Hey Everyone!
Summer is upon is! The sun is up, beach days, kayaks, bikes, hiking, and camping are filling up our spare time. When I think about summer, I also hear a lot about getting fit and losing weight. It’s swimsuit season, I have to fit into my (insert your desired to be worn, but truthfully impossible to fit into article of summer clothing here)….
Swimsuit season isn’t really the only time we think about our weight though is it? I mean January 1 we are going to be gym rats and carbs…well you can tell the carbs where to go. Then comes wedding season, class reunion season, the aformentioned swimsuit season, the holiday season (where we inexplicably give up on being healthy for like 2-3 months; take off Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve/Day, yes…but November and December…why do we do that?), and then it’s back to January and resolution time. It’s a vicious cycle, a merry-go-round that we ride for the majority of our adult years.
We think about food a alot: restaurants are everywhere (even when the economy gets down the Olive Garden looks full), diet books, diet programs (ie: Jenny Craig, et al), diet foods (is “food” the right word), diet TV show like the “Biggest Loser”, etc. We as a culture are obsessed. It is a sign of our country’s abundance that even in a economic downturn we can eat till we are too full and too fat. We can eat till “eat too much” is the problem, when for many in the world the problem is “what will I eat”. We ask “what SHOULD I eat”.
We have all seen the commercials, right. The one that has the small child from a nation that is far away and filled with other hungry people. Those things don’t always compute, because….well we are a little self absorbed and that seems so far away. It doesn’t feel real. Here is the thing….it is very real. There are many around the world who will go to bed hungry tonight. In fact worldhunger.org states that over 1 billion people are currently hungry. That is roughly 1 in 6 people worldwide. The thing is that still feels far away.
This is not only far away. This happening right here at home. In the greatest nation in the world, our people are hungry. The richest, most powerful nation in the world can’t even feed its people. There’s plenty of food, obviously (as a nation we are getting fatter). The food is not getting spread around and shared. I understand that people have to make their own way and earn their own way. Everyone can have a bad break though and need some help. Moreover, we are only as strong as our weakest link and if there are people who don’t have enough to eat, this reflects on all of us. In 2008, 13 million kids lived in poverty or 1 in 6 kids….sounds just like the world numbers, doesn’t it. This is a big problem and those who are the “haves”, have responsibility.
So what are we going to do and how is this a problem locally. During the holiday season we all feel more giving and the local food pantries are okay and can meet needs. When the holiday season ends we stop thinking about the less fortunate and move on with our lives. The thing is though, the people who are hungry still need to eat. The food pantry with less donations, gets empty and cannot meet needs. They are struggling right now. Other communities can do whatever, but we have to take care of our people. New Hampshire has to be better than other states, and as the capital area, we have to set the tone. I am no better at any of this, but I know we can come together and make a difference.
With that in mind, I am excited to announce “Christmas in July” at Crossroads! We will be accepting donations from July 1 to July 29 of canned goods and nonperishable food items. You can be the catalyst of change in the capital area. You can make sure that a kid doesn’t go to bed hungry tonight. You have the ability and power to change lives. The thing is, some may be thinking….”we are barely making it, where will get extra.” I understand, but if that is the case even small donations make a big difference. A can of beans is like 60 cents, skip a soda one day. You just improved the quality of life for someone else. Isn’t that really what a successful life is…nobody takes there BMW with them when they die, but change a life or improve a life of another and that is a life well lived and worthy to be remembered. It’s not what you have, it’s what you do.
We don’t want to leave you without a thank you for your trouble though.We will be having a weekly raffle for “surprise gifts”. For every 3 canned goods you donate, you earn 1 raffle ticket. Write a testimonial (your experience at Crossroads) and get 3 raffle tickets, set up a spinal screening or health talk at your work and get 4 raffle tickets, and if you refer a friend or loved on for a spinal check this month you be given 5 raffle tickets! This is going to be a really fun month. We are so thankful for all of you. I get excited when I work with all of you, because I see so much greatness in our practice members. Thank you for letting us be a part of that. Have a great day and Merry Christmas!
In Health, Dr. Graham, chiropractor