1) In 2023, do one Lego set a month. These often intensify your focus, organize your brain, and bring mindfulness into your life – especially the Dora (the Explorer) ones. Maybe I can try for this one in ’23?
2) Read 50 (or more) books and no more of those trashy vampire novels! It’s smut and you know it, David. These will no longer count toward your annual total.
3) Dream bigger! The world has provided Walk with a Doc an incredible pathway to impact millions of lives. We can do this through increasing physical activity, social connection, and facilitating additional exposure to nature.
4) Stop referring to Krissy as my ‘beautiful’ wife in the Walk with a Doc newsletters. Although she’s scientifically proven to be 100% beautiful, inside and out, and you know you’re the luckiest man on the earth, keep that to yourself. No need to spread that on Friday mornings.
5) While we’re on that, in 2023, probably best not to be so goofy in newsletters. You’re a cardiologist, maybe it’s about time you start acting like one.
How do you scientifically prove something/someone is beautiful? I’ve never heard of that.
6) Pick something other than Carly Rae Jepsen on Karaoke Night in the Doctor’s Lounge (Tuesdays at 9). Time to try something new, anything will do. I think the orthopods (orthopedic surgeons) are starting to make fun of me. Maybe I should try one of their Johnny Cash songs?
7) Start…
Uh-oh.
Just a second, please.
“Hey good morning, Rachael, it’s David.”
“Oh, really? Every iPhone says who’s calling?”
“Anyway, just curious. When you asked me to write a 2023 Vision newsletter, did you mean my personal goals or for the Walk?
“Wah Wa Wa Wah Wa Wa. Wah wa wah wa wah wa”
“Of course, Rachael. Of course, I knew what you meant! Why in the world would anyone care about my personal goals. Ha! “
2023 Walk with a Doc Organizational Vision and Goals
1. Start 200 new chapters in the U.S. and abroad by 12/31/2023.
This will allow our doctors to continue to spread our 3 most important messages.
a) The Magical Power of Physical Activity – something as simple as a walk can change our entire day. If you are able to do this in the am, even better. Many of us are not going for walks, often because we believe we don’t have the time. But, we do. Even a short walk carries all the potential to absolutely change our day for the better. If we were to couple that with a healthy diet..
b) We all need Social Connection. This cannot be understated. Here is a book by our incredible Surgeon General, who (name drop alert(!)) has had our ‘Walk with a Doc back’ for 7 years now. He is the real deal. There is more and more data every month sharing how significant a health predictor social connections are. Definitely more to come on that in ’23.
c) Being outside. Please know that anytime you are immersing yourself in nature, by just stepping out your front door, you are doing yourself a favor. Another amazing book is right here.
2. Take every possible opportunity to improve equity in healthcare.
This is my favorite explanation of this (from healthaffairs.org):
Equity in health care is when every person has the opportunity to attain their full potential of health; and no one is disadvantaged from attaining this potential due to their race/ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, socioeconomic status, or geographical background.
Amen. Amen. Amen!
3. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish – it’s the only thing we know.
David, Rachael (world changer), and Bryan (world changer).
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