A Note From Dr. Nic

I can vividly remember a patient telling me to, "just wait." It was in reference to how busy I thought I was regarding my kids' schedules, but this was when they were young...and was I naive about the definition of busy.  Matt (the patient who told me to "just wait") was spot on. It only gets busier.

2024 is my 15th year in Kiel, having opened up the office in 2009 as "Giebler Chiropractic." My oldest child was born in 2010, and having always loved the game of basketball, I actually helped out with the Kiel team in the 2009-2010 season. Lo and behold, that incredible group made an incredible run all the way to Madison. I was fortunate enough to be on the sidelines for that game and the memories forged in that season and playoff run are memories I haven't forgotten. Gosh, it doesn't seem like it's really that long ago! 

I wanted to continue to volunteer at the high school level, but having Edwin born in May of 2010 was reason enough for me to put my coaching on hold...right up until he started playing organized basketball. Again, that doesn't seem that long ago, yet as I write this, I am thinking back to all of the practices and games and travels and timeouts that he and I shared over the last 10 years. You see, last month, on March 10^th, I coached Eddy for the last time in basketball. Somehow, he's now an 8th Grader and is moving on to the high school level next year. Where did the time go?

There were tears that night at our last game together and it was a pretty quiet car ride home. But as a new chapter begins, I am confident that I learned more from him and his teammates than he did from me as his coach. Without a question this is true. And, just like that, it’s on to Track and Soccer season for him, of which I also help out as an assistant coach…and soon enough it’s baseball season!

Eddy and I will spend some time together today in the car once again, driving down to Madison to watch the Kiel Raiders compete at State. It was a truly magical season and having gotten to know many of the players and families of the team and coaching staff, it's extra special to see a group set some goals and work towards them. Not always are the goals achieved, but the journey is the reward. Early mornings, late nights, extra shots before and after practice...all of these 'little things' add up to a big one. And the community support was incredible as well! 

I am very much thankful for the time with my son on the drive down, and I can share in the sentiment of the entire community, that we are PROUD of you young men! Our seats for the State game were much better than our seats for the sectional final--behind the tubas (Kiel has a GREAT BAND, BY THE WAY!), and while they were quite as close as I was in 2010, they were close enough to see the emotions of the faces of the young men as they left the floor after the game. 

For the seniors, another chapter closed…and it’s on to the next one with memories and lessons and, eventually many many smiles at how much they have accomplished.

We Believe That We Can Win!

For What It's Worth

I have a quote framed and hanging in my kitchen. I had forgotten it was there until a couple weeks ago, when I was reminded of the idea of ‘starting over.’ And despite the fact that I walk past this framed quote every time I feed the cat or change laundry, I had forgotten of its presence. It was a good reminder to notice it, and now I try to read it every day before I leave the house. 

So, what’s the quote? 

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald

My favorite part of the quote is the sentence about “making the best of it or the worst of it.” And obviously there are multiple options in between. But life isn’t about what happens to you. It’s about how you respond. Whether it’s a reflexive response (one you can’t control), a reaction (one you don’t think through), or a genuine response (one where the outcomes and benefits and risks are evaluated), it is up to you to choose the correct action to make the best of it. 

This works with your health as well! When you get sick, or injured, how do you respond? Obviously first and foremost we want to move away form pain and feel better…but beyond that superficial relief of pain, what can we do to address the underlying source of the problem? 

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If You Want To Fly, You Need To Try!

"The crime is not to avoid failure. The crime is to not give triumph a chance." - Huw Wheldon

I can think back to many times when growing up, when I chose not to do something because I wasn't sure of the outcome, or I knew I was likely going to not be good at the activity. For example, in 6th Grade, I went to the very first day of Chorus. At that class, the teacher told us that we would need to sing out loud in front of the class. That was a hard and immediate 'Nope!' for me, and I never went to another class. Now, I am well aware that I basically have two singing voices--Loud and Louder-- and that I'm quite tone-deaf, so I'm guessing American Idol was never going to be in my future. But that first-and-only day in Chorus in 6th Grade is similar to many other moments where I chose not to 'show up' for fear of failure.  

Some of those traits stuck with me right in to adulthood...but at least now I'm more aware of them. And last week I did a thing that was way out of my comfort zone. I took a riding lesson on Estelle's horse, Jack. Jack is a spunky one, and he likes to run fast and jump. I only have experience riding horses on trail rides or around in a circle at the county fair. So, this was new to me. And terrifying. But I wanted to try it. Estelle absolutely loves it and is passionate about it, and for years now I have watched on in terrifying amazement as she gallops, jumps, and on a couple occasions falls off of Jack. She gets right back on the not-proverbial-but-very-much-real horse and continues. I can truly say I'm in awe of her.

So, I signed up for a lesson. I was awkward, felt uncoordinated, and struggled just to get Jack to walk in a straight line. I didn't have the right boots on, I was wearing my ski helmet, he wouldn't listen to me, and my inner thighs are still sore, a full week later.  

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Shout out to Ken and Karen for the Bertha props!

We have ourselves a Bertha calendar in the works this year!

If you or someone you know wants to work with us, send us a resume.