. You will find doors and opportunities opening for you. So listen – and don’t die with your music still in you.

~ Dr. Kyle D. Christensen D.C. ~

"Herbal first Aid is insightful, clear, and an easy to follow resource book on herbs. It covers herbal lifesaving techniques, storage of herbal remedies and ancient herbal wisdom. This book is a must for alternative health practitioners and I am looking forward to having it in my collection of books on remedies and first aid". - Ellen w. Cutler, D.C. Author of The Food Allergy Cure