All Nuring All the Time:

I'm getting a little redundant I know, but you spend 60-70 hours a week at something it kind of takes over.

Harvard just released a study that states our generation is projected to have a SHORTER life expectancy than our parents. That never happens. Not since the Plague, I think it said. The fact is: we are killing ourselves with our decadence and over indulgent society. We are on the bottom of the list of industrialized nations as over all health of the population is concerned. Countries like Romania beat us out. Why don't we take care of ourselves? Why don't we take care of each other? Why is a baby born in Croatia less likely to experience major health issue than in "the richest nation" in the world? Yesterday, in my public health class we watched a video that explains the Health-Wealth link in our country. No other factor (not genetics or even personal habits) has more of a direct and proven link on our quality of health and life expectancy than how much money we make. It is not like that in other countries, not to the degree it is here. The video links it to something called "social subordination" and how the poorest people in our country feel little to no power over their lives or their jobs or their well being. Powerlessness can kill a person, literally, it breaks our spirit, which then breaks our body; it is an actual nationally recoginized Nursing diagnosis. The video goes into Cortisol levels (which is our stress hormone) and lots of other scientific things, that I will surly butcher if I try to explain, but the point is this: When are we going to begin to think collectively? What is good for the whole, is good for the part. That might sounds socialistic, and I'm not attempting to argue socialism...but it's fucking true. Our demise is inevitable if we do not correct our path and begin to think collectively. Dr. Menzel, my public health professor, woke my ass up yesterday and I realized I am entering a profession in the most broken health care system in any westernized country in the world. It scared the piss out of me, to think even with my idealistic notions and noble intentions, it's still going to feel like I'm pouding on sand trying to take care of people in this country. I don't want to burn out or become cynical, I want to make a difference. AHHH!

In other news. it's raining here, which is great. And all week in dozens of ways you all have inspired me with letters and short stories and new blog entries and mixed cds and newspaper articles and conversations and art...and on and on. You guys' rule and make me think there's hope for us humans yet.