You mentioned the Blue Zones and although I find the Blue Zones intriguing, I don’t try to replicate their lifestyle and you are not suggesting that I should. Having said that, the point you made about strong communities and connections with others is an extremely valid point. We do thrive when we feel seen, supported, and loved and we do suffer otherwise.

After years of research and trial and error, I believe that for me to achieve my wellness goals I need to: fix my gut, learn to breathe properly, move, commune with nature and become aware of my body. As you mentioned “the most powerful data comes from your own body’s feedback.” Symptoms are messengers that need to be listened to, not silenced and covered up.

I do listen to my health care provider but, unfortunately, the good ones always move on and as a result I have not been able to keep one that I can fully depend on. The search goes on. As a result, I will always seek the truth and answers in other places.

I have had doctors tell me: “You will be back to see me for an operation on that knee within a few years” and “It will never get better”, among other things. The first comment was 45 years ago. My first thought was “aint going to happen” and it hasn’t. The second comment occurred when I was having hearing issues 15 years ago. It was so bad I needed my wife to attend my appointments so she could yell to me what I needed to hear. When all the doctors told me they didn’t know what was causing my issue my thought was: “Okay, I need to solve this myself.” My response to all the doctors that told me the issue was incurable was to tell them it was only temporary. I have always firmly believed that and today my hearing is completely normal in one ear and almost normal in the other.

I am always tweaking my wellness plan. Being able to adapt (to be flexible) is one of the most critical skills I have. Another important skill is to figure out what is valuable and what is just noise. Just because everyone is saying it and everyone is doing it does not mean it is right for me.

Katie, I admire your ability to learn and unlearn. That skill, the ability to listen to others and critical thinking are skills we can all benefit from. You possess all of that. That is why I continue to read your stories after all of these years.

Thanks again.