A little girl in first grade at Chautauqua wasn’t learning to read and write. Her teacher suggested she be evaluated for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She was diagnosed with ADHD. By then, the girl was in summer school.
Reboot. Do over.
We all need a fresh start sometimes, but it isn’t easy when we are immersed in our busy lives.
I avoided avocados for decades because they are high in fat. It turns out that avocados contain “good fat,” the same kind that is in olive oil.
Stress feels uncomfortable. It also makes us fat, sick and sometimes brain damaged. When we are stressed, our bodies produce cortisol. If we are being chased by a wolf, that surge of cortisol is very helpful. The problem is when we are stressed all the time. Cortisol makes us hungry, so we eat more. If we are not being chased by a wolf, the extra calories are stored as fat.
We are not alone. Ninety percent of the cells in our bodies are not human. They are microbes — bacteria that influence our health and happiness throughout our lives.
“Why are you doing that?” my teenage son demands when I use the car’s turn signal with no other car in sight. “Because,” I explain, for the umpteenth time, “it is easier to do it than to think about it.” Our brains use a lot less energy when we do something by habit. Energy use spikes when we have to make a choice, such as turning right or left. Once the choice is made and habit takes over, energy use plummets.
Is our community up to the challenge of creating a “culture of health?” According to the Advisory Council on Nutrition, “It will take concerted, bold actions on the part of individuals, families, communities, industry, and government to achieve and maintain the healthy diet patterns and the levels of physical activity needed to promote the health of the U.S. population.
“I don’t want to offend you,” my friend said apologetically, “but isn’t it just a matter of having self-control?” We were talking about the struggles some people, including me, have with food. My friend is one of those people who never had a weight problem. She “watches what she eats” and exercises every day. To her it is like brushing her teeth.
“You’re a shadow of your former self!” a friend called in greeting to me. What? Oh, yeah, she means the 67 pounds I’ve lost.
I took my cell phone out to the car, away from my kids’ inquisitive ears, to make the call. Took a couple of deep breaths and dialed. “Hi. I don’t think we’ve ever met . . .”
You did it! You understood the importance of having school buildings that are warm in the winter, classrooms large enough for students to work in teams and space for teachers to prepare for classes. We are very grateful. We will continue to earn your trust by closely monitoring expenditures to be sure the work is done well, on time and on budget. The federal award of $17.5 million will save Island taxpayers approximately $8 million in interest payments over the life of the bond.
