Discussion Board

Each month I eagerly anticipate Dr. McDougall's newsletter and wonder what-in-the-world he will gift us with each month.

The April 2008 "McDougall Newsletter" arrived in my email today, and I have already copied the lead article to take to my Sr. Support Group today, for both a couple of the women with whom I am sharing the "McDougall Program" (and McD and McD related books and articles and DVD's etc.) and for the leader (a social worker) who encourages me (and gives me time in the group) to share what I can about taking care of our bodies (--when specific subjects are brought up by other members; I told the leader I would share when ASKED!)-- starting with what we eat and drink and our exercise--a foreign concept to most of the other participants, most of whom have suffered either/or surgeries, joint replacements, are using canes and walkers, carry bags of pills, on oxygen at night, crippled by arthritis, on anti-depressants, etc..

--And before I joined the group--all of them considered their conditions a normal part of "getting old", and part of the purpose of the support group turned out to be to "support" each other through the depression they experience BECAUSE of all the HEALTH problems, and the MONEY problems because of the HEALTH problems.

I had no idea what I was walking into (thinking I was going for support and gathering info. about paper-work, and Medicare stuff, and Social Security info., and end-of-life issues (having things arranged and recorded accurately in advance how I want them to be, assigning PODs, State specific legal forms, burial instructions, no heroic life saving procedures, etc.; preparing wills and living wills, and that kind of thing. I've always been a Planner! ),

---but have come to believe my presence there is for an even "grander" purpose (of ALSO being a "messenger"), if I can carry it off w/o offending, and continue to contribute. There is far more interest than I would have ever expected in some of the things I have been able to share so far.

Life is strange in the directions it can take, sometimes.

They have added in-season fresh fruit to the daily snack offerings of cheese-n-crackers, surgary baked goods, diet and regular sodas, etc., because of my bringing my own in from time to time.

I appreciate this article and its tone-- a practical approach to health, income, productivity, etc.,
--and I appreciate beyond words to express the on-going positive impact Dr. McDougall and his teachings have on my life.
--THANK YOU, Dr. McDougall, for your teachings, for sharing them freely-with passion, and for "living your mission"!

For those not yet subscribed to the newsletter:
Lead article-- Four More Health and Medical Considerations for Your Financial Future http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2008nl/apr/four.htm

LINK to entire newsletter on web:
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2008nl/apr/080400.htm

The importance of staying healthy is something I keep bringing up periodically on my blog. It's something that I feel too many "preppers" gloss over. It doesn't matter how big a garden you've planted, or whether you've bought a bike to ride instead of driving. If you don't have the energy or good enough health because of poor diet, you won't be able to keep up with the weeds or ride the bike!