What do you complain about the most? Oh boy, that is today’s #bloganuary daily prompt.

The injustice of it all, of course! Greedy McGreedersons using people up as if they were put on Earth to be subservient slaves. There is more to life than putting in blood, sweat, and tears for the fat cats who lord from above and manipulate the people like a lesser species on the chess board below.

It’s truly disheartening for me to witness the pervasive nature of exploitation and inequality in our society on the daily. Each person deserves to be valued and respected, not treated as mere tools for the benefit of a select few. The balance of power often seems skewed, favoring those who are already privileged, while countless others struggle to make ends meet. This imbalance perpetuates a cycle of disadvantage and reinforces the barriers to upward mobility leading people into hopelessness and addiction (food, sex, drugs, and alcohol) which only worsens their situation. I see it up close and personal everyday at work in hospitals and in homes – poverty of resources that is making people sick mentally and physically – and it makes me sick to see it sitting on my shoulders and in my heart like a dead weight.

The only thing I have to cling to is faith, hope, and love. It’s like holding onto the last slice of pizza (addictive x-cheese and all) at a party – a real challenge, especially when everyone around you is trying to snatch it away. Every day feels like a showdown between the Avengers and the forces of cynicism and despair, with my beliefs hanging in the balance. But hey, in these crazy, maddening times, faith is like the superhero that shows up fashionably late, radiating positivity and giving me the strength to keep on fighting. Or maybe, faith is my superpower, rather than a superhero. It gives me strength. Yes, I am indeed turning into my mother – that seems like something that she would say and I failed to fully comprehend when I was a youngster.

But truly, it is in the face of adversity that our strength is put to the test, and it is during these challenges when hope seems but a distant dream that the true depth of our resolve is revealed. Despite encountering dishonesty and moral decline, it is our steadfast commitment to what is just and good that upholds us, motivating us to stand unwavering in our beliefs and strive for a brighter tomorrow. Let us not be discouraged by the scale of the challenges ahead, but rather, let us draw from the source of our faith, hope, and love to weather the storm and emerge even stronger, united in our vision for a world guided by integrity.

Is that possible do you think?

That is why I chose to include a bit of the spiritual in my book. When talking about lifestyle medicine I cannot really cut out it’s importance and that of rooting for some serious reworking of the system (or at least a better awareness of how it works) to make things fair and square for everyone (or at least a littler fairer and little squarer). Without that, how can people change even if they want to? By joining our superpowers and speaking with one voice, we can build a world somewhere over the rainbow where every person can flourish and make a real contribution to their families and communities without being held back by unfair systems and dodgy practices.

Practical solutions? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?

I try to plant seeds. Seeds to empower people to make their own choices instead of allowing others to do so for the sake of convenience. This first step is simply education and awareness-building. By empowering people with the knowledge and understanding to critically evaluate the status quo, we can encourage them to make informed choices and advocate for change. Maybe we do not want to eat what they are serving, buy what the gigantors are selling, or play and cheer the games they set up for us. Maybe we can go out of our way to think for ourselves, help ourselves and each other to navigate through the struggles, and find out for our own selves what brings us joy. If we are too lazy to do that then I suppose they will continue to run the show.

Awareness is a good first step, but to have a meaningful impact we cannot stop there or it does just kind of start to sound like complaining, right? Community engagement is also important. Platforms and meetings for open dialogue, encouraging active participation in local initiatives, and fostering a sense of collective responsibility for the well-being of all community members. Encouraging and fostering is doable, but getting everyone to actually participate is a struggle. If it involves challenging established norms and structures people do not want to stick their neck out – rightfully so because there can be backlash. Advocating for policy reforms and amplifying marginalized voices is not for the timid. No pressure, just the fate of the world on our shoulders with the risk possible ostracization, ridicule, and disenfranchisement! No biggie.

People can become less timid through the promotion of individual agency and empowerment. Encouraging people to take ownership of their choices, beliefs, and actions can lead to greater autonomy and self-determination. By fostering a culture of self-reflection and personal growth, individuals can become catalysts for broader societal transformation and pave the way for less suffering. When you break it down that way it seems like a possibility, but I suppose not. Somewhere in the manual it says that the poor will always be among us.

Ultimately, turning things around for the better is like a multifaceted recipe for the perfect dish – it takes time, dedication, collaboration, a few kitchen mishaps, and a whole lot of teamwork and commitment to progress toward the end result of unattainable perfection.

So, grab your apron, rally the troops, and let us discover the recipe for a delicious life and justice for all!

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