September 14, 2009

the art of life



I have received a plethora of email about where I saw Dr. Oz, so...here is the answer. He was part of an anniversary celebration held for Central Baptist Hospital. I happened to be in the right place at the right time and serendipitously scored front row seats to his lecture. Ted Turner was pretty happy to be there too-and sitting only 4 or 5 seats away! He graciously smiled for this picture after he saw how excited I was to see him (AGAIN, apologies to my mortified family sitting next to me).
Anyway, like Dr. Oz; Central Baptist's progressive thinking includes a wellness center with a focus on the patient working as an equal partner with healthcare providers. And that, if you think about it, is quite a stretch from the old way of thinking where, unfortunately, many patients have long expected doctors to deliver a magic potion that would nullify decades of unhealthy living choices. As Dr. Oz has pointed out, "the current healthcare controversy will NOT be won in Washington, but in our own kitchens, homes and communities" because, while only a third of health issues are genetic, the other two-thirds are a direct result of lifestyle choices that include the mind, body and spirit. And what does that have to do with art? Absolutely everything, I would suspect. Dr. Wayne Dyer would call these choices "reenergizing our surroundings" with this advice:
"Choose to be in the company of those who hold a space for you to achieve the joy of maximizing, rather then minimizing, your highest human potential. Make your surroundings a temple of love and kindness. Pay attention to the music you listen to, the art you view, even the arrangement of your furniture and flowers—all of it!"

4 comments:

Rhonda Hartis Smith said...

Well you certainly got a nice smile from Ted! You're right about making choices (most of mine are wrong) and the consequences from them.

Crazy RAvens Studio said...

Wow Faye, You move in very cool circles. As a recipient of Canadian health care (we do have to pay for it!) I sincerely hope the US will adopt a universal health care plan.

L.Holm said...

Very cool, Faye, and how beautifully stated. Must have been quite an evening! I like the sound of this hospital a lot.

Kelley Carey MacDonald said...

So true, what Dr. Oz says. Also, not only lifestyle choices, but our acceptance of living in a chemical filled world - our wall-to-wall carpets, even our enhanced building materials... the non-stick pots & pans... all our 'diet' drinks and food 'enhancements' - we really need to think. Not easy. Not fun, but we really should do it.
Thanks for a great post!