As I write this blog, I sit gazing out our foundation office window on 18th and Prospect looking toward the beautiful KC downtown skyline. While the distance between my office and downtown is only a few blocks, it might as well be light years away.

Last week the HCF associates spent the morning at Harvesters’ sorting food to be included in the “BackSnack” program. Over 13,000 back packs full of nutritious food are given to low income children each Friday during the school year so that these children are not hungry over the weekend. Packing the bags is virtually a volunteer process that is shared by many folks from the Kansas City area.

The words Health Literacy sounds so fancy and academic. I have been married to a nurse practitioner for over 36 years and along the way I have picked up a few medical terms…but I will be the first to tell you that I am somewhat illiterate when I speak to a doctor or some other medical/ nursing home professionals. But I am not afraid to ask questions. My wife and daughter (who is also a nurse practitioner) are very patient when I ask them the same questions over and over again.

Last week I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. David Williams, Professor of Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health speak at an event hosted by Truman Medical Center. What Dr. Williams said was not particularity new news to those of us who closely follow health matters…however, his presentation clearly painted a picture of mediocrity for the United States health care system.

For example, Dr. Williams presented research findings that show:

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What really matters?

Sure we all work hard each day, trying to make a living so we can provide our family with financial support. Hopefully most of us also have a job that is meaningful and gives us a real sense of purpose.

However, I believe that most things in life that are really meaningful are priceless…they don’t involve money. As I get older I read the obituaries and I notice that while what you did for a living is mentioned, most of the text is about how the deceased treated others.

How much money does it take to smile at someone?

Last week my daughter Stephanie and her husband Jeremy informed our family that they are going to have a baby in November of this year. This will be the first baby on both sides of the family so the excitement barometer hit a high mark when the news was announced.

In my daily life I experience and live in two worlds – one that is full of opportunity and hope and one that is full of despair and frustration. One that is challenging and invigorates both the mind and spirit and one that is overwhelming full of angst and hopelessness. Some days this dichotomy hits me very hard.