No Exercise

June 12. 2026

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Raoul’s 2 cents

The Gift of Healing

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.

Every week I spend a lot of time wondering what I would share in this TGIF email. Sometimes the topic just hits me and writing magically comes alive. Other times the topic only arrives just before my Friday midnight deadline. Most often I have no idea where the story is going and just allow it to proceed to its logical conclusion. As I write this very article, I have no idea where this story will take me.

As I was walking our dogs, I see my neighbor’s right hand wrapped in fresh bandages. She had just had a carpal tunnel operation. I told her she should have gone to a chiropractor but she responded that she had already been to chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc.but none helped. She didn’t want any further discussion as she headed straight to her home. Too bad. If she had cared to listen, I would have shared my own experience.

Before smart pads and touch screens became a fad, I used to awkwardly draw with my computer mouse (ergonomically a bad idea). It wasn’t long until I started to feel sharp pain … as if a vein or two had fallen out of place. I asked a nurse friend what to do. She said take pain-killers and get one of those adjustable wrist braces. It wasn’t a cure. It only covered the problem. It was either that or I would need an operation. Worry occupied my thoughts.

A few days later, as I joined a business breakfast meeting, Dr. Mark the Chiropractor, noticed the “trophy” on my hand. He knew exactly what was going on and, with my permission, he discarded my brace, massaged my wrist – up, down and sideways for about 5 minutes. Did it hurt? Well, yeah!! Of course it did! 😫 But after a few days my pain was completely gone … and it has never returned.

There were two other recent instances here in Los Angeles when gifted hands removed my pain. One was on my left shoulder and the other was on my sciatica. I am totally convinced there is something Western medicine can learn from centuries-old Eastern treatments like chiropractic, acupuncture, deep tissue massage, etc. The comparison is similar to using an abacus vs long multiplication. Of course, not all these eastern experts are the same. Some are better than others. Some chiropractors specialize in the spine while others specialize in fingers. (Dr. Mark was so good, he walloped a dislocated hip of a race horse back in place). I think the really good doctors are born with the gift of healing.

MANGHIHILOT

In the Philippines, there are healers called “manghihilot” (pronounced: Mang Hee Hee Lowt) which literally means “The Mender.” Superstition says: if a person is born in the breach position (ie. the baby comes out of the mother with legs first) that’s a sure sign that person is a born-manghihilot whether he/she realizes it or not. Pretty wild, huh? But so far (at least in my experience) this prerequisite has proven to be accurate.

Growing up, there used to be a manghihilot in any given town. None of them had any formal training but they were able to heal … usually with just one session. Typically, they never charged for their services because, if they did, God would remove their power to heal 😳. It is left to the patient’s discretion to pay any amount that feels right — which explains why none of the healers ever got wealthy. (Oh, but the fake ones did get rich! 👺)

THE PROCEDURE

When one gets sprained, one either goes to the healer or the healer makes house calls. After rubbing the area with coconut oil, the healer feels the bones and knows exactly which ones to put back in alignment. Then the healer wraps that area with guava leaves … topping it off with a cloth bandage to keep the leaves in place and to allow the sprain to breathe. Soon the sprain turns purple — partly from the sap of the leaves and partly from the internal battle of the veins mending in place. I have had several “fixes” from different healers growing up because I played a lot of basketball.

In another world, I believe I could have been a healer. I think it’s in my DNA. My grandfather was a doctor. But he never got rich from his practice. In fact, he got poor because of it. My noble granddad studied medicine to cure people … not to make money. So many of his patients were poor. They would pay him with chickens and pigs — good for the tummy, but bad for the wallet (this obviously didn’t make my grandmother happy). Maybe this is why none of his children ever ambitioned to become a doctor. 

Did you know I give a good massage? Nobody taught me … it comes naturally. I never took anatomy classes but I just have an inherent understanding where muscles should go.  One time, my little pinky was hit so hard by a basketball that the 2 outer bone segments landed on top of the 3rd segment. I looked at it in shock and, before the pain set in, I held my breath, and pulled the bones back in place. Yup! I really did!  😬

If you had the gift of healing, would you keep it a secret? If you had the cure for cancer, wouldn’t you want to share that to the world even if it meant being ridiculed by scoffers? Maybe this is why I share my Christian faith so easily. It’s a different kind of healing for sure … a spiritual one. Go ahead, throw stones at me if you like but that’s what I believe. I don’t force it to any one but I am always available to share. 

Okay, that’s it! End of today’s lesson! Pass your papers!  I didn’t know where this story was leading to but somehow it just landed here. You can go back to your normal life now. TGIF people!

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Quotes of the week

“Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.” — Mark Twain

“Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.” — Redd Foxx

“It’s no longer a question of staying healthy. It’s a question of finding a sickness you like.” — Jackie Mason?

“I am dying with the help of too many physicians.” — Alexander the Great

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” — Psalm 147: 2

“My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts” — Jeremiah 3:22

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'” — Matthew 11: 28-29

Memes of the Week

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena. CA

Thanks to Joel of Alhambra, CA

Thanks to Jacob of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:

I hope I got you to smile.
See you next Friday!

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