against all odds
P E R S O N A L S U R V I V A L P L A N
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INTRODUCTION
The Merriam-Webster’s COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY Eleventh Edition defines HEALTH, partially, as “the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; esp: freedom from physical disease or pain.” They also define “…sound…” as “1. a: free from injury or disease.” A search of various traditional sources for a definition of HEALTH will not encounter any definition of HEALTH that is much different. This also includes the long-standing definition used by the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION as described in the Preamble of its 1946 Constitution, as in: “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The driving theme for NATIONAL HEALTH began with the observation that the absence of a multi-dimensional, yet inclusive, definition or concept of HEALTH may have contributed to the paradigm paralysis of our Nation’s healthcare. Throughout our nation, the average level of each person’s Stable HEALTH is declining, and the excessive health spending for our Nation’s healthcare industry is progressively bankrupting our Federal government. To be precise, a high level of cognitive dissonance has occurred between the scientific and humanitarian realms of Knowledge applicable for understanding our nation’s POPULATION HEALTH. The influence of this cognitive dissonance has paralyzed our nation’s ability to focus on the steady decline of social cohesion within our nation’s communities. With a focus on the fundamental responsibilities of each person’s generational Family, I offer a new definition of HEALTH. Against all odds from the daily encounter with diverse disruptive processes, a person’s survival occurs from a cluster of complex ecological and cultural, social interactions involving the following:
*) the person’s family home’s close neighborhood and their family convoy that encompasses their close biological relatives, close neighbors, spiritual community, and various professional persons, especially representing Primary Healthcare, employers, attorneys, and accountants.
*) the person’s Personal Survival Plan including its provisions for Restful SLEEP, Good FOOD, Dedicated EXERCISE, and Mentored COURAGE;
*) the Survival Commons of the person’s community; AND
*) the Common Good of the person’s nation, especially its promotion of each community’s Social Cohesion and Human Dignity.
What then, might bind all of this together? The best strategy might begin by discerning the responsibilities within each Family of each member having an annually revised Personal Survival Plan.
– – – – – – – PERSONAL SURVIVAL PLAN – – – – – – – –
CONCEPTUAL FORMAT – beginning in 2027
It is possible that a brief set of fundamental concepts could be defined to focus a community’s Knowledge about the basic needs of each person’s Stable HEALTH. By augmenting a community’s shared KNOWLEDGE base with an annually revised educational campaign involving a broad range of municipal life sectors, a multi-year strategy could promote a community’s needs with a focus on each residing person’s Personal SURVIVAL Plan. The annual revisions could then be used by all the sectors contributing to the social interactions occurring within a community’s municipal life for adjusting their own participation in the needs of their community’s POPULATION HEALTH.
Eventually, community surveys could be structured to gauge the effectiveness of the fundamental concepts and the annual revisions for the campaign. Most importantly, the intent of the community education plan could support a Family originated focus on the importance of a Personal Survival Plan for each person.
A. Restful SLEEP
— Definition “…the natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored” cited from the same MERRIAM-WEBSTER Dictionary referenced above. With a contemporary context, SLEEP may be understood as the biologic defragger for maintaining the brain’s memory functions.
— Annual Theme –
— — — Primary: Bedtime schedule
— — — Secondary: “Getting to sleep”
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B. Good FOOD
— Definition – “…the husbandry of plants and animals that are processed in a safe manner to assure that their consumption by each person will supply the ingredients necessary for the person’s Stable HEALTH. Good FOOD represents a central component of a community’s Survival Commons. This connection would assure that its Regional Food System is affordable, sustainable, and functions with a high level of social cohesion among its public and private institutions. (See www.goodfoodla.org ). This category should also include the social context of food consumption.
— Annual Theme –
— — — Primary: Selecting fruit and vegetables
— — — Secondary: Schedule for Family Mealtimes
C. Dedicated EXERCISE
— Definition – Activity requiring a special effort to sustain or improve a person’s HEALTH resilience requires a need for commitment. This commitment includes physical and Cultural-Social cognitive exercise as well as their regularly intentional occurrence . The benefits of Dedicated EXERCISE improve the stability of a person’s HEALTH, especially when combined with Restful SLEEP and Good FOOD. Like Good Food, exercise that is not associated with social and cultural goals instead of just HEALTH may not be as beneficial.
— Annual Theme
— — — Primary: Walk daily
— — — Secondary: Enjoy music, especially its performance, and read for 1/2 hour daily
D. Mentored COURAGE
— Definition – This is a very large category. It could include the following themes: Mentorship – Spouse, Extended Family, counselor, friendships, professional; Family Traditions – family identity, spiritual community, celebration rituals, vacations; micro-social networks – extended Family transitions, home-life transitions, neighborhood connectedness; Vocational – educational spectrum, career development plan, employer transitions, accountability transitions, income expectations, health and disability insurance, retirement living; Avocational ( Hobbies ) – vacations, home repair, creative projects, volunteer commitments, music appreciation, games, spectator events.
— Annual Theme –
— — — Primary: choice of Primary Physician
— — — Secondary: Career Achievement Plan
Name ___________________________________________________
Today’s Date mo__ __ day__ __ yr 20 __ __
HOUSEHOLD PERSONS – __Single -__Shared #___
-__Nuclear #___ -__Blended #___ ___
-__Generational #___ ___
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CLOSE NEIGHBORHOOD STATUS
CURRENT PRIMARY PHYSICIAN
____________________________________________
CURRENT UNSTABLE HEALTH CONDITIONS
A. Restful SLEEP
— — — Usual Bedtime
— — — Planned duration
— — — Distractions
— Plan
B. Good FOOD
— Current Conditions
— — — Regular meals
— — — No snacks
— — — Family sharing
— Plan
C. Dedicated EXERCISE
— Current Conditions
— — — Daily walk
— — — Reading
— — — Spiritual community
— Plan
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D. Mentored COURAGE
— Current Conditions
— — — Family traditions
— — — Primary Healthcare
— — — Career Achievement Plan
— Plan
Signature and Date ___________________________________________________________________________