1. Introduction

Natural Hygienists, for the most part, are well aware of the truism that the mere fact that they are Hygienists causes them to live in foreign territory, captives within an environment that is polluted and mechanized beyond all rational reasoning, an environment that is an affront to unperverted senses and capable of almost unlimited assault on our physical being; and, most of all, captives of a social, economic and medical hierarchy which is capable of showing little or no mercy to those individuals who do not fully subscribe to its tenets.

We know that we are beset on all sides by a barrage of sights, sounds and messages that are contrary to all organic reality and that we reside in the midst of a people apparently gone mad; people who, almost without exception, overeat on foods biologically and physiologically unfit for humans to eat, foods the virtues of which are extolled by powerful economic forces. There are people who are sexually and morally perverted. Unwillingly we find ourselves non-participants within a society which is mentally, morally and spiritually decadent. We stand on the sidelines, so to speak, yet we are part of social and economic order which is not in the best interest of the people who, willingly or unwillingly, participate in it. People have come to seek after things and not ideals. They seem to know nothing of the values of life and lacking this knowledge, they have become manipulated puppets, apparently with little desire to learn or change.

Consequently, we Hygienists have had to choose. We have made a carefully thought out choice to live as more-or-less isolated individuals living in society but nevertheless determined to survive in the very midst of multitudinous carefully controlled and orchestrated assaults of one kind or another on our mental, moral and physical well-being.

If we are to survive under present conditions and circumstances, it is essential for us to have support from others of like mind, else we are likely to be felled prematurely as we attempt to wend our solitary way through life's maze.

Psychologists call this kind of supporting "stroking." Stroking refers to the giving to another person the assurance that he is loved, that he is important to another person who really cares about him as an individual, this in spite of all possible foolishness and/or weakness on his part. All that the stroked one is called upon to do is to give evidence of a willingness to learn, to grow because, in time, he hopes himself to become capable of stroking others.

Hygienists have varying degrees of expertise in the principles put forth by Life Science, some more, others less, hygienists, for the most part, are thinkers, idealists, often in the upper ten percent of the population intellectually. All seek the higher road through knowledge. However, knowledge alone is rarely sufficient. We need the doing and to help us in this phase of our individual development, we often require the assistance of others; stroking, if you will. Socializing can provide such needed support.

Few among us comprehend the powers of the mind. A positive mind steeped in knowledge and fortified by conviction can often help a sick person to be restored to a far higher plateau of health so quickly as to confound the skeptics.

Let us give an example of what we mean. Jerry has a rare muscular disease. For three years he has been a student of Natural Hygiene. In these three years he has seen many of his former incapacitating symptoms either leave entirely or be remarkably reduced. Recently he had occasion to visit his former medical advisor. He had enthusiastically prepared himself to tell him all about his progress and how he had been able to bring about such remarkable improvement. However, his erstwhile respected advisor exclaimed, "Jerry, you are not 'cured.' You are just in remission. Don't be fooled. Your symptoms will all come back. Just wait. You'll see!"

This is an example of stroking in reverse, negativity. A sick mind, lacking both sufficient knowledge and perhaps conviction through lack of support and even because of negative strokes, can tarry overly long in the wall of depression, so burdened by toxic debris that he will fail to make any meaningful progress.

Socializing has a proper role to play in all healing. The right kind of socializing can help to restore and reinforce important mental values. If we have knowledge, conviction and determination and, in addition, the support of caring from like-minded people, our forward progress cannot help but be accelerated. Socializing with other Hygienists can provide this kind of caring support.