This is the time of year many people make resolutions for improving their lives, or at the very least think about their lives in terms of years instead of the minute by minute perspective in which we so often live out our days. I appreciate that we have this yearly built in reminder to look at the bigger picture, make goals, to think about who we want to be and how we intend to get there, although I don’t personally feel inspired in the dead of winter to make any big changes. I struggle every January with winter’s lessons, and leave my bigger picture thinking for the warmer, brighter days of early spring. Towards the end of last year though, I heard a bit of news that I’ve been gnawing on ever since I first heard it and felt compelled to look further into it. I have to wonder, as a whole, are we even making the right New Years Resolutions?
The news item was that American life expectancy is declining, while all other comparable nations’ life expectancy continues to improve. With all our health gurus, power supplements, fitness obsessions, smart watches, and expert doctors, how are we missing the mark in such a grand way? Almost every day there is some “new finding” that gets touted on the news and social media about what to do be healthy here, for example, eat blueberries for brain health, or walk 10K steps a day, (or is it thirty minutes? Or 7,000 steps? Or is the key to moderate the intensity? Or change it every 10 days? Keto or intermittent fasting or celery juice? ) It seems so…desperate, like a person who really really wants something so badly that they grasp onto every new promise like it’s their only hope, their last life saving technique that will float them to everlasting health and happiness. If this were one person, we’d call that person neurotic, but as a nation we call it culture, and it clearly isn’t working.
This website I found has graphs which illustrate the disparities between the U.S. and comparable countries, and it is pretty astounding. The one that shocks me the most, is the amount of money Americans spend on healthcare compared to peer countries, take a look:
https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/HqLAQ/
This isn’t just a healthcare problem, although I do think the American healthcare system is deeply flawed and the pharmaceutical industry is problematic at best, but it is also our food system, work culture demands, isolation and loneliness, stress of all sorts, racial and class systemic inequities, guns, and on and on. I know we can do better in all these realms because our peer nations are proving the point quite well. I don’t have any answers to overhauling all aspects of American life, but I am grateful for the statistical health organizations who track these things to make it clear that an overhaul is indeed needed. Knowledge is power after all. Let’s make real changes this year.
My wishes for you for 2024 is that wherever you are in the world, you have long-term goals defined, understand how to attain your goals, and enjoy your days while getting there.
Wow! Truly excellent article. Thought-provoking and words that are much needed right now. Great job bringing it to everyone’s attention!
Thank you 😊
Hi Kristen,
There is so much depressing news about our country and society at large. I have decided in 2024 to recommit to the work of Dr. Joe Dispenza and go deeper into this process than before. I believe our thought pattern and habits are linked to our state of health and overall awareness. This is part of my path and I am excited to see where it leads.
blessings,
Linda
Hi Linda! I’m happy to hear you have found a way to move forward with hope and inspiration despite all the depressing news. Maybe 2024 will the year so many are inspired to look around and choose better that real change will become visible.
OMG those statistics are truly shocking! It’s not very clear what the reason is for the declining life expectancy in the US? Do you have any ideas? I totally agree with your observation on the fact that what would be called neurosis in an individual, is called culture for a nation. Very thought-provoking. By the way, your notifications are going to my spam folder again🙄 x
I think it is a variety of things~ the saddest is that guns have actually played a role. Gun deaths have taken over car accidents as the number one cause of childhood deaths. Your notifications sometimes make it to me and sometimes don’t~ no idea why!
Brilliant post! I agree entirely!
Thank you- I am glad you agree!
I recently stumbled upon your blog and truly admire your style
Thank you!
This is such a great post with alarming statistics, Kristen!! It really is shocking…we have such incredible access and it doesn’t seem as though we should be lagging in this way! I’ll tell you another thing we can add to the list…Ozempic and other such drugs that everyone seems to be taking for weight loss!! I just know that when the long term statistics come out on that…well…I guess we will see!!!
This is a really well written article with such valid points! It doesn’t seem that we should be in this position…but then again…I can think of so many more!!
Sending lots of love and light!! <3
Good point about the misuse of pharmaceuticals~ it’s odd that people and their doctors are so nonchalant about the side effects and potential long-term detriment associated with pharmaceuticals and yet so reluctant to consider natural alternatives, like herbs, b/c they might be ‘dangerous’. Crazy times! Thank you for the love and light~ I always appreciate your presence here and your thoughtful blog posts.
I appreciate you too, Kristen!! So much <3
Everyone wants the easy fix in a pill. And it is so ironic that what is natural is viewed as "dangerous" and yet synthetic compounds…they must be safer…right?
It is a crazy world we live in…but it is also such a beautiful one!! Sending lots of love and light!1