Since his first private practice in 1979, Dr. Frank King (ND, DC) has helped thousands of people find new joy and life by following the simple principles of the Healing Revolution. His passion for developing safe and effective remedies led him to establish King Bio, Inc., which manufactures natural medicines available through Wal-Mart, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens and natural food stores across America. His bison ranch, Carolina Bison, provides healthy, natural meat to grocery stores and restaurants. Dr. King is author of The Healing Revolution: Eight Essentials to Awaken Abundant Life, Naturally, coming in 2014.
My Great Awakening
I was in college and – like most students – accustomed to pinching myself during sleepy lectures. Perhaps that’s one reason why Dr. Paul Bragg’s presentation left me thunderstruck and speechless. I was astounded not so much by the elderly man’s spoken words as by his physical posture.
Unbelievable, I thought. He is actually standing on his head!
At 80 years of age, Paul Bragg lectured upside-down with more poise and grace than many people I knew who are accustomed to speaking the ordinary way up. I glanced at my watch.
He’s been up for nearly ten minutes. This guy is amazing!
With his gray-haired dome planted in the carpet, Paul Bragg lectured as nonchalantly as if he were reclining in an easy chair. I can’t remember everything he said that day, but I will never forget his delivery. Every word was so positive, vibrant, uplifting and life-enhancing to me.
Paul Bragg eventually righted his world view, giving me a clearer picture of an amazing man. To me, he was a paradox of youthful vigor in a vintage body. I took a guess at his date of birth, and was amazed to know that Paul Bragg would have been about seven years old when the Wright Flyer soared over Kitty Hawk. Now here he was still acting like a kid, though the world had changed dramatically all around him. I studied his statuesque features: his sturdy arms; his bronze, youthful skin; his bright smile; and the mischievous sparkle in his eyes. To me, it was as if a sculpted Greek deity had taken breath and stepped off a granite pedestal to walk among us. Every word he spoke was life to me.
He attributed his health to decades of right living. To this day, Paul Bragg is known as the “father of the health food movement in America.” His passion for natural living totally transformed many people’s lives including Jack LaLanne, the “godfather of fitness.”
That lecture was my epiphany. It was as if the Rocky Theme Song thundered in my head (even though Sylvester Stallone had not yet filmed that movie). I was struck with amazement. I walked away absolutely transformed, with a new portrait of abundant life etched in my soul. Until then, “old age” had conjured in my mind the crippled image of a frail old man or woman leaning on a cane. Paul Bragg offered an alluring alternative: the picture of a spirited old rascal standing on his head. Moreover, Paul said that I could actually choose the quality of my life. I was the architect rather than the victim of my destiny.
Sadly, I heard Paul Bragg died a year or two after I’d seen him. His family reported that a surfing accident caused complications that contributed to his “early” demise. I was aghast when I heard the news.
A surfing accident!
I had never heard of anyone surfing in their 80s. This outlandish man was smashing all my stereotypes.
Paul Bragg showed me my personal crossroads. For the first time in my life, I saw that I could choose what quality of life I wanted to live. Down one road I saw a frail old man with a cane. Down a second road I saw a man living life to the fullest, outrunning the devil to the end of the dock and diving into the water with a hearty laugh. I looked hard and saw that the faces of the men on both roads were identical.
It’s me, I observed. The faces are mine.
The choice is mine.
This is where I choose my destiny.
I didn’t hesitate for one second. That day I set off down the road to health and fullness. I have never turned back. A brand new picture captured my attention. It was an exciting, invigorating image of me. In that picture I am living long and living well with the ones I love.
Who knows? Maybe I will meet my Maker at 110 while riding a huge wave off the North Shore of Oahu.
What a way to go!
This excerpt comes from Dr. Frank King’s book, The Healing Revolution: Eight Essentials to Awaken Abundant Life, Naturally. Copyright 2013, Frank J. King, Jr. All rights reserved. Do not use without permission.