THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2017
FEATURES
Political zealots ruin dinner
Dear Annie: We have all been classic book “How to Win Friends
told to avoid discussions of poli- and Influence People,” Dale Carne-
tics and religion when dining out gie pointed out that arguing during
with friends, and for many years dinner is a lose-lose proposition. If
I found this easy to practice. But you lose the argument, you lose;
lately, it seems that many of my and if win the argument, your guest
friends insist on talking about pol- feels inferior and you lose again.
There is a reason that we
itics. Some are in favor of
DEAR
have been advised for
our current president, and
many years — long before
some are opposed. The
ANNIE
the current political contro-
one thing they both have
versies — to avoid discus-
in common is that they are
sions of politics and reli-
adamant that they are right
gion at dinner with friends.
and the other side is wrong!
Dear Annie: Several
Whenever I suggest we
years ago, I suffered from
talk about something else,
severe back pain. I had
they want to know where
Lane
sciatica that went from
I stand and insist that I Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
my lower back to my foot.
agree with them. Frankly,
I remember trying a hun-
I don’t have strong political
opinions and just want to change dred different treatments, includ-
the subject. But when I have said ing shots, and any relief was only
that, they always jump on me, say- temporary. Then a friend told me
ing that the issues are so important about Dr. John Sarno, a pain treat-
today and I must express agreement ment specialist at New York Uni-
with their side. It is almost as if our versity. I read his book “Healing
friendship is at stake. Do you have Back Pain: The Mind-Body Con-
any suggestions for how I should nection,” and it changed my life!
After reading that book, I found
handle these political zealots from
both sides of the political spec- more books by Dr. Sarno, as well
trum? — Peacemaker in Pittsburgh as some lectures on DVD. I was
Dear Peacemaker: Your intu- never his patient; I never even met
ition is so good — that taking sides the man, but gradually — as I fol-
in a political argument during din- lowed his treatment advice — my
ner is fraught with danger. In his sciatica disappeared, and I have
not had back pain since.
I am writing this letter now
because I read that Sarno died June
22 at the age of 93, and I hope you
will print my letter as a message
for any of your readers who are
suffering from chronic pain. That
includes headaches, back pain,
sciatica, fibromyalgia and gastro-
intestinal problems.
The radio “shock jock” How-
ard Stern had terrible back pain
until he saw Dr. Sarno. After Sar-
no’s death was announced, Stern
said, “I suffered horribly from
back pain for many years ... and he
really saved my life.”
Plenty of other celebrities —
including Anne Bancroft, Larry
David and John Stossel — have
said similar things about this great
man. I am writing this to alert any of
your readers who are in chronic pain
to check out the works of Dr. John
Sarno. His advice could change your
life, too. — Grateful in Green Bay
Dear Grateful: Thank you for
your inspiring letter. Dr. Sarno has
many devoted fans like you, yet his
treatment is still considered contro-
versial by some in the medical estab-
lishment. He died one day before his
94th birthday and the release of a
new documentary about him, called
“All the Rage (Saved by Sarno).”
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You are fighting a
nagging feeling that you should be doing some-
thing more important with your time. That feel-
ing is not a lie. If you accept it instead of fight it,
you’ll get onto something more worthwhile.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Much will be said
and not meant. More will be meant and not
said. If you’re not feeling your way through the
relationship, you’ll get lost pretty quickly. Close
your eyes. Cover your ears. Listen with your
heart.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Whether or not
you’re really in control of your situation could be
debated from here to eternity, but that would
rob you of the chance to experience (maybe
even enjoy) what’s going on regardless of your
level of control over it.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Distraction is
the death of meaning. Don’t fill the hours with
amusement, because it will only rob you of
the chance to find your real purpose in the
situation. Dig deeper.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Most days you follow
the rules, but sometimes you feel bigger than
society — like you can do your thing without
getting boxed in by other people’s expectations.
For the rest of this week you may swing from
one extreme to another.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The passive ap-
proach would work if you were on a raft floating
down a river with its own agenda. But you’re
not. You’re standing on the path that splits into
many possible directions, and you have to
decide which way to walk.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). People tend to ad-
mire the different talents of those who excel in
fields foreign to them and tend to have grudges
against those who excel in their own fields,
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
regarding them as competitors. Don’t waste
time on jealousy. Learn the tricks.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Why is your
stomach so wise? It is unencumbered by
thought. It just knows. Your stomach processes
life in terms of “use” and “waste.” Turn your
difficult questions to your stomach, and accept
its simple yes-or-no answer.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The believer
is usually happier than the doubter, proving that
wisdom and happiness often have very little to
do with one another. But there’s a peace that
comes with wisdom, and that should count for
something today.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Beware of the
life equivalent of soda pop and candy. You need
real sustenance. Seek nutritive experiences.
Avoid things that are filled to the brim and yet
still unfulfilling.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Who might you
be now if you’d taken that turn you missed back
there? Well, the option is coming up again. Take
it, and you’ll know a different version of yourself
soon enough.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). As for this real life
story you’re living, there’s a lot of exposition to
get through today. One boring chapter doesn’t
discount the value of the whole adventure.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (July 19). The
thing you find out about in a backward sort of
way is something totally fantastic to go forward
with. Your horizons will broaden as you dedicate
yourself to a repetitive process in September.
After much work, November brings the financial
spike you’ve been waiting for. Exchange
promises in December. There Scorpio and
Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 20,
2, 28 and 19.