Good morning! It is SO good to be with you this morning. Big virtual hug, unless you are not a hugger, and that’s cool. I get it. You know how I feel; that’s all that matters.

4 GOOD and quick things.

One – it was just a fantastic quarterly gathering of WWAD leaders yesterday at noon. Every day I try to stop drinking coffee at 12:00, and it’s a good thing I did yesterday, because all of you leaders charged me up something good.

Coffee + leaders would be like Red Bull and roller coasters – way too much for a simple Midwesterner like me to handle. The chat box was off the hook.

If you are a leader interested in joining the next one, early to mid-May is what we’re thinking. WWAD water cooler stuff. Bring all your questions.

Two – I’m not done with the meeting yet. With all the chaos going on in the news and people telling you up is down and down is up, I cannot tell you how great it is for Rachael, Bryan, and me to Zoom with you amazing souls. Our health care leaders are the kindest of spirits who believe in, yes, enjoyable physical activity, but also nature, being together, and learning from each other.

Salt-of-the-earth lunchbox people, these leaders.

Three – When I get asked for diet recommendations in our cardiology office. I usually talk too much and ask you to meet with a dietician even if just once (they’re incredible), but the 4 diets I always share are (1) Plant-based, (2) Mediterranean, (3) DASH, and (4) MIND. If you really want to keep it easy, Michael Pollan’s 7 words: ‘Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants.’

The Mediterranean diet had another good week.

Some patients ask about Red meat? Not good for the ticker.

Four – The Olympics (should’ve been higher) – so great, and we have a ton left to watch. I’m curious what your favorite event is? Please tell me you saw this guy?

My friends. You are active, you are (mostly) clean eaters, you are KIND. You care about each other, and you are the people we LOVE.

Enjoy this entire wide open Friday in front of you and all that big, beautiful free space in the two days that follow.