What do we mean when we say "health?"
Essentially, I see medicine as being about fixing what goes wrong, and health is about what's going right. When I hear the words "Health Care" or "Health Insurance" these days, I translate these terms into "Medical Services" and "Medical Cost Indemnity Insurance." To me, health is a different matter, and using the word 'health' in this way is a grave mistake. When I was in college we went to the "Health Center" when we got sick, but I never thought of going there when we thought we were healthy. How backwards is that?
To me, no one can insure my health. Specifically, a big financial company cannot insure that I remain healthy. All they can do is take money from me on a regular basis (called 'premiums' for some historic reason), and then pay for medical services and supplies to treat me if I'm sick or injured (called 'claims') if the need arises.
My health, on the other hand, is mostly my responsibility. Sure, there are environmental factors, such as pollution, food additives, promotion of unhealthy foods, products, and lifestyles, and so on. But for the most part, I'm the one who knows my body and state of mind the best and I'm the one who, ultimately, must manage my own life to remain as healthy as best I can.
So, on this web site, under the title "Medicine" I discuss the medical industry, or what I call the "Medical Industrial Complex" here in the United States of America.
Under the title "Health" I discuss what I do (and perhaps what others may do) to maintain and improve my health, as I see it.
To me, no one can insure my health. Specifically, a big financial company cannot insure that I remain healthy. All they can do is take money from me on a regular basis (called 'premiums' for some historic reason), and then pay for medical services and supplies to treat me if I'm sick or injured (called 'claims') if the need arises.
My health, on the other hand, is mostly my responsibility. Sure, there are environmental factors, such as pollution, food additives, promotion of unhealthy foods, products, and lifestyles, and so on. But for the most part, I'm the one who knows my body and state of mind the best and I'm the one who, ultimately, must manage my own life to remain as healthy as best I can.
So, on this web site, under the title "Medicine" I discuss the medical industry, or what I call the "Medical Industrial Complex" here in the United States of America.
Under the title "Health" I discuss what I do (and perhaps what others may do) to maintain and improve my health, as I see it.
About the author
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Glenn C. Koenig lives and works in Maynard, Mass. He has a B.A. from Goddard College and has been self employed since 1980. At various times, he has worked as a real-time systems software engineer, a database designer (using FileMaker Pro), a web page designer, a videographer and video producer, an inventor, and an author. He served as an elected representative to Town Meeting (the legislative branch of town government in Arlington) for 16 years, from 1979 to 1995, and was the founding president of ACMI, the town's community media center. He has volunteered for numerous organizations and causes, including the League of Women Voters, a town recycling initiative, and as an adult advisor to high school aged youth, though his affiliation with his local UU church. He has had training in compassionate communication, peer counseling (RC), and has attended classes and workshops related to nutrition, dance, emotional intimacy, love, sexuality, and spirituality.
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