I had to give some extra thought to this blog, if my count is right, this will be my 1,000th post, so it’s kind of special.
I thought it might be interesting if I presumed that such productivity, tenacity, or whatever actually makes me wise, and offer some advice and suggestions for all of us. Feel free to join in, or not.
- Sit down with a copy of the United States’ Constitution and seriously read it. As written, it was not perfect (slavery, being the most flagrant example), but most of the amendments have improved it over the years. It’s really an amazing set of ideas.
- Put down the smartphone, tablet, PlayStation, or whatever and look at the real world; talk with real people—don’t text them, actually have a friendly interactive conversation. Engage in a real game or undertake a real adventure.
- Listen to a viewpoint that is different from your own on a subject that you feel deeply about. Really listen—with an open mind. It may not change your belief, but don’t you wonder why some people have such different ideas?
- Take some quiet time to examine yourself with regard to Faith. What do you believe? How important is it to you? How much does it impact your actions? Why?
- Finally, go help someone, just a little. Volunteer an hour a month with the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the local food pantry or soup kitchen. The list of organizations that depend on volunteers is long, and your participation can make a difference.
sfnowak 
Congratulations on your 1000th. You have written beautifully and dutifully for all these years. And your suggestions for us are here are wonderful. If anyone has ever read Constitutions of other countries, the Constitution of America–which is only a few pages long–would strike a special inspiration and patriotism for the vision of our country.
Benjamin Franklin did NOT author much of our Constitution, but he did edit a lot of it and he had many ideas and ideals for it’s foundation–many of which had to do with citizen wellness but didn’t get in. Much of what he thought back in those years are perhaps more relevant today than they were then.
For example, he quoted Hippocrates: “Let food by thy medicine–and medicine be thy food.” And then Franklin said: The single most important way for many people to quickly improve their health is to “subtract unhealthy foods, not to add healthy foods.” Eating broccoli does not ‘cancel out’ devouring three slices of bacon, for example. And he concluded with this:
“When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”
But, with a focus on “limited government” and a focus on individual responsibility, our Constitutional Fathers vetoed Franklin’s wellness ideals.
Oh, but how visionary and how right Franklin was. Wellness, too, is something we must all take a moment to ponder.