HJAR Jan/Feb 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS  I  JAN / FEB 2022 7 EDITOR’S DESK There is a story of a woman in India who was upset that her son was eating too much sugar. No matter how much she chided him, he continued to satisfy his sweet tooth. Totally frustrated, she decided to take her son to see his great hero Mahatma Gandhi. She approached the great leader respectfully and said, “Sir, my son eats too much sugar. It is not good for his health. Would you please advise him to stop eating it?” Gandhi listened to the woman carefully, turned and spoke to her son, “Go home and come back in two weeks.”The woman looked perplexed and wondered why he had not asked the boy to stop eating sugar. She took the boy by the hand and went home. Two weeks later she returned, boy in tow. Gandhi motioned for them to come forward. He looked directly at the boy and said, “Boy, you should stop eating sugar. It is not good for your health.”The boy nodded and promised he would not continue this habit any longer. The boy’s mother, a little miffed, turned to Gandhi and asked, “Why didn’t you tell him that two weeks ago when I brought him here to see you?” Gandhi smiled, “Mother, two weeks ago I was still eating sugar myself.” As we look into 2022, I am still perplexed that our state remains ranked close to last in almost every health metric. How do we move the needle? I hear the reasons coming out of people’s mouths when I ask, and still I feel we are speaking in platitudes. I wonder and I would like to lay this on the hearts and minds of all in the healthcare field… let’s start with us. If we do not live healthy lifestyles, have healthy work and home environ- ments, or practice kindness to ourselves, how in the world can we expect it of our patients or our communities? Our influence is huge. Let’s put our own oxygen masks on first before helping the ones sitting next to us. What does optimal health look like to you at this moment … are you there? If not, what actionable steps are you taking to achieve it? Enjoy what that feels like, enjoy the journey … it will radiate from your being and be contagious to our community. This, I think, is how we move the needle. Dianne Marie Normand Hartley Chief Editor editor@healthcarejournalar.com Give yourself permission to put the mask on first. Youmight just change the world.