I remember when I worked in communities in South Florida some years ago. These were health-related jobs. Community-oriented. Prevention-focused. I recall the successes and the challenges, and how difficult it was to bring about lasting change. Diabetes grew exponentially in these communities, even among groups who by all rights should have never dealt with it. Heart disease was rampant. Deaths related to risky behaviors were out of control. Our efforts helped, to be sure, but the bang was definitely small relative to the buck.

Today our elected officials will vote on an historic health bill. Unfortunately the outcome will be more about politics than it will be about health. That opponents would threaten to make proponents “pay dearly” in the next election is testimony enough to that. That we have allowed a government that is for politics rather than for the people, though, gives us a wonderful opportunity to take responsibility for ourselves, and it underscores the importance that we do so. There is no better place to do this than with our health.

No doubt, medical care is needed for those who are ill. And those who need it should have all the access they need without prejudice or judgment.

There is also no doubt that many more medical moments would be better spent educating people in order to forestall or eliminate the future need to treat.

Health care reform might — might — do some good in these regards.

But most, and by a big margin, of what kills us today could have been prevented with little effort. Although prevention is one of the cornerstones of the reform bill, on paper anyway, it does not need to be legislated. And it definitely doesn’t need to cost money.

Prevention takes providers who are willing to take a stand and educate even if it costs them time or money to do it.

And it takes consumers who are willing to trade the time that they practice unhealthy behaviors for time spent living a healthy lifestyle.

The providers and consumers might even end up saving time in the long run.

What can we do that has nothing to do with Washington?

Walk — for those who can, its free.
Stretching doesn’t cost a cent.
Eat a healthier diet, and you may save money.
Mindfulness? No cost.
Smile at a stranger on the street! Free.
Drop the news.
Volunteering. Start each day on Purpose. Take a moment for reflection before bed. Lift a telephone book or a bible over your head while you watch TV. Stretch your legs of feet while you sit. All free.

Every one of these things has been shown to enhance health and to play a powerful role in preventing disease.

You can find learn more about them in libraries and through community events (plenty are free), or on the internet if you already have access.

Want to learn even more than that? Offer your services at a local wellness conference and get in for free. Watch public television or listen to the radio counterpart. Talk to people. All free, all the time. There for the taking.

While it’s nice that people are thinking about health reform, what is most likely to come of reform is greater access to care. That is critical, but it would also be far less of a concern if we lived a no- or little-cost healthy life to begin with.

All that you need for the greatest impact on your own health and wellness is already at your disposal. It has nothing to do with the politics that our elected officials call health reform. Indeed, even if something good does happen to come from the politics, the impact will likely be minimized by the choices that each of us continue to make every day.

Unless, of course, we reform ourselves and make different choices.

Oh yeah, choices. They are free too!

With Love,
Dr. Mark