Wide Eyes Open Wednesday

Its time we take the blinders off -regarding the health of African Americans. 3.2 million African Americans ages 20 years and older (or 13.3 percent) have diabetes, one-third of whom are undiagnosed. On average, African Americans are 1.8 times more likely to have diabetes. The CDC reports- Obesity is disproportionately higher among African Americans. It is estimated that 80 percent of black women and 60 percent of black men are overweight or obese. Mental Illness- not the type recognized by the "experts" -psychiatry and psychologist- yet more destructive the type we continue to repeat in our minds and lives-the mentality of struggle! We struggle in our lives to "just get by" we struggle in our relationships- to "just making it" we struggle with the day and can't wait and pray "Thank GOD it's Friday"! Its time to open our eyes to the fact that the solutions are within. Diet- we MUST eat better-less processed foods, more fresh fruits and vegetables & less sugary drinks Mental- we must start to change our language from struggle conversation to one of possibility and success and talk it-believe it and live it. The passing of Bernie Mac and Iaasc Hayes, the passing of your uncle, aunt, mother or father to preventable dis-ease, crime in the neighborhoods or stress of daily life-can be prevented- not by a doctor or the government-but by US. Our eyes must remain open to the change many others are taking (better eating habits , exercise and uplifting the mind- because what we are doing now is not working! Open your eyes and see where you are going- if its not working- are you ready to change or keep masking the pain? Mahatma Gandhi: You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Are we ready to change our world? In think we have started we need to expand and hold each other by the hand and each one of us- must teach more of us! Darrell Nobles