1. Video clip that caught my attention this week…
There are lots of social media posts that highlight social problems and help to get us thinking about the ramifications of our actions (or inaction). I saw one this week about the dangers kids face on the internet. Kids take a mandatory written exam, are required to complete a certain number of hours in a car with an instructor, and must pass a driver’s test in order to be licensed to legally drive. Why? Because driving a car is a huge responsibility and comes with a ton of risk, and putting a kid behind the wheel with no guidance, education, or instruction would surely lead to catastrophe. Yet we hand over cell phones to children with no real instruction. It dawned on me this week how crazy that is. Cell phones are SO powerful. They can get kids into SO MUCH trouble and are loaded with temptations, addictive properties, and potential harm. I’m not saying that we should get rid of cell phones, but they warrant more responsible handling and better preparation before allowing full access. Teens now spend an average of 4.8 hours on social media DAILY. (That is staggering!) What got me thinking about this was this post on social media which was VERY well done…
2. Stat I saw this week…
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming very prevalent with at least 25% of Americans suffering with it (some estimates are closer to 50%). This is something that used to be seen primarily in alcoholics, but now is being seen in the general population. It is one of the leading causes of liver cancer. So, here is the stat that caught my attention… drinking regular soda may raise the risk of getting NAFLD by 50%. And drinking regular diet soda is even worse… raising the risk to 60% (reported by CNN). The good news? Cutting out the soda reduces that risk. (Duh!) There are so many reasons to avoid drinking sodas and diet sodas. The calories, the sugar, the artificial sweeteners, the artificial colors and flavors, and the other toxic ingredients. I’ve seen patients lose 40-50 pounds in one year simply by cutting out the two sodas they were drinking each day. What’s the best drink??? WATER!!!
3. Quote I love…
“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly.”
Marcus Aurelius has lots of great quotes. I saw this one this week, and it caused me to stop and think. What if your life was to end today? This is it. What would you wish you would have done? What would you wish you would have said? Where would you wish you would have gone? Well… you’re NOT dead… so DO, SAY, and GO… NOW!!!
