THE BUZZ… I just participated in a meeting of the Wellness Initiative for the Nation (WIN) hosted by the Samueli Institute. The purpose of WIN is to prevent disease and illness, enhance health and productivity, and create well-being and flourishing for the people of America. For two and half hours we talked about how to move our current Disease Management Model of healthcare to a more Integrative Wellness Model.
This is my work for the coming year and beyond – doing whatever I can to help move this forward and help our new administration shape a patient-centered healthcare system. It’s a tall order, but I truly believe we can now make it happen under our new leadership.
There was a renewed sense of hope in our discussions – even among people like Dr. Herbert Benson (the Harvard Medical pioneer who coined the “Relaxation Response”) who was in the conversation. He’s been at this for years, with his landmark studies on meditation and stress management. Nevertheless, his excitement about our new possibilities was palatable. I know I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and help make something happen!
Last week, I did an interview for Gary Null’s Progressive Radio Network. A major part of that discussion was also on Integrative Healthcare. If you missed it, you can listen to it online. In the interview, I mention some of the great healing traditions I was blessed to be exposed to growing up – from Africa to Australia to my Cherokee Indian ancestory. With that inspiration, I’ll leave you with a Sioux quote which touches upon the body-mind-spirit connection which is an important part of a “whole” view on health:
Silence is the absolute poise or balance of body, mind and spirit. The man who preserves his selfhood is ever calm and unshaken by the storms of existence … What are the fruits of silence? They are self-control, true courage or endurance, patience, dignity and reverence. Silence is the cornerstone of character.
With Purpose & Power,
Terri
