Why Do You Do What You Do?

Did you ever wonder why you go about life living the way you do?  Like why you chose to work in the career or job that you're in?  Or why you chose to get behind a cause that you support?  Or maybe even why you chose to buy that fancy new smartphone or GPS device?

GPS systems didn't just appear overnight and consume the general public to the point where just about everyone has one in their vehicle nowadays.  I mean heaven forbid if we actually had to stop and ask for directions in today's world.  How embarrassing would that be?!  Gone are the days that someone would actually have maps from Triple A shoved in their glove box so tight that you can hardly get the damn thing shut.  And I bet you anything that if you were to ask someone back in 1980 if they would shell out $200-$500 for a device that would take their Triple A map and put it in a little computer with the screen size that's hardly bigger than a credit card they would probably think you're nuts!  Not to mention adding in the fact that they would have to spend another $50-$125 to update the maps every year or two so they didn't get lost.  But we don't laugh now and instead probably roll our eyes when we find out that one of our closest friends doesn't have one of these things.  So how did we get here?

Well chances are that the only reason that you find yourself where you are in life today is because someone somewhere decided to take a risk and be different.  They decided to brush off the nay sayers and do something that was neither popular nor thought to be possible at the time.  They did it because they believed in whatever it is they were doing.  And they knew that someday we would believe in it too.  These are the people that lead and inspire.  They are the reason that we take part in a 3 day walk to find a cure for breast cancer or spend our weekend scouring the kiosks in the mall for the newest 3G phone.  Now the question you have to ask yourself is are you one of these people?  Or do you want to become one of these people?  Well here's their secret to success:

Uniquely Hardwired

I got to thinking (which is always a scary thought I've been told many times by my closest friends) that maybe there's something wrong with me. Or maybe it's not wrong but maybe it's just me being unique? Anyway, what I'm getting at is that I was thinking about life today and what it is that fills this life that I live. What it is that I feel that I'm really good at. And the thing that kept entering my cerebrum is the thought that "I'm good at working. Yes, I'm really good at working!" I'm not a big fan of sitting still and often go crazy after about 5-10 minutes of doing just that. Yes I know this may seem very draining to many of you but it's exhilarating to me in many ways.

It seems that I am always working at something in my life. I'm working at work. I'm working "volunteering" on my "weekends" or days off. I'm working during the evenings when I've got a few spare hours away from work trying to get some kind of chore or task done. Now it's not that I don't ever take time to just relax and have fun. But it seems like this is more of a rare occasion than anything else. I'm always trying to accomplish something by working towards making a positive impact on the world around me.

Currently I'm working extra shifts since we're short staffed at work. I'm also working during a majority of my time away from work at trying to build a company and a website from the bottom up that will help guide people to achieving a healthier life both physically, mentally, and emotionally. And then on the side I'm working by taking an online course to get certified in plant based nutrition to further my expertise in building my company and website. I'll be working even more after that by continuing my education and taking another online course to get certified in anticoagulation therapy this fall.

Even though I take some time off it's never really a lot. In fact, I've actually cashed out PTO (paid time off) because I've accumulated more than I can bank. And when you can bank 300 hours that's a lot of time off! I can't possibly think of what I would do if I would take all that time off?!

If you think of it, that's really a lot of work! I'm sure you're feeling exhausted just reading about it or maybe you can relate. It's funny because when I meet other people for the first time and they inquire about what I like to do for fun I actually have to pause and think about this for awhile. I often perceive a lot of odd assessments going through their head when they see me hesitate. They're probably thinking "Who doesn't automatically know what they like to do for fun?!!!" And it's not that I don't like to have fun but rather that a lot of the "work" that I do at least away from my real work (job) IS having fun to me. In a way, I can't imagine my life any other way. If I could single handedly save the world with my efforts I would. But that would take a lot more work that I'm capable of doing.

It's a good thing I'm single and have the time to accomplish so much. Then again maybe that's why I'm single :-) And it's most certainly a big reason why the whole having children thing is out of the question for me now and forever. Not that having and raising a family is bad it's just not for me. I love the way I live my life and look forward to what I can accomplish in the next 60-70 years.

In the mean time, I guess I'll just keep working because the feeling I get from reflecting on the difference that it all makes really touches home to me. It leaves me with a smile inside that no human can see. And that's worth every last second that I've ever spent "working". So if you see me and I'm actually taking a break in life cherish it because it won't last for long! I can't help but think of what my uncle was always saying when it comes to life.... "You can rest when you're dead." Well I'm not dead yet :-)

Just Be And They Will See

I saw a sign in front of a church today when I was taking my walk. On this sign was the following quote - "Coincidence is when God chooses to be anonymous".

When we live a life of example which portrays love, compassion, and kindness to others it resonates within them. When we preach at people it tends to offend them or be a major turn off. The best part about life is that we all have the freedom to choose how we live. It's not necessarily about being religious. It's about being an example of God's anonymous :-)

Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution

I watched the first episode of Jamie's new show and I have to admit that I'm hooked! This is inspiring. I'm seeing more and more healthy food and nutrition information making it out there in the mainstream media. With a little bit of fun thrown into the education part of a healthy diet we can all become better individuals :-) I hope you enjoy the show as much as I did.

Watch more here - Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.

Today's Actions, Tomorrow's Hope

I just watched the new remake of We Are The World (Haiti style) and I have to admit I love it! I loved the original version too. They both make me smile :-) If only we could all put into practice the message within the song as we go about our daily lives this really would be an even better place to live and learn from each other.

I ask of you this... do something that makes a positive impact on one person today and carry that forward to tomorrow. And don't forget to comment and share your story right here to inspire the next reader that comes along.

Today's Miracle Pill... Bet You Can't Guess What It Is.

If I had a dollar for every time someone ask me if there was ONE pill that could cure everything I'd be a very rich and happy retired pharmacist sipping my umbrella drink on a tropical island right now. Of course there is no such thing as a miracle pill but the latest evidence based medicine would suggest there is a pill that comes close. In fact this pill is really, really inexpensive and readily available to anyone who wants it. I bet you anything you'd never guess what it is. You want to take a stab at this one?

The answer is vitamin D and no I'm not kidding. I feel so strongly about the overwhelming evidence that vitamin D has on us that I couldn't keep it a secret any longer. So let's get down to business!

Vitamin D comes in a few different forms. The most common forms are Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Cholecalciferol is the natural form of vitamin D found in the human body and is the preferred product when taking supplemental vitamin D. You can read more about the different vitamin D forms here - Vitamin D pharmacology. Many people get vitamin D naturally from the sunlight which their skin converts to cholecalciferol in the body. But vitamin D can also be obtained in the diet although in small quantities that fall short of your daily needs.

So will taking vitamin D cure everything and prevent 100% of any human ailment? Of course not and it would be inappropriate and irresponsible for me or anybody else to tell you this. But will vitamin D drastically improve your long term health? Absolutely without question! Adequate vitamin D levels have been proven through evidenced based medicine to improve your chances against heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, dementia, autoimmune diseases, arthritis, gout, and the list goes on and on. Dr. Frank Lipman wrote an excellent article detailing many of the important aspects of vitamin D titled Vitamin D:What You Need to Know.

Dr. Soram Khalsa recently wrote an article about how studies have shown that adequate vitamin D supplementation reduced breast cancer risk by as much as 50-60%. Now find me a prescription medication that can do this. You can read the full article titled Breast Cancer, Integrative Medicine, and Vitamin D for more information.

Life Extension recently published a comprehensive article on vitamin D in which they studied the results of over 13,000 patients who supplemented with vitamin D and routinely checked their vitamin D levels. They found that inadequate vitamin D levels were found in approximately 85% of these patients. They also noted that vitamin A, often found in many multivitamins in the retinol form (not the beta-carotene form), actually works against vitamin D and it's positive health benefits. They recommend that your multivitamin has no more than 1,000 units of vitamin A in it for this reason. I would encourage you to read their article titled Startling Findings About Vitamin D Levels in Life Extension Members.

What is considered a "good" vitamin D level? First off, the most accurate vitamin D test to have done is the 25-hydroxyvitamin D level which is also known as 25(OH)D level. Your doctor can order this test if you ask. After reviewing multiple articles on vitamin D supplementation I've found that the experts deem a 25(OH)D level of 50 ng/ml the minimum level to adequately prevent the many chronic illnesses that can affect us. NOTE: You need to know your number!! Many labs and even physicians might tell you that you are fine and that you have a "normal" vitamin D level but many of them are also considering a level of 30 ng/ml or above a "normal" level even though the latest scientific literature convincingly proves otherwise.

Can you have too high of a vitamin D level? Vitamin D toxicity is almost non-existent in the documented literature but there seems to be a lot of misinformation and fear among patients and health care practitioners that this is not the case. Please read the Vitamin D Council's page on toxicity here - The Truth About Vitamin D Toxicity.

You're probably asking how much vitamin D should I take? That's a great question and varies depending on each individual. The elderly and individuals with darker skin tones do not readily convert as much sunlight to vitamin D as most others. You may also need more vitamin D if you don't spend much time outside in the sun or are in a northern climate which keeps you inside more than your southern neighbors. As a general rule most people need at least 4,000 units of cholecalciferol per day and some may need up to 10,000 units per day. Before you go and start taking a vitamin D supplement I recommend that you talk to your physician about it and get a vitamin D level done. That way you can individualize your dose with your physician's help to best meet your health needs. Another note for those who have the following conditions you need to talk to your doctor before starting Vitamin D therapy - sarcoidosis, severe kidney disease, primary hyperparathyroidism, and any condition that has resulted in an elevated calcium blood level.

Vitamin D has really come into the spot light over the past few years and more research is being done as we speak to try and determine how and why it works like it does in the human body. But there is just too much proven scientific evidence on the health benefits of vitamin D to ignore in my opinion. As a pharmacist I'm always searching for the safest and most effective way to produce positive health outcomes and to prevent disease in people. And even though prescription drugs have their place in treating patients I would much rather see all of you out there take proactive steps to delay the day that you have to start on the powerful drugs that I work with every day. My goal is to see all of us take steps to prevent the chronic diseases that plague most Americans by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and taking a minimum amount of necessary supplements. And if you choose only one supplement to take I highly recommend that it be vitamin D (cholecalciferol). It's your life and your health and I think you deserve to be the best that you can be. With your physician's help you can make great strides in achieving optimal health. Now go out there and educate yourself and take control of your own destiny!

Too Big to Fail... I Think Not

Over the past several months I've pondered on many occasions the thought of switching financial institutions. Bank Of America is my current home and although I've never had any major problems with them they certainly haven't done society much good lately. And so that nauseating feeling of supporting big greed and over compensated executives eats at me. So as big of a pain in the ass as it can be I think I'll be biting the bullet and moving on to support a local credit union or bank that is more in line with the community's best interest. Anyone want to join me?



http://moveyourmoney.info

The Best Part About Life

I know I may get some flack or jokes about sharing this video and song with the rest of the world but for once in my life I don't care. This makes me happy and I hope it puts a smile on your face too :-)

One of These Is Not Like The Others - Bean Burritos, Digit Exchanges, Taco Bell

On my way home to Tampa from Miami a couple of weekends ago I stopped at the Taco Bell in Naples for a few quick bean burritos and the subsequent stop at the restroom. Well the burritos went down silky smooth and then I slipped into the bathroom. There's a stall and a urinal and I pick the stall naturally since I'm just that kind of guy (more privacy). A couple seconds after I shut the stall door I hear someone come in and see their black tenny shoes under the stall door. They stand at the urinal for like 8 seconds and then flush and leave. Now mind you I have yet to even get my belt buckle undone so this guy must have been the fastest pisser in the world! So I do my thing and start washing my hands at the sink located within my stall. Then the door opens again and I see the same black pair of tenny shoes under the stall door. As soon as I dry my hands and open the door there stands little Paco the employee or whatever his name is with a folded register receipt extended in his hand to me. At this point I'm thinking to myself "Did I leave my receipt and is it really that important that Paco hunts me down in the bathroom to give it to me!?"

So finally I said to Paco "What's this?" He just hands it to me in complete silence. So I unfold it and he says "That's my phone number." Inside my mind I'm like "Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!" But on the outside I was as cool, calm, and collected as Tiger Woods on the 72nd hole of a major. Believe me you would have been proud of me. So I says to Paco "I'm sorry I'm not interested." He responds in pure disbelief "Why NOT?!!" Now I'm rarely speechless in my life but I was at a loss for this one. Didn't know what to say and was stunned for like a good 10 seconds which is an eternity when you find yourself alone in a Taco Bell bathroom while being the recipient of unwanted advances by a short gay Cuban boy towards you (not that I have anything against the gay community). So eventually after I instinctually quenched my legs together to protect my nutsack I was finally able to mutter "I'm sorry. I'm not like that. I don't live here." I'm not sure why I apologized or why I felt the need to tell him I didn't reside in the city of Nipples... I mean Naples but it just came out. Then I quickly bolted for the bathroom door and then through the main doors of Taco Bell and back into the safety of my car. Whew!!! I think I'll stop at Subway next time when I hit Naples up :-)

The Honeymoon Is Over

And now I know why I'm presently still single :-)