25 Jun The world is changing

This is not the first time my world changed. I live in New Orleans and I lived through the great flood when the levees failed after Hurricane Katrina.

Our way of life was washed away in a day.

Most of New Orleans was underwater. Devastation was everywhere. My family evacuated to Baton Rouge for 6 months and we enrolled our kids in school there. It’s hard to imagine a whole city and so many lives so totally disrupted. You could drive down the street and see the contents of every house piled at the curb. I saw a junked Steinway piano on one street. We called New Orleans “refrigerator town”. Everybody dragged their fridge to the road because they went bad from rotting food in the heat while the city was inaccessible. On a particularly wide median, debris was piled several stories high for many blocks. It was surreal.

The rebuilding was frustrating with people waiting weeks to find drywall or for inspections, and workers were too scarce for the amount of work. This was just part of “the new normal”, which we said a lot back then. However, we came back stronger. And we will come back stronger from this latest upheaval too.

Upheaval also creates opportunity. Many things in post-Katrina New Orleans were changed. It took effort and determination. And not all will agree that all changes were positive. However, we had more restaurants after Katrina than we did before. We had real school choice in our public schools. Our tech industry grew. Our whole community pulled together. The tragedy affected everybody, rich and poor, and all races. So it was really true that we were all in this together. Our  Superbowl win was a striking example of our unity. Everyone pulled for the Saints and celebrated the victory.

Here are some things that I predict might change for the better.

Health will become a priority.

People are becoming aware that their underlying health makes a difference in their ability to resist infection, and to come through an infection smoothly. More people will be conscious of making healthy lifestyle choices. People will see the control they have over their health, and they will make an effort to preserve their health.

People will see that food is medicine, so they will take the quality of their food more seriously.

More people will grow vegetables and raise chickens, or at the very least, eat more unprocessed food. Changes in food production and the supply chain may bring about less processed food and more local farmers. Yes, I see cars lined up in drive-throughs during the lock-down. People will still want convenience. But chains can respond to the demand for healthy fare. I certainly hope they do.

All people will be more aware of systemic racism and all people will want justice.

The chilling video of a murder on the streets of Minneapolis shook everyone to their core. The massive participation in protests lasting for days shows how the injustice struck a collective nerve. We will be a changed nation. And a more just one.

Parents will be better parents.

Modern parents are constantly distracted from being with their children by their jobs, the kids’ activities, and the hustle and bustle of life. Well, that hectic life stopped dead in its tracks and families were confined together. Parents could not ignore their children. They had to play together, learn together, or just BE together. As a parent I always treasured my time just being with my children when they were young. That kind of time was never valued before, or if it was, it was usurped by other responsibilities. I think parents will understand their children and their needs better. And that will be a huge benefit to parents and children.

People will never take their rights for granted again.

They will appreciate their rights to associate, to speak out on social media, to travel, to privacy, practice their religion, and to make their own medical decisions. When rights are suspended, even for emergencies, people can’t help but miss them and treasure them.

Health coaching will be a thing.

That is, the profession will blow up and everyone will want to invest in coaching to make sure they are healthy enough to survive the pandemic. People are realizing that distancing, handwashing, and masks are not the only ways to protect yourself. Healthy people tend to have few or even no symptoms. So I’m glad I’m where I’ll be needed. And I’m glad I’m teaching new health coaches who will be where they’re needed. We’ll be part of the solution.

Better health will be in your future.

Are you ready to get started optimizing your health? Are you ready to explore what it will take to be your best? Contact me. Remember, coaching is not prescribing or treating. I listen to you and help you figure out what your body needs to be healthy. We’re all different and we’ll find what works for you. I bet you have some ideas already. Let’s explore them together and see if we can turn your good ideas into habits. The intro phone call is free.

Comments: What do you see in the future?

History: Hurricane Katrina

Wall Street Journal: Trying to Break Unhealthy Habits? There’s a Coach for That

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