This is another one of our entries featured on the Kathleen Show blog

Prevention not Prescriptions Tuesday program

In previous postings I've talked about the impact of today's culture on American health, particularly in relation to such factors as stress, consumerism, quick fix solutions and the marketing and manipulation of dangerous products. I think this all relates to what we now see as a culture of excess. Americans are and have been living beyond their means, masking problems or compensating by acquiring "stuff" or using "things" as a way of achieving satisfaction. However, I think when we do this we often leave ourselves with the feeling of wanting more. There's no innate or lasting sense of comfort in material goods. They soothe, but we must get more to assure that they are always there, or as time goes by we must get the newest, best and coolest products. An appetite of destruction some may say. As I've mentioned before, all the luxuries of our modern world are relatively easy to access, whether it be one's ability to buy the highest quality and most popular items given the money  or "credit line" is available. Additionally as someone commented- if you can just choose a number when you order food and that usually costs less than $5, it may not matter how much money you have or don't have.

As we've also heard a lot, Americans are being forced to tighten their belts, cut back on the unnecessary expenses and ultimately limit our needs and wants to the essentials. Is this revision of an appetite for destruction in fact a source for prevention? It could be, however we must go back to the notion of a quick fix culture. There is not a sustainable way to find a quick fix to our economic troubles. We can start with a plan, be willing to make changes and monitor progress over time. However, how do Americans come up with a plan when homes are being foreclosed?

This is the big question, yet as a way of looking ahead, the lessons that we learn today will help inform the ways of living for tomorrow. As I've mentioned before we must teach our children from our own mistakes and find creative ways to deal with the current climate of forced change. In certain circumstances it may not be fitting to look at such things as lifestyle change in the ways we take care of our health. However, if a family can't afford to eat out every week or multiple times a week, home cooked meals can be healthier and create the opportunity to enjoy each other's company at the dinner table. If we can't afford a gym membership, we can still take a walk outside or find creative ways to keep active. Ultimately to survive the stress and anxiety of these times, we should allow ourselves to take a few moments, breathe deep and remember the simple ways of living that will help to bring us back down to a common ground. This may then seem like a source of prevention. Change now, sustainability  for next year, life long learnings for the future.