An Important Decision

One of my new acquaintances in the 80’s was Dr David Garlick, a Professor in the Faulty of Medicine at the University of NSW in Sydney. He had a particular interest in exercise physiology, had come across Alexander’s Discovery and was astonished at the insights and relevance of his work.

In 1981, Garlick put together a symposium - Proprioception, Posture and Emotion - at the University of New South Wales. Alexander Technique teacher Dr Wilfred Barlow and Neuroscientist and advocate of Alexander’s discovery, T. D. M. Roberts, both attended and presented papers.

I missed out on the Conference – didn’t know it was on! - but later it caught my attention.

As I was commercially advocating Alexander’s Discovery in Sydney, I eventually came to Dr Garlick’s attention. He thought I was a bit of a nut - but then later I found out his colleagues at the University thought David was a bit of a nut – so we got on well.

David kept emphasising that Alexander’s work needed hard scientific evidence to back up the efficacy of his claims. I whole-heartedly agreed with that.

Meanwhile, I kept drinking as though life was a long, drawn-out party.

But my serious side got thinking like this:

***

I fill 70% of my time running SATA – the Alexander business – and the other 30% getting drunk. But now my 30% is slowly being pulled towards 40% and growing - I need to take drastic action, but what?

How about you go to University and get a Science degree?

***

It was a preposterous idea. 

I hadn’t even finished school – I left at 15 to pursue my acting career. Before I could apply for University, I would have to go back and finish high school. I was 28 – did I really want to study Biology, Mathematics and Chemistry with a bunch of pimply adolescents?

I knew that either of two things would happen:

1. I enrol, keep drinking, fail and give up in shame; or
2. I enrol, stop drinking, finish high school and get into Uni.

Anyone who feels stuck can try this simple solution.

Replace your time with something else – declare that you are doing that to everyone – then see if you succeed or not.

I knew that if I declared to everyone - “I am going back to school” - and then failed at it, the lie of my life would be exposed for all to see. 

My ego simply wouldn’t stand for that.

The deadline for enrolment came up, and I made my decision…