During the past year I've noticed a tremendous surge of stress in my patients. The stress they are living with in many cases has an economic focus. Some people are losing their homes, some are losing their job and losing their home some are getting divorced due to economic hardships and the list goes on. Yeah, Yeah, yeah doc, what does this topic have to do with wellness? Everything!!! The wellness lifestyle includes a sense of personal well being. Knowing that you will always have a roof over your head, a pillow on a nice warm fluffy bed with warm blankets to keep you warm at night. Having the knowledge that you will be able to feed your kids or look after them when they need you the most. Having the time to dedicate to your kids instead of having to make time in between your many jobs that you have to keep in order to keep them housed, fed and clothed.
Yes, economics plays a role in wellness. In our current climate uncertainty reigns. It seems that every evening we are hearing more double talk by our politicians who seem more and more detached from the realities we as a living breathing nation have to live day in and day out. Frustration with the system, not believing that voting makes any difference and wondering if we should bother voting at all if nothing changes even when we do vote...the essence of apathy. If you want to live a wellness lifestyle then you will have to be willing to make the changes necessary to make that possible. How?? ACT!! Do something about our current situation.
The difference between apathy and hope is the will to act regardless of the outcome. If we do not get the outcome we want the first time...try again and keep trying until you get what you want. The difference is determined by your will to make a difference. Are you willing to accept the way things are or are you going take a stand and kick in the door and make your voice heard above the din of political noise? A wellness mindset includes the will to take a step, to act and to keep taking steps to make changes where one can. Take what you have and do what you can. If that means picking up a phone and expressing your dismay ato a local politician or hopping in the car and driving to Wall Street to join the protests there...do something and be heard. This nation is as weak or as strong as the loudest and most obnoxious voice.
I served in the military not to change the navy but to change me. I wanted to look back on my life and tell my kids that I did some bad assed things in my hey day. OK..so that is a personal ego trip...so what. The fact is I faced a challenge and it in effect changed how I saw the world in which I lived. It gave me an attitude and showed me how to use that attitude. Our challenges today are no different than the challenges our nation faced before. This can be our moment to act and say to our kids and gransdchildren..."Yeah...We took the nation away from a bunch of dirt bags, kicked butt...and gave you back a future."
What are you willing to do?
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