CRAP BEHAVIOR IS NOT AN AMERICAN RIGHT

Yesterday, listening to Keith Oberman talk about health care,  I was stunned at how right he is and so happy he is a national newscaster who is able to share his opinions even though George Bush Sr. seems not to approve of what he says.  He brings up the truth and shares it due to his experience with his father.

He points out that he can afford to pay for his fathers needs, even then there are many things that should not be done, or done differently.

One  point stood out and that was the idea of having tests done so the doctor doesn’t need to get to know the patient or listen to symptoms if they have the test done. That appears to be enough.  I have felt this since I came to Los Angeles.  My doctor, an internist,  is a nice guy, pleasant, in and out and efficient and he has no idea who I am or how I feel.  He checks the tests and when I question him about something he retorts that he went to medical school to learn to sort things out.  Do I want to ask anything else?  Sure I do.

My rheumatologist gave me Symbalta for circulation and said it might help depression. She knew I had lost my husband recently when I first went to her.  When I told my internist the Symbalta made me nauceous he said “too bad” .  I am not sure what he meant. He never had time to find out how I felt, or that I had a major reason to be sad, or depressed for a while after my loss.  He figured the medication would be good.  After all it says it helps some things. Yet for me the side effects were horrible.

It doesn’t matter how much money you have the doctors seem to be in too much of a hurry, to actually get to know their patients.  Keith is right though, about how relieved he is that he can pay for major pain relief for his father. What happens when you cannot pay.  It is unspeakable how one must suffer. I used to live in New Hampshire and had the same wonderful doctor for twenty five years.  In Mexico the doctors take time and talk to you.  What is wrong in this country that we have forgotten how to do this?

I was talking to my daughter, who happens not to have insurance, and is looking for something reasonable because it is not supplied at work.  She tends to be very healthy, eats well, has never been over weight, nor has she smoked, or drink a lot.  She asked why should she have to pay more because people don’t take care of themselves.  Then on CNN one commentator said a phrase that hit home.

“Crap behavior is not an American Right.”  That needs to be said over and over.  People know smoking will kill most who do it.  If we drink too much our livers give out.  Many of us have been brought up in families that have no idea of how to eat healthy, perhaps by choice or ignorance or culture.  I believe that the eating behavior will be the most difficult to change.
We here in America have so many choices for bad food.  It tastes good, is fast and easily available.   We in this country are in too much of a hurry.  We don’t spend time enjoying our food, either cooking or eating for the most part.  In so many countries eating meals is a social time and we have forgotten this with our style of fast hurried life.

I for one, have always been overweight.  I have never smoked, I don’t drink much, an occasional glass of red wine which is supposed to be good for you, but I love sweets.  I have studied everything, know all the tricks, am a great cook.  But still I tend to often go for the easiest food, or the goodies that are available.  Fortunately I have been healthy most of my life.  At seventy five osteoarthritis is my biggest challenge. I used to work hard, in the garden, at work as a hairstylist but never, has exercise for exercise sake, made me feel good.   I always was happy to do something which made a difference in the yard, or house or things like that.  Maybe an occasional walk through  the forest or  on the beach during a vacation.  Now I do take pain pills for the arthritis, and vitamins and blood pressure and a statin.  Less is better but some of this is preventive for things that come with age or inheritance.

So how do we judge what is true “crap” behavior?   If our parents raised us to be heavy because they were, is that our fault? It is not easy to change our ways, goodness knows.  I just met a young man who has lost forty pounds, partly eating at Salad Creations where my daughter works.  I asked him if his mother liked him heavy and he said “Yes, she calls me her Teddy Bear.”  Now who is at fault there? I told him to get Wayne Dyers “No Excuses”.  We can make changes from what we have been taught in childhood. Dyer says we have memes we can change.  There must be an incentive. We have to have support.  There are always too many choices out there to tempt us.  I believe we come loving sweets for the most part.  Fortunate are those who are not that way.  Self control is wonderful, but when we are tired, hurried, worried, tense, we reach for comfort.  What is the substitute for that comfort?

I have a spiritual study and try to live that life to my best, but I see how I don’t make the right food decisions and I have more help than most.  How do we solve this problem?  Maybe that is the biggest question.  Maybe congress can figure out how we can go for the good stuff and keep ourselves as healthy and well as possible.  But then so many lately have not set a very good example in their own lives .

Can we bring ourselves to begin to turn around and cut out the crap behavior. What will inspire us to do this.  I would love to know the answer.