Happy and Healthy
by Dr. Greg Loman

Looking at a room full of people, we see that there is one consistency: people are very different. This consistency is seen in our genetic makeup, our fingerprints, our decisions, and our freedom as human beings to prioritize and enjoy what is important in each of our own lives. Topographical preference is seen with those who love the heat of the south, while many others prefer the cold and dreary northern winters. Some individuals love to cut their hair short, and others enjoy their lavish long locks. Some people enjoy the security of saving their money, while others bask in their ability to spend it in seconds. All of these things are evidence to our diverse makeup and preferences.

While every human being should be granted their unalienable right to achieve happiness, there are some downfalls in our overzealous and drastically diverse world. Such different desires make living on this planet a unique experience, but it also makes agreeing on anything near impossible. Elections are a great example of our diverse desires and needs. The candidates choose different platforms, different political parties, and different methods of campaign. All of these elements are attributed to the candidate's own personal preference, and contribute to appealing to our preferences as voters.

After practicing in health care for over seventeen years, and working with over twenty thousand patients, I've seen the incredible diversity of our country. Even better, after all of my efforts I have finally found one category that most people over fifty-five overwhelmingly agree upon. After speaking with thousands of patients, I'm commonly prompted to ask what they value the most in life. Many respond with their undying love for family, and many include their favorite hobbies, but over 90 percent touch on the importance of their quality of life.

When I was younger I believed that if you had money, that you were automatically happy. I believed that money could grant almost anything, even happiness. Once age, wisdom, and seventeen years of practice set in, it was very clear to me that money could not buy health or happiness. I see evidence of this in my practice, where I see countless people with boatloads of money and a great family who are still miserable.

Eventually your health begins to slip and so, too, does your happiness. The Bentley and summer-home-sized bank accounts become irrelevant after realizing that your life is passing you by. Do not live life like the average person. The average person in America works their first forty years, spending their health to gain their wealth, and they then work their last forty years spending their wealth to try and regain their health. By living healthy, you could be ensuring a happy future for years to come!