Archives for July 2018

Living By Design 2018

July 17, 2018 by Leave a Comment

IMG_2367I had a chance to speak to the incoming medical student class at Wayne State University today.  I so enjoyed spending time with them.  There were a few technical glitches, but I was able to manage.  Today was the first time that I got a chance to share my vision of “What would a city of A’s look like?”  It felt good.

Being with them caused me to reflect back on my beginnings.  I am exited for their journey, their growth.  I hope they found what I shared helpful, and wish them the best.

-jb

Filed Under: News

Benefits to driving the speed limit? More life…

July 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment
I have been working in a new job for a few months which requires that I spend much more time commuting in my car, usually about 3 hours per day roundtrip, 3 days per week. On one trip to Lansing, I decided to actually drive the speed limit. Strange. I think this was behind some recent reflection wondering about the role of guilt in disease, noting a passage in the Bible, were Jesus healed a guy would could not walk by saying “your sins are forgiven”; is this passage really to point out the relationship between “dis” “ease” and disease? You see, I typically drive about 5-10 miles over the speed limit, whatever the limit is, as I feel that the State Troopers don’t seem to bother me when I pass them on the side of the road at that speed. When I do this, occasionally I find myself 15-20 miles over the speed limit. On this trip with my cruise control set at 70 mph, the drive was noticeably peaceful, as I did not need to be on constant vigil for the State Troopers. In fact, as I passed one, I actually smiled, knowing that he had no interest in me.
 
It’s been about two weeks now, and this has been my standard practice. The drive is so much more pleasant and peaceful. I pay more attention to, and have a greater appreciation for, the nature that I see along the way, and it actually makes me feel good. It makes me wonder about the damage that I may have been doing to myself, with this 3 hours of stress (although mild), that I was adding to my life every day. Especially when I passed by a State Trooper, and then watch in my rearview mirror to see if the State Trooper pulls out onto the road. Makes me wonder about the other times that I knowingly bend the rules, and then carry this stress with me.
 
With this observation, I decided to count the number of cars that passed me while I was going 70 mph. I counted 20 in 10 minutes. I only pass one car. So it seems that the majority are “breaking the rules”. In addition to the stress caused by this (dis “ease” causing disease), it makes me wonder how this practice sets us up to be willing to break other rules that we feel are inconvenient to us.
 
I don’t know if this will forever be my practice, and I do take the opportunity to gun it a bit if I need to pass a truck. But for now, I’m gonna stay with the speed limit. It may cost me a bit more in time, but probably less than the years I shave off my life from chronic stress. Collectively I wonder how many years we shave off of our lives by living outside of the rules? If you have a tendency to drive over the speed limit and decide to slow down, let me know how it impacts you.
 
Godspeed.
Filed Under: News