I was just sitting at my desk working on my new subscription newsletter when I got a short note from the other side of the world. I was pleased to see that it’s a very complimentary letter from a doctor in Malaysia. He has been nice enough to invite me to dinner when I go to Kuala Lumpur in a few months.
These speaking engagements feel so much friendlier when I have someone from there to show me around. I was already feeling very fortunate to be the featured speaker at the International Conference on Anti-Aging. I’ll be talking about the research and technology behind Chalice, my new telomere maintenance product on a Saturday. And Sunday I’ll be talking about age measurements and the new concept of Age Quotient I’ve been developing at my center.
And I’m going to try and meet this Malaysian doctor that Sunday night before I fly to Bali to finish work on my upcoming book Healing Herbs of Bali.
There’s still a kind of “wow” factor for me when I get these letters from regular readers who call themselves “fans”. It reminds me of the time my son Dylan and I were in a grocery store in the mountains of Utah.
Someone came up to me and said, “Excuse me but aren’t you Dr. Sears?”
At first I was embarrassed. I was wondering where this person knew me from and how I had so forgotten our meeting. I managed to smile and say hi and that yes I was Dr. Sears.
He said, “I read all your stuff! I get your letters in my e-mail.” Then I understood.
I shook his hand and thanked him for reading. After he left, my son Dylan, who was about 5 at the time, looked up at me with a big beaming smile, “Wow, Dad, you’re almost… famous!”
I “almost” got used to the “almost” status but last year still shocked me in Malaysia. When I gave my lecture on telomeres I was mobbed in the lobby afterwards – like I was a rock star or something. I am grateful that doctors are now listening to what I have to say but it was, once again, a little uncomfortable to have that much attention.
This year, I am told that the Sultan of Malaysia is going to sign my certificate as an honorary member of the Royal Society for Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine Malaysia. And, I am honored Dr. Raj Subramaniam, the leader of the Society, wants to give me a lifetime achievement award at the conference.
This is so much different from when I first started traveling around the world…
Natives and locals would see me coming and in my blue jeans and a t-shirt. My reception was usually more like, “Yankee go home.” But somehow it seems I have “Forest Gumped” my way through it until I have a few friends in most places I go.
Now I have a long history of visiting and making friends with people from all different cultures. And I’m comfortable almost anyplace… whether I’m drinking “spit brew” with the Ashaninkas in South America … speaking with the elders of the Batwa in the jungles of Africa … visiting the very famous Ketut Leyir wearing flea market clothes in Bali … or being recognized by a king in Malaysia.
I remember they were very suspicious of me in Africa at first. But I made some real inroads and we have friends there now. And when I go back I’m going to be able to give you a lot more concrete stuff, especially about cancer cures.
The cancer cures are something I’ll be studying very closely at my new anti-aging institute. Not only as a place for healing patients there, but also to spread the word and try to bring these hidden cures to everyone.
I have to say, though, no matter how almost famous I get, none of what I do would be possible without you.
So I invite you to write to me if you never have. Tell me how you’re doing, how my advice is working for you, and how we can help with concerns you and others you know have. And I’ll show you everything I’m doing so we can keep getting better together. Just click here.
Also, I’m sorry but I need to remind you that I can’t answer personal medical questions if you tell me anything about your medical history. I’m not allowed in this forum to give personalized medical advice.