More Than a Feeling

An perhaps a Healing

A classic for sure.

I have had a few people register and then recently, tell me they couldn’t make the trip. That was common enough. What was not common was that they felt something. Some felt a little remorse, I felt honored that one could tell me personally, and another said she “just couldn’t pull it all together yet.” But they didn’t blow me off and felt the need to communicate. Maybe some of it was FOMO? I took away a few things from this. Many times people who have a change of mind or heart don’t have the maturity or fortitude to tell the truth. These people did. That means something. This means one of two things. Either they saw a vision for themselves in the future and had to say “no” to it (or at least “not now”) or they fear they somehow let themselves down.

I know whomever actually shows up is meant to be there this time and those who don’t are in a different “card shuffle’ of life. It simply means they are on a slightly different trajectory or a slightly different timeline. All good. I am here to serve as well!

This of course opens up the availability for a few more people to come, serve, learn, transform peoples’ lives and be transformed. I have room for 6 more people. Lots of space for men, by the way.

Let’s face it, after this experience, you will never be the same. And that’s a good thing. We have several people who are going on their second and even third trip with me.

When I first envisioned these service missions, I was still living in Mexico, and my prospects for work in the States was bleak. I had already given up so much to be there: my license, my positions in leadership of at least 3 organizations, my practice I worked so hard to grow, and my friends and family. I launched myself into a void of an uncertain future. In that process, my life was irrevocably transformed. I learned new skills of farming, water management, solar installation, building earthen homes, a new language, culture, economy and more. I learned to live with and lead strangers, to deal with governance issues in a burgeoning community, and of course later, the caretaking of Dr. Kim, who was nearly dead after our wreck.

But there was a gnawing feeling that something was missing. As if I left the house and forgot something but didn’t know what. Then I remembered:

It was stewarding the next generation of chiropractors.

The feeling was like a kind of internal pressure. It was just a feeling, with no identifiable name. Like the sensation you have before you let out a big burp. Then, once I realized what it was, I fought it. It was uncomfortable. It didn’t make sense. Why would I leave San Diego, California, a dream of mine since I was in high school, travel to another country and begin a huge undertaking of building an off-grid community, only to return four years later? I doubted my feeling. I added story. I didn’t want to be “wrong” in my decision-making. The result? Stagnation.

After the wreck, our lives turned upside down and nothing made sense. I tried so hard to “make it work” with my situation and our ranch. The income I built was gone. Savings - gone. The community drained me. Then the wreck finished me.

Then I surrendered. I released control. I let go. I reached a fracture point. I didn’t necessarily “trust” that it would all work out, but I stopped putting my claws in to my life. I was willing to let it all fall apart, to let the ship sink. This took one day, probably less, because I was sleep-deprived and hallucinating with a fever, so perhaps it was only a moment.

And that made the difference.

I received some kind of divine blessing. Grace. Some call it a ‘God Thing’. It still took time to get Dr. Kim to a point where she was transportable, where I got enough help to recover my senses, and to not care what happened anymore. I started to listen to the voice within. Not the big voice, but the wee little voice. It said,

“Give your knowledge, experience and love away.”

And so the natural evolution of Design Your Life began with 4 students and one recent graduate. We began serving. I became fulfilled. And we grew. Now, in our 5th chapter, we will be 20 people, serving many more, and growing together.

If this is something you have felt but doubted, I say this: Act now. The feeling is there for a reason. Listen.

Prices go up at the stroke of midnight this Friday! Here’s the link to register. Here’s the website. You can pay by Zelle, Venmo, (@Danny-Gambino-1) or CashApp.

Sending love for ease and grace though your midterms.

Dr. Danny