The New American Prosperity » Health…Fabulous Health

Too Many Diagnoses

Darby Checketts — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:26:45 +0000

Last night on NBC News, Brian Williams shared a report from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), which concludes that there are far more “diagnoses of food allergies” than there are actual allergies. There are serious allergies, but there is also much needless worry. The report went on to address something that’s bothered me for years. The medical community is admitting that Americans are generally living longer and healthier than ever, but we are suffering from too many diagnoses. In other words, there’s a label for every otherwise normal ache or pain humans have. The report said, “If you can’t fall asleep in 30 minutes, you’re diagnosed as an insomniac. If you have to get up and walk around every so often, you’re diagnosed with ‘restless leg syndrome.’ Etc.” You get the picture.

The message is that humans naturally twitch and itch, get gas, pull muscles, sniffle, worry about stuff, feel under the weather, and may get little red spots on their necks that soon go away. What it mostly means is we’re human. Thank goodness we Americans don’t have to worry about serious stuff like Malaria, Yellow Fever, and the Bubonic Plague. My heart goes out to those who still do.

NRWD = Save Lives!

Darby Checketts — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:28:49 +0000

Let’s start a life-saving movement. We are all beginning to realize that to text while driving is as deadly as to drink alcohol while driving. As my children have travelled about during the holidays, I have enjoyed sending them texts and receiving their replies, however, I sometimes worry that they may have received my text while driving and I DO NOT want them to feel obligated to reply to me while driving. So, when I think they might be on the road, I will add this abbreviation: “NRWD,” which stands for “No Reply (or Reading) While Driving.” We can create a nationwide code word with “NRWD” that reduces the number of times our friends and loved ones feel they must respond immediately to a text they have received while driving. Let’s all agree that, when a text is followed by “NRWD,” the reply (even the reading) can wait until you’ve stopped driving and have reached your destination. Join me to help reduce accidents and deaths from “texting while driving.”

Note: It is very difficult to come up with an abbreviation that is totally unique, so perhaps NRWD will work for most of us and will stick. If not, let each family or circle of friends come up with their own code to add at the end of text messages that may dangerously distract those who are driving.

Born to Run

Darby Checketts — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:37:25 +0000

Book Recommendation: If you want some inspiration about the marvelous capabilities of the human body and the importance of “the human spirit” in taking on life’s challenges, then read “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall. The book is mostly about an amazing people who live in Mexico’s Copper Canyons (the Tarahumara) and the Americans who take their inspiration from them. For those readers who like to know, the book would be PG-13 for language and a few episodes about the lusty and robust life of some ultrarunners. Fortunately, these few references do not overshadow the incredible energy and inspiration that is in the book.

Here’s the effect the book had on me. Yesterday, Sharon and I went on our morning walk/jog. Half-way through, I took off my shoes and ran the rest of the way home barefoot. I sat on our front steps admiring my incredible feet and realizing how constraining my “high-tech” running shoes are. I think I’ll buy a pair of Vibram Five Fingers, lose some weight, eliminate some more bad stuff from my diet, and run. After all, we were all born to run and this is not a metaphor. It’s true. Running came naturally when we were children. It can become natural again.

The Flu: To Prepare vs. Overreact

Darby Checketts — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:17:42 +0000

We all know that our prosperity is dependent on good health. So, we take care of ourselves. Our families, employers, and those we serve depend on us to be fit and friendly.

I just saw an Associated Press syndicated news article on new projections regarding the so-called Swine Flu. It’s not a fair name because humans don’t get it directly from pigs nor do we get it from eating bacon. We get it from each other. They say this flu strain could affect a large percentage of Americans come the fall, after school starts and children are in wider contact with others.

To overreact to such news is not helpful. To not be made alert is not wise. Where’s the balance? Don’t spend a lot of time worrying about the Swine flu, but take the precautions you believe make sense based on the expert medical advice we will all receive. You may not be a “flu shot” person. Sharon and I faithfully get our shots each fall season. It’s important to simply stay in good health—eat nutritionally, get enough rest, and manage the natural stress we all experience from day to day. Wash your hands often, especially before you eat. Don’t wait until October to cultivate such habits.

Let us trust that our nation and other nations will manage this health challenge successfully as we individually take SMART precautions to safeguard our health.

Invitation: Tell us what you do to safeguard your health.

What Does Food Have to Do with Prosperity?

Darby Checketts — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:00:52 +0000

If you define prosperous as merely “financially well off,” you may have access to more food than you need and perhaps dine out too often at those fabulous restaurants that serve gourmet, high-calorie meals. Dining out is great. It’s one of the joys of life as are those sumptuous home-cooked meals grandma makes.

From another perspective, if you define prosperous as having more choices and access to those foods that will help you create health and vitality, you may choose to visit Costco to load up on the abundant and affordable fruit that is there. You then return home to your high-tech blender to mix the fruit with other nutrients to make yummy smoothies that your body loves and that cost less than restaurant meals.

The perspective that may be most worth considering is that prosperity is about “feeling well” and what you eat does make a difference. Prosperity is about “feeling blessed”—blessed with good health, which you faithfully protect; blessed with sufficient financial resources to meet your most important needs; and blessed to have others in your life who lovingly join with you in the commitment to be just plain Smart and Happy.

Join Us. We invite you to join the conversation and tell us what you are doing to strengthen your sense of well-being in these challenging and exciting times we live in.