Are You Part Of The Problem Or Part Of The Solution?

The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute rated Minnesota Counties on their health and it was reported that, “Cass County ranked at the bottom of the list for Minnesota, and Beltrami County fared almost as poor.”   With Cass County and Beltrami Counties rated as two of the lowest rated counties in Minnesota, there is a lot of work to do if this is going to change.  The definition of insanity is to do the same things over and over and expect a different result.  So the question is, what do we need to do as a community and what do you have to do as an individual to make Cass and Beltrami two of the healthiest counties to live in? 

You first must determine if you are healthier today compared to 5 years ago.  IF THE ANSWER IS YES, WHAT DID YOU DO TO GROW YOUR HEALTH OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS?  If the answer is no, well that’s not good and what are you going to do about it?

Will you be healthier five years from now than you are today?  If the answer is yes, what will you do to grow your health over the next five years? 

What’s the common thread?  Everyone healthier today than five years ago and everyone expecting to be healthier five years from now have something in common.  A healthier lifestyle.

The first step to becoming healthier is creating your vision. Without a clear vision people are in a constant state of confusion about health and wellness and they usually end up not doing anything.

Vision asks the question… IF YOUR LIFE AND HEALTH COULD BE ANYWAY YOU WANTED IT (Next year, 5 years from now or at the age of 85… Your choice) WHAT EXACTLY WOULD IT LOOK LIKE? Be specific. Do you want to be sitting on a beach somewhere enjoying the company of your loved ones?

Or in some nursing home sitting in a wheelchair, wearing Depends and drooling on yourself? It’s your choice…The lifestyle choices you make in life now will determine your quality of life years from now.

A football field has a goal line, and in order to be successful in football you must be able to see the goal. The same is true with health… you must first create a vision of what you want your life and health to be like.

Next month we will discuss the skill, motivation, resources, and a plan to get you were you want to be so you are part of the solution and not part of the problem of the health care crisis right here in Cass and Beltrami Counties.

Dr. Mike Headlee is the owner of Explore Chiropractic in downtown Bemidji.  He has been a chiropractor for 18 years.  He speaks about and teaches health and wellness principles.