Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 26, 2024
** In his 500-page print book “UNDO IT,” Dean Ornish, MD, summarizes his Lifestyle Medicine Plan this way: 1) A whole foods, plant-based diet 2) Moderate exercise including flexibility, walking, & strengthening 3) Stress management including meditation, Tai Chi, pauses, and 4) Social connections and support, and healthy relationships. Ornish believes Lifestyle Medicine is less expensive and more effective than relying on prescribed drugs or surgeries. Beth and I are now committed to the Ornish plan in our own lifestyle practices…this is not a New Year’s Resolution!
- Our cable service includes three 24-hour weather channels. I continue to be sadly amazed and respectfully quiet watching grass fires in the Texas Panhandle; rising flood waters into homes with once safe downtowns across the Midwest, and tornados destroying dreams of a lifetime for family homes and neighborhoods.
** June 7 is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. The Uvalde school shootings of 19 children and 2 educators is remembered in this same week.
- The South African “Sawubona” means ‘I see you.’ The meaning is to see your light and your darkness, and to hear you with respect and love. The Zulu village response is ‘I am here’ with understanding compassion, recognition, and love.
** Wildlife Bridges and Underpasses” have been growing both in number and real help from wildlife organization nationally and internationally. Bears, moose, elk, and tortoises (and so many others) can now cross busy highways safely reducing car and wildlife accidents and deaths. Colorado, Utah, and Texas have been safe crossing leaders. These crossings allow isolated areas to be connected to reproduce in the natural selection process and to have greater areas to thrive.
- The NCAA board recently approved universities and colleges to directly pay the women and men who play sports. In my first reading I did not see dollar limits or a full list of sports to be eligible. Does the term “student athlete” still apply?
Monday is Memorable Day, a national recognition of today’s military, medical, women and men who support our country. So many wars, conflicts, injuries, and educational challenges, each with their own generational, medical, financial, and family impacts. West Fort Worth is near to the Naval Air Station. We often see women and men in uniforms at markets and restaurants. We honor those who are serving and those who have served.
Roy, I see you with respect and love
r
I do believe the term “student athlete” still applies. For decades, these student athletes provided a revenue source for colleges and a disproportionate share went to the NCAA’ Where a handful of men and women made a tremendous amount of money off the backs of these student athletes. Scholarships and opportunity apparently are not enough, revenue sharing seems to be the solution. Some hate it, some love it. I’m on the fence. I see both sides. Also remember, this is not just for the student athlete the ripple effects relative to other extracurricular activities also are seeing compensation. The landscape has certainly changed and will continue to change in a transparent society.
What makes this more OK for me are the decades of use and abuse. And, good luck to you if the knee or tendon tears mid-season.
Perhaps this removes part of the sleaze donors and their role in sports.
In the fall of my junior yr. I qualified #1 on the golf team….what would I “worth” to the university in 2024???
Thanks for reading. Excellent Comment. Roy
My uncle perished in World War II, I am the proud recipient of his medals and they hang in my office. I was born six months after his ship went down and his body was never recovered. My grandmother waited for him to return most of her life. Our service men and women are loyal to a country that at times forgets their sacrifices. Memorial Day is to honor them and I am proud to display the flag. Peace would be a welcome respite for every nation ours included.
A thoughtful and memory filled lines. Like most men post War II, my father would never talk about his days of service. His War II buddies would gather,eat a steal, play cards…but not talk, as best I know, about their experiences. Healthier if they had, but not their way.
Thank you for honoring your uncle, and so many others. You are indeed a good person!
My sister introduced us to a book this week by Chris Wark. He is a cancer survivor who chose not to do chemo but to change his diet to a plant based, no meat plan. It worked for him. We just bought his cookbook called Beat Cancer Kitchen. Gonna give it a try.
Respect and love to you and Beth.
At Advanced age when “all should be settled” we each are reaching for new edges, recreating ourselves and our health, and joy.
This is good. Now, encourage each other in the small and large decisions.
Agree that we should invest more in healthy behaviors vs medicine! Somehow forgotten. Thanks for sharing
Ornish is long-time drum beater of lifestyle practices. Even at advanced age we have the better choices and practice.
Somehow eating less, healthier.
At our neighbor’s recent 85th birthday celebration, after all the toasts (yes, of wine) had been given, he responded by telling us that he attributed his long, healthy life to four things: black coffee, dark chocolate, red wine, and tai chi. Some might tsk tsk at his formula, some might judge him against the rigor of their own routines of 10,000 daily steps and no, no, no to this and that decadent, unholy food. What I learned from his remarks, however, was the importance of doing what brings you joy and pleasure. A walk in nature without counting steps, taking joy in the breeze and birdsong, a taste of this or that food or drink that makes you, with all your own idiosyncracies, happy. How healthy we might find ourselves if we simply made time to take delight.
Glad you brought up gun violence.
My niece is co-chair of an anti gun organization working actively to ban assault rifles. They are having a big DC rally on June 4th the GO Safe legislation, led by Martin Heinrich. The ban would return the country to the 1993 act cacelled by the GOP in 2003. I’d be there on a minute if I thought I could do all the walking.
Link
https://www.wemarchfourth.org/
I will pay attention on that date and cause.
You float dear friend, not have to walk it.
Powe to us all…..Roy
These are all right on, right path.
The elders lead us
But also the 11, 13, and 15 yr olds.
I led my story telling group of elders at Como Center.
We learn and trust each other…..Roy
Wildlife Bridges and Underpasses—-brilliant innovations. What can we do to create Humanlife Bridges and Underpasses for greater health, congruity, love and compassion in our communities. X/O
Cancel the budget for The Defense Dept.
Send monks, nuns, clerics, and more similar to Garsa.
No guns, tanks, bombs.
Just takes courage and leadership………none of which is present in today’s non-leaders. Roy
Make bridges out of MAGA hats
Have trunpster hold a rally in one of the underpasses……invite the bears!
Be a believer…..each walker builds hope.Roy
It is so important to care for and nurture ourselves and each other and all life. Science provides new paths to health and healing. We all can choose to be positive participants in that process. A measure of our personal dignity for all that surrounds us depends on our response to any injustice to any life form and to the earth its self. There is much to do.
Insightful Comment from ome who has been through much, given much, and so important to us both.
Time and words with you always goooooood.
Count me as a member of the “Undo It!” club. I have read several of Ornish’s books over the years and read this one (along with a few other authors) when I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes. I have taken an incremental approach to date, but I’m ready to make a deeper commitment.
Right time, right writer/MD,
We are committed, determined, following the path.
In 2016 we had moved to SFe full-time.
When you move there clinics, vet, dentists to find.
The new clinic drew blood. Young MD told mw my AiC score was 6.8…and then strnly told me od all the health risks ahead.
At that time 234 lbs.
My A1C has been 5.7 or 5.8 in past yrs. Weight this AM 199.8.
UNDO IT is our path….Roy
Your insights are a breath of fresh air.