Skip to content
Previous article
Now Reading:
3 life lessons from an unplanned trip around the world

3 life lessons from an unplanned trip around the world

Is progress in medicine artificially stunted by big Pharma?

Just a few days ago, I returned from a business/family trip to Europe. Travel happens to be an interesting catalyzer for me. It allows me to gain perspective and see what is important and what is not. Ultimately, it brings a greater degree of clarity to my life and work, which allows me to be more useful to you, your dog and the whole community. The best learning comes from life lessons, which are the most memorable and this trip was no exception.

Today, I want to share three life lessons from an unplanned trip around the world.

Life lesson 1

Traveling overseas is a double-edged sword. Many people dream of traveling, but to be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with it. The part I especially don’t like is leaving Skai behind for long haul flights, but putting Skai on a long, tiring flight at the age of 15 makes no sense. 

I book most of my flights through my Visa card air miles program, which allows me to upgrade my flights, except that it is hard to get the flight I need. Often, I book a ticket and then watch for better connections. 

This trip to Europe was especially hard to book and, originally I had two layovers on the way back. Towards the end of the trip, I started to feel like I wanted to get home as soon as possible and as crazy as it sounded, I could save 12 hours on my flight back to Vancouver via Tokyo! I didn't hesitate and changed my route. Tokyo it was.

The boarding was the fastest I ever experienced and we departed on the minute with the precision of a Japanese express train. 

Shortly after the dinner, I fell asleep looking forward to a nice cuddle with Skai, except that five hours into the flight, I woke up and realized we were still in Europe! Our aircraft made a sharp u-turn over Russia and was now headed for Helsinki!

There was a medical emergency on board and the captain made the life-saving move to divert our flight to Helsinki.

Based on the reports, the patient recovered and the passengers were patient and understanding. It could have been one of us. We departed from Helsinki five hours later because of a technical glitch that came up during refueling.

I loved seeing the airline put the passenger’s life ahead of the schedule and profits. It made me happy to see how good people are when it comes to emergency flight changes. No one complained, no one whined. I witnessed humanity at its best.

Life lesson 2

To make time go faster during the 16-hour flight, I turned on the movie channel movies and picked The Martian. For those who have not seen the movie, it is about a rescue operation of an astronaut stranded on Mars.

Once again, no expense was too high to save one life. The rescue team put their lives at risks without the blink of an eye and the mission was successful! Another example of humanity at its best. Even thought the movie was fictional, I sense that most people would act the same way. 

I strongly believe that 99 percent of humanity is good in its essence.

Life lesson 3

We landed in Tokyo much later than expected. The Japanese did a great job re-routing everyone and I was given the option to fly to San Francisco and then on to Vancouver, learning that my suitcase never made it on the flight from Europe.  

Numbed out by sleepiness and the events of the past night, I decided to pass time on Facebook and ran across an interesting post. It was a video of a medical doctor, who publicly said that, in most cases, chemotherapy was an ineffective and harmful treatment. From my experience with family members and also seeing dogs on chemotherapy, I couldn’t disagree. He then went on to suggest cancer treatment is big business, where scientific studies are “adjusted” for the sake of drug approval.

When I finished watching the video, I knew this was in some shape or form true. 

I could not help myself from seeing the selfless picture of humanity, where lives matter, in striking contrast with drug companies and their “do anything that makes money” attitude that puts patients health behind profits.

We see the best of humanity, when human or animal’s lives are a priority. 

An airline that makes a costly diversion to save a passenger or a space mission to save a stranded astronaut stands in sharp contrast to pharmaceutical companies diverting the whole system of medicine away from nature and towards making more toxic, harmful and expensive substances because it is more profitable. 

The only way we can stop them from doing this is to change our medical system where research is done independently and financed by governments, not drug companies.

A system where doctors reap rewards when they create health, not disease.

Let’s keep writing and sharing so we can reach this goal soon! 

If you have not subscribed yet, join our community not to miss important updates on holistic healing for dogs.

More recommended readings:

You should know about one of the most dangerous treatments for dogs

10 reasons why turmeric is good for dogs 

Can you prevent cancer in your dog?

© Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM

 

About the author

Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM is an Integrative veterinarian, nutritionist and creator of natural supplements for dogs and people. Helping you and your dog prevent disease, treat nutritional deficiencies, and enjoy happier, healthier, and longer lives together.

Most Popular

  • Flying with dogs
    In my article, I share the personal story of how I'm able to fly with my dog, Pax, thanks to overcoming challenges with sleepwalking and night terrors. This unique experience not only allowed me to travel with my service dog but also serves as a reminder that even difficult situations can have positive outcomes.
  • dog and pony
    Successful communication is essential for building healthier and more fulfilling relationships and happier lives. In this article, I'll share with you 8 communication hacks to help you avoid unnecessary drama, prioritize active listening and address conflicts effectively.
  • Dalmatian eating fruit
    Can dogs eat bananas, apples, strawberries and other fruit? What about grapes? Find out what fruits are safe, toxic, and healthy for dogs. Learn about the potential health benefits and risks of feeding fruit to your canine companion, and get tips on the ideal time to feed it.
  • Illustration of the anatomy of a heart
    As dog lovers, we all want our beloved pups to live long and healthy lives. Protecting your dog's heart from potential health issues is important, and in this blog Dr. Dobias shares some key points that you might not yet be aware of, read on to find out what you can do to keep your dog's heart safe. 

Dog Health

  • Husky lying on blanket with heart toy
    Dogs have our hearts and that is why we need to protect their heart. Dog’s as they age often face muscle problems and spinal misalignment and you might be surprised to know how that can hurt their heart. Learn how to protect your dog’s spine and by extension their heart.
  • The secret ingredient for a perfect No. 2
    Dogs and humans have evolved side-by-side but they are still quite different when it comes to their digestive tracts and dietary habits. We have studied their original environments such as the soils of the African savanna and consulted with top experts in the field of probiotics and microbiology to come up with a combination that reflects healthy bacterial flora of canines.
  • Man being pointed at
    Criticism can hurt a brand, but constructive feedback can help it grow. In this blog Dr. Dobias talks about the differences between these approaches, and how to handle the power of influence and opinion with care. 
  • Broccoli with vitamins and minerals
    Are you worried that your and your dog's diet is missing something? Maybe you're worried about toxin levels in food, the environment, or flea and tick products. Let's face it; we can't remove ourselves entirely from our toxin-filled world, but we can do things to reduce our exposure to harmful substances. 

Human health

  • Dr. Dobias with Pax
    How do you navigate the seas of life? How do you deal with disappointment? Whatever life throws at us, we can always rely on our dogs to bring joy into our days. In this blog I share my thoughts on the support our dogs provide during the difficult moments in life. 
  • Why 1 in 4 Americans suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
    Learn more about the alarming prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) affecting 1 in 4 Americans. Discover its main risk factors, diagnosis methods, and treatment options to better manage or prevent this silent yet severe condition. 
  • A new perspective on brain health, memory loss, Alzheimer's Disease, and dementia in people and dogs
    The Science of DHA and the Brain: Omega-3 fatty acids, primarily DHA, are the unsung heroes of brain health. They play crucial roles in brain physiology and biological activities, with exciting links between Omega-3 levels and cognitive function. Higher DHA levels have been shown to preserve the integrity of the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB), your brain's security system
  • Dr. Dobias and Pax
    It appears that most of the world is ready for change, but whenever I think about the solutions to any of the problems that plague our world, I can’t prevent myself from thinking that we humans are acting like little toddlers who have broken a toy and do not know how to fix it. Despite my generally optimistic attitude, I have had a hard time staying positive at times because I know how complex this all is. Read here for some tools that make me feel good about the world, which I would like to share with you.

News, stories and good life

  • Dr. Peter Dobias with his dog Pax on his lap
    Do you have trouble staying positive during difficult times? These days we are surrounded by a lot of negative messaging, and it's easy to let that get you down. Here are some of my tips for remaining positive, and don't forget to share your tips with me!
  • Man raising fist on a mountain
    Most of us have been exposed to panic-inducing information about the virus spread, however, I have noticed the general absence of one piece of information, how to make your immune system stronger and body more resilient. (It will definitely not happen by stockpiling toilet paper!) I have always loved immunology and the current situation has prompted me to put together two simple lists on how to increase your dog’s and your own immunity.
  • Man with dog wearing a collar
    Does your dog have ear problems, nasal or oral tumors, reverse sneezing or an  itchy head or hair loss on their head? Learn how you can address some of these problems and save thousands in vet care costs.
  • Terrier eating raw food
    Now there is no need to guess if there is something missing in your dogs diet.  The HairQ Test is a highly accurate test for mineral deficiencies, toxins and heavy metals in dogs to finely tune your dog’s diet and supplement schedule.

By clicking "Continue" or continuing to use our site, you acknowledge that you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. We also use cookies to provide you with the best possible experience on our website. You can find out more about the cookies we use and learn how to manage them here. Feel free to check out our policies anytime for more information.

Continue

Cart

Close

Your cart is currently empty.

Start Shopping
Close