Imagine being stranded in the woods. You’re alone, you’re lost, and you do not know what to do. You have been waiting for someone… anyone… to come rescue you. Surely someone realizes you are missing, they will alert the authorities, and help should be on the way. But it’s getting late, the temperature is starting to drop, and you’re very hungry.
At some point, you must realize that no one is coming to save you. Action needs to be taken right now. You need to start constructing some kind of shelter and begin foraging for food. The longer you wait, the more dire your situation will become.
I feel like this is a scenario much like healthcare today. Things are falling apart, and most people don’t realize the crisis that is unfolding. The U.S. is among the sickest of countries, ranking 79th in health outcomes, despite spending considerably more on healthcare than any other country on the planet. There is a misconception that the answer to all our healthcare woes is just around the corner, but it is actually the opposite. We are getting sicker and sicker.
There is the promise of new breakthrough drugs, aimed to cure all ailments, but drugs are clearly not the answer. The U.S. makes up only 5% of the world’s population, yet consumes 50% of all the world’s drugs. If drugs were the answer, all of our health issues would be long gone. Many think better health insurance, a better doctor, more advanced diagnostic equipment, or bigger, newer hospitals will be all it takes to get us well again. All of those, too, have proven to come up short. And not only is our modern healthcare system not making sick people well, it accounts for the third leading cause of death. I know, it makes no sense… the system responsible for the health and well-being of Americans is actually one of the leading killers? Yep! It’s crazy!
What is the scariest, and should be the most upsetting, is that children in this country are terribly ill. Fifty percent of children are overweight or obese, 40% have a mental health diagnosis, 1 in 9 has asthma, 1 in 6 has a learning disability, 1 in 5 have seasonal allergies, more than 1 in 4 have at least one chronic illness (1 in 15 have multiple chronic illnesses), and 1 in 36 have autism. What drug, procedure, doctor, or hospital will miraculously fix all that? None.
The truth is, no one is coming to save you. It’s not getting dark, it’s pitch black. It’s not getting cold, it’s already frigid. You’re not getting hungry, you’re starving. The crisis isn’t coming… it is already here.
There is good news! Your body is equipped to not only survive, but to thrive. It is self-developing, self-adapting, and self-healing. It just has specific requirements. And these requirements have not been met for most people for a long time. The person that is going to save you… is you! The quality of your health is dependent on your lifestyle choices. Give the body what it needs, and it performs better. Deprive it of what it needs, or pollute it, and you’ll continue to get sicker and sicker.
You have the ability to dramatically impact the way you feel, function, and heal. You’ve got expert advice and tons of resources at your fingertips, through books, the internet, podcasts, and friends. Yes, there is a lot of bogus info out there, but there is so much good stuff right there for you. You MUST commit your time, energy, and money to pursuing answers. Most people’s current path is one leading to sickness, pain, and despair. You’ll go bankrupt paying for medicines that don’t cure your conditions, you’ll get sicker trying to find a new doctor or waiting to get in to see a medical doctor, and you’re at risk of become a statistic if you rely solely on the mainstream healthcare system.
The biggest difference between the being stranded in the woods scenario and today’s healthcare scenario is that in the woods scenario, you still have some time, and you’re not in a crisis just yet. In terms of healthcare, however, time is up. We have hit rock bottom. Most people are already in a crisis. It is time to reclaim our health and our healthcare. It is time to get up, get going, and get well. You can do it! You MUST do it! No one is coming to save you.
