A Troubled Mind Can’t Dance
Christopher N. Ciko
BookSurge (2007)
– an imprint of Amazon.com
Reviewed by Patty Inglish MS.
 

This compact book from Christopher N. Ciko is a collection of straightforward thoughts, anecdotes, and essays that are designed to stimulate readers’ minds into active thought. This is possible, even if readers may not agree with or even understand all of the points made in these writings. The point seems to be to think about the topics raised and consider Mr. Ciko’s solutions and medications as a plausible remedy and add to them our own experiences.   
 

The lines of A Troubled Mind Can’t Dance can provoke creative thought long term that can generate new solutions for everyday life in greater numbers for a wider array of choices than were previously open to many readers. Reading seems to beget thinking in this instance and thinking begets more thinking.  More thinking of this nature might delay and even prevent the multiple wars occurring on earth these days. It is certain that an examined life is more useful than one lived without plan or purpose and thinking goes into the process of examination. Thinking and examination form the matrix for a lively dance.

That is the kind of dancing an active mind can do. A proactive mind is a moving mind. The blocked mind is as heavy as a partially cooked dumpling that fills an entire cooking pot and just sits there, stewing; but the active mind can dance on light feet. The moving mind does not stew in its own ineffective juices - It thinks its way out of the pot. 

 A Troubled Mind Can’t Dance is a meditation in one sitting. It is best to read it all at once and think about it along the way and in its entirely when completed. In that way, the mind is fully stimulated by Mr. Ciko’s work, as is the intention. 

The book goes against the grain of such bestsellers as The Secret by providing its own rubric for finding self-fulfillment in serving others.  Mr. Ciko’s style is punchy and clear, without hidden meanings or riddles to solve. He puts forth the ideas as our Native American siblings do – we must realize that all people are connected, so in aiding others, you are helping yourself. In fact, if everyone did something for someone else, perhaps everyone would be well cared for overall. 

Christopher Ciko is an attorney with a law degree from Duquesne University of Law and a Masters New York University School of Law. With all of his workload, he has also accomplished 15,000+ volunteer hours. I know that this is a productive and effective method of freeing oneself to reach potentials, because I also provided 12,000 volunteer hours in a decade as part of my education and martial arts and now donate 300+ hours per year to recreation centers, community organizations, churches, and schools. 

One unimpeachable value in volunteering is that it prevents one from deriving all one’s identity from a paying job. In these days of downsizing and outsourcing, that is valuable indeed.