Category: Lifestyle change

All is Well in the Nation’s Capitol. . .Or Is It?

Some readers think I’m too political. Too bad. Public policy has a huge impact on personal well-being. Our broken and battered U.S. health care system, for instance, costs too much, serves too few, and is ranked about 35^th when it comes to the overall health of our citizens. Our dear doctors prescribe too many drugs and know too little about nutrition, prevention, and how to help our bodies heal from the kind of trauma we’re all going through. As a journalist, I don’t promote the Democratic or Republican point of view. I’m here to serve you, the broken and battered consumer of health care, and to you I say to be wary is to be wise.

 

The politically correct Busboys and Poets bookstore—organic ketchup at every table!—was the perfect setting for a lively conversation with syndicated columnist Jamie Stiehm about the politics and pleasures of personal well-being.

“DC is ground zero for stress!” Jamie exclaimed, and everyone in the room agreed. I wish Congress could agree about smart, compassionate ways to reform our system so people don’t go broke in the pursuit of well-being, and health care is designed to serve the people, not the for-profit institutions that have helped get us into the mess we’re in.

Until then, it’s up to us to be our own Uncle Sam. If our medical authorities don’t explain ways to keep your immune system strong—sleep more, increase movement, breath through your nose—then it’s up to us to be our own Uncle Sam. Is that too political?

I was happy to visit with an old friend in DC at National Public Radio, the legendary journalist and arts maven, Susan Stamberg. Susan even has a tote bag named after her in the NPR gift shop. All Is Well insisted I sneak her into the same showcase to grab a selfie.