Uncategorized
From Jackie with love
Published
10 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersAccountability is a drag
By Jackie Rainford Corcoran Explore Big Sky Health Columnist
Remember when smoking in restaurants was completely acceptable? Eighteen years ago, I bartended and waited tables at a Big Sky restaurant and considered being able to smoke while I worked a perk (yes, me, the health coach).
Today, many people would see a waitress smoking on the job as absurd. What happened? How did we go from little concern to near-zero tolerance in less than two decades? Clearly, laws had a large part to do with it. But there is also the matter of being discouraged by accountability.
Because it is so well known that smoking increases the risk of cancer, emphysema, premature aging and cardiovascular disease, smokers are now accountable for putting themselves in harm’s way.
I recently met Dr. Lou Walters, a well-respected Bozeman naturopath. We discussed cures for preventable lifestyle diseases and the accountability issue. Dr. Walters said he has noticed a shift in patients’ behavior from “give me a pharmaceutical pill,” to “give me a homeopathic pill” to treat symptoms. While he said this shows progress, it’s still the rare patients who seek lifestyle-changing advice to truly heal themselves. Pills seem simple and easy, while accountability and lifestyle change seem boring and dreadful.
Let’s look closer at the realities of pharmaceutical pills: To get them, we have to find time to make a doctor’s appointment, go through a battery of tests, buy medicine and then hope it fixes us with little or no side effects.
This process is time consuming, expensive and sometimes, ultimately, unhealthy. That said, I love Western medicine. If I break a bone, I want the best our doctors can offer.
But when it comes to diseases that are preventable and curable through lifestyle changes, Western medicine is failing us miserably. Even though the root meaning of the word doctor is teacher, most medical schools spend more time educating physicians on how to prescribe pills rather than teach healthy habits. If we heal ourselves naturally, how will pharmaceutical companies make money?
Wouldn’t it be great if our insurance companies compensated us for lifestyle changes rather than just pay for our meds? That would entice us. What if, for example, we got reimbursed for getting ourselves off prescription drugs to treat heartburn (side effects include headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, gas, sore throat, runny nose and dizziness) by changing our diet and stress level?
If good health is your priority, accountability is your key. What is your primary health goal? What is one small natural change you can make today to get closer to it? Send me an email and let me know.
Look for next week’s article: “Bye-bye belly fat: The No. 1 cause of weight gain and three ways to avoid the fat trap.”
Jackie Rainford Corcoran is an IIN Certified Holistic Health Coach, an NASM Certified Personal Trainer, a public speaker and health activist. Contact her at jackie@thetahealth.com, or find more at thetahealth.org.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Event Details
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass
St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Time
(Thursday) 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm