X-Message-Number: 18648
From: "George Smith" <>
References: <>
Subject: It's not what, but HOW you say it....
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2002 12:16:23 -0800

Many years ago an aged healer with a wide reputation for success was
approached by a young man who asked if he could apprentice and learn from
the Old Sage.

"Since you have climbed this mountain and come to me with letters from your
elders who attest to your character, you are welcome to study my methods,"
the Old Sage explained to his new Young Apprentice.

Later that same day, a man with a shaking palsy made his way up the long
mountain trail to the small hut of the Old Sage.  Looking at the approaching
patient, the Old Sage said softly, "He needs to eat more green vegetables."

When the patient finally arrived, the Old Sage spoke to him, placing his
hand upon the shaking shoulder of the man.

"You have come such a long way and struggled so hard with this terrible
ailment.  I am so sorry you had to climb all this way to see me and it is
clear that you are very determined to succeed in making a change in your
life so that this ailment can be ended once and for all.  Is that not so, my
friend?"

And the shaking patient agreed and begged the Old Sage for help.

"For many this ailment is a permanent curse and for them there is no hope.
But for you there remains one possible escape from its clutches.  It seems
simple but is always effective for those few, like yourself, who can
actually do it.  Shall I explain it to you now or after you have rested
awhile from your hourney?"

"Tell me now!" the man gasped.

"If you from this day forward always eat at least one heaping bowl of green
vegetables, your palsy will lift and you will see a cure.  However, you must
do this daily and not miss even  one day, or this last slim chance for
success will fail forever.  I realize it seems a simple thing, but it is
vital for you to do this with complete consistency or nothing else will save
you.  And I must also apologize for I have no green vegetables to offer you
here atop my mountain to begin your treatment.  Perhaps you will rest the
night and return to your home in the morning."

"NO!" the man shouted.  I will go immediately and eat many green vegetables
at home this day!"

And so saying, the shaking man hobbled back down the trail to his village.

The Young Apprentice asked the Old Sage how often this condition was cured
by this diet and the Old Sage replied, "Every time without exception and
usually within a day or two at the most.  It is really quite simple to cure"

Later that week the Young Apprentice saw another man, shaking like the
first, making his way up the mountain trail to see them.  When the new
patient arrived he said to the Old Sage, "I have shaken like this for ten
years.  Can you help me?"

The Young Apprentice blurted out, "Just eat more vegetables!"

The shaking man looked at the young man and started viciously beating him
over the head with this walking staff.

"You idiot!  Do you think that something that has plagued me day and night
for ten years can be cured by eating a stupid salad!"

And the man abruptly turned his back and made his way back down the trail
muttering to himself, still shaking like a leaf.

The Old Sage then pressed a cloth to the Young Apprentice's bleading
forehead where he still lay on the ground, stunned by the attack, and said,
"Sometimes it is not so much what you say but how you say it that is
important."

The moral of this story?

Well, I know that almost all who read these words have struggled long and
hard with the problems of cryonics - whether just trying to determine if it
makes sense to pursue themselves or to interpret and perform research that
may someday lead to the success of this noble effort.

And when we read things others write and these ideas seem to not agree with
what we have learned and believe to probably be true through long study and
effort, we feel betrayed, shook up.

But to truly succeed in learning what others may be thinking and attempting
to do, and to pull together with others to strengthen this effort we call
cryonics, there is a simple way to overcome the resistance we find to others
accepting our viewpoints.

We need to consume what suggestions are useful and then see if the other
person offering these suggestions is then more open to our questions.

Then we will not feel shook up when our ideas are rejected because we have
attacked the intentions of the author rather than simply looking at the
ideas expressed.

Brussel sprouts anyone?

George Smith
CI member

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