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Nov 02, 2022

Your Health and The Pursuit of Money

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The rush I received when my mother handed me my first dollar was unlike anything I had ever felt before.

To paint the picture, I was a pest as a kid. I loved getting on people’s nerves and unfortunately for my poor mother, my sights were usually set on her. I would play this game where essentially; I would repeatedly make high-pitched, excruciatingly loud bird-like sounds while running around our two-family duplex. Imagine the most obnoxious sound in the world and I’m sure mine was worse. Finally, my mom had enough. She told me, “For every five minutes you don’t make that sound I will pay you a dollar.” I wasn’t sure if this was a trick or not, but I decided to give it a shot. When the five minutes were up, she held her end of the bargain and handed me a crisp dollar and the rush I got was better than any sugar high I had previously received. “Again!” I yelled. I shut up for the rest of the day.

How Much Does a Dollar Cost?

Human civilization has always had some sort of currency. Bartering goods transformed into exchanging gold which ultimately led to paper money and cryptocurrency. These forms of payment could buy us anything from an apple to a helicopter but why? How did these coins and pieces of paper become so valuable? How come when I was just a little kid, I received a surge of happiness from just a single dollar bill?

Money & Happiness

Can money buy happiness? The obvious answer is no, however, healthcare does cost money and if you want to be truly happy the key is to keep your body and mind in good shape. You might be saying to yourself, “Didn’t you just say that when your mother gave you a dollar to shut up, you instantly became happy?” Yes, but she didn’t buy it. All human beings have a dopamine release when they are in pursuit of some sort of reward. In this case, a dollar. What was really happening was that I was chasing something. Not necessarily the dollar but the game. Think of the classic children’s show Tom & Jerry. Tom the cat is always chasing Jerry the mouse but when he does finally catch Jerry, what does he do? Chases him again. Yes, this is a show for kids but look around at all the millionaires and billionaires doing the same exact thing.

Of course, having a little extra cash in your pocket will put a smile on our faces but do me a favor and think about a negative memory. Let’s say one where you injured yourself. For example, a few years ago I had one too many cocktails and when I was walking to the subway station, I took a nasty spill down a flight of stairs. An hour later the medics cast my broken wrist and diagnosed me with a concussion. The part I didn’t mention is that I was out celebrating a new job I just landed, a position that was paying significantly more than my previous role. All the happiness that I was feeling from the dollar signs floating around my head had suddenly disappeared. Lying in bed, body aching, disoriented, and swollen, all I could think to myself is how much I wanted to be healthy and that there was no amount of money that could purchase it.

Is Wealthy Healthy?

Wealth can solve many problems but is it actually healthy to be wealthy? It’s a complicated question but let’s explore the pros and cons.

Wealth vs Health: Pros

You’re rich! That’s awesome for you and now you can live the life you’ve always dreamed of. Fancy cars, expensive clothing, and lavish vacations to Ibiza. For the first year, you party your ass off like the rock stars and movie gods you’ve always worshiped, burning through your money because, well… you have so much of it that spending it in bulk amounts has become a new sport for you. Congrats, you are officially part of the 1%, and all of us peasants working our nine-to-five jobs are watching from the sidelines, drooling with envy.

Wealth vs Health: Cons

Let’s rewind back to reality. You aren’t filthy rich, don’t drive a Rolls Royce, and unfortunately can’t afford that island off the coast of Milan. So what? You have a great group of friends, a tight-knit family, and a job with a decent salary. There’s nothing wrong with that in fact, you should be proud of yourself! But let’s say you get fired. You’re completely blind-sided and have not saved up nearly enough to afford unemployment. You soon find your life beginning to spiral along with your health.

Many studies have shown that unemployment or lack of savings can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, weight gain, and more. Most of us are not egregiously wealthy which is why it’s significantly more important to pay attention to the cons and how they may affect you. It’s easy to compare ourselves to those we are jealous of but don’t allow yourself to fall into the trap of the never-ending game of Look at What They Have and What I Don’t. This is a recipe for disaster and is only going to make your mental health worse.

A Dollar Well Spent

So, what do you do? Think back to Tom & Jerry. The game is what filled Tom with joy. The chase. It’s not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that we truly seek but the adventure that takes us there. In life what matters most is our health and the health of our loved ones. Yes, obviously being filthy rich, flying in Jet planes, and popping bottles of Dom Perignon sounds exciting but at the end of the day, we know that the best things in life are free. At the end of the day if you are going to spend your money on something, invest in your health so you can outlive the rich and create your own wealth through love and human connection.

Health is the True Money

I suppose it’s a platitude to say that health is the best wealth, but think of this: The only true currency (besides the secret currency of dopamine which makes us go chasing ghosts) is – time. Time, as we know, is relative: It shrinks and expands, depending on the observer. Time is subjective, and time is limited. How much time each of us has left on this planet? We can’t know that, but we can estimate that, all other things being equal, our longevity (our remaining time to enjoy life) is directly proportionate to our health. If we keep ourselves healthy, enjoy good food and active lifestyle, we may expect to live longer than if we ruin our health with bad habits and poor choices. And even though contemporary medicine can extend life, we would probably prefer to be strong, robust and of clear mind well into our eighties or nineties, rather than exist in misery and pain for decades thanks to medication.

Taking care of our health (and therefore, of our ability to enjoy life and, ultimately, of our time) is the matter of now. Improve just one thing about your lifestyle today, take it even slightly in the direction of healthier living – and you will become objectively richer, because your “money in the bank” (the time you have left in this world) will increase. And I implore you, please don’t forget to get your health checked at regular intervals. Do it today. Remember: What will be, already is. You want to get your possible health issues of the future taken care of today, before then even happen.

Here’s a link to Chai Care’s list of urgent care locations – pick the one closest to you and go get your health screening! You’ll thank me later for giving you the best investment advice!

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Jobs Do Things to Your Body

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I’ll lead in with a personal story.

I landed my first job at the age of sixteen docking and fueling boats at a small little marina in Southern Connecticut. It’s hard to remember the name, this was going back over 20 years now. The gig was a dream. Pretty girls, cash tips, and during my lunch break I’d fish from the peer at the corner of the boating yard. I imagined myself working there forever. I didn’t have much desire to attend college or travel, I had no plans or reservations to go anywhere but sometimes life makes decisions for us.

I was in the middle of pumping gas, probably flirting with one of the boat owner’s daughters when two police officers walked my way. I didn’t think much of it because the Stratford water police docked their boat at our marina. Once the officers came a little closer, I didn’t recognize them. They were from a different town, Bridgeport. My town. “Are you Harrison Todd?” the officer asked me. I told him yes and he told me that my father was in a construction accident. I never saw my father again.

I know this personal example is extreme. But please hear me out: Whatever job you do, it has a repeated pattern of day-to-day activities, and that pattern molds your body in a certain way. Whether you’re an office worker, a truck driver or an airline pilot, you’re exposed to consistent amount of stress combined with immobility, too much caffeine, sleep deprivation and below-average food. If you work with your hands for a living, you get your share of small or medium traumas, or, as was the case with my father, you may lose your life at work.

Your Job Affects Your Health

Soon afterwards, I moved to upstate New York to live with my grandparents. They were nice people, but I absolutely hated the town and most of the people in it. I was angry, depressed, and had no sense of direction. It wasn’t until I attended a small rock concert that I felt a spark again. I befriended one of the guitarists after the show where he told me about their adventures. Traveling all over the country, drinking, doing drugs, endless parties, and sleepless nights. It was the thrill I was so desperately craving and when he offered me a job to be the band’s driver I accepted on the spot.

Being a road dog (that’s what we called ourselves), took a massive toll on my body. The band never reached A-list status but for over fifteen years we toured all over the country playing at small clubs, pubs, festivals, and even a few gigs overseas. During the years I broke both of my legs, had multiple concussions, stitches, and fractures, and avoided treatment at all costs. The bandmates who are now my best friends fired me. Not because I was doing a poor job but because they love me. My body simply couldn’t take any more damage, if it weren’t for them, I’d be dead.

Check In On Yourself

It’s easy to ignore the pain when you’re having a great time. Although I was working, life felt more like a vacation which is why I never checked in on myself. I was younger, dumber, and my body was more physically capable and at times would heal itself without me having to put in any effort. After a while, this stops but the pain stays. At first, it was confusing. It’s a new experience and you literally don’t understand what is happening. I was too young to have a limp and chronic pain in my back. Although I was hurt and even angry at the band for forcing me out, deep down I knew they were right. I sought medical attention – I received a much-needed wake-up call.

After several surgeries and physical therapy, it was time to get back to work. Sitting around knowing the band was still partying and living the dream while I was doing calisthenics in a facility that smelt like dirty feet was driving me nuts. Of course, I still had pain throughout my body, and I was warned to not go back to my old lifestyle, but I was too hard-headed to listen. They claimed that old life was behind me, but I figured what momma don’t know, won’t hurt her.

We had been on the road for a week and when we landed in Brooklyn my body simply couldn’t take it. The pain was immense and if I was in a car for longer than an hour I would silently suffer so as not to draw attention to myself. When the band went out for drinks, I brought myself to a nearby urgent care facility where two things happened: a) their incredible team treated me with care and meticulous attention; and b) I also met my future wife. 

Choose Wisely

Most of us value our lives based on our jobs, status, power, and other frivolous pursuits. I loved my job and truly had the experience of a lifetime which ultimately led to meeting the woman that I would marry and raise three beautiful children with however, my body will also never forget. After only minutes of playing with my children, I have to sit down because my knee needs a rest. Traveling is brutal on my back and because of the many bar fights, the band would get into I now have panic attacks in crowded spaces. My family and friends mean everything to me, and the sad truth is I can’t give them all of me because of the years of neglect and choosing work over me.

Believe me when I say take care of your body. No matter what your job is and how much it means to you, value yourself first. You only have one life, and that job will be here long after you.

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Nov 01, 2022

Globe-Trotting and Urgent Care

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“You Americans wanna do something dangerous?” Felix asked in his French accent, one hand steering the boat and the other pushing back his thick dreadlocks.

(This happened to me not too long ago, and before I proceed to writing a regular medical blog article, I want to share with you my adventure. Soon enough you’ll see why!)

Take A Chance

The high noon heat, homemade RumChata, and the lack of fish we were trying to catch on the Caribbean Sea had me and my four best friends ready for something more exciting. “What do you have in mind?” Ryan asked. Felix lit himself a hand-rolled cigarette before he told us, “There’s this cliff, not too far from here. We can jump off. Maybe thirty feet high.” We all looked at each other, drunk, bored, and in need of an adrenaline rush. “Hell yeah,” I told Felix. “We’re in.” As the hand-rolled dangled from the side of Felix’s mouth he jerked the boat around and headed north toward huge a huge cuesta in the distance.

Right off the bat, we noticed this bluff was not thirty feet but more like fifty, possibly higher. Felix knew it too and laughed at us as we silently gazed at the precipice. “Listen, this is very important. We swim to the edge of the rock and then climb. But when we get there, you must follow what I do exactly. There is poisonous reef and coral all over there. I will point it out and you cannot touch it. OK?” “What if we do,” Joe asked. As Felix tied his dreads, he told us with a big smile, “just don’t.”

We all trailed a few feet behind Felix, doing our best to keep up with whom we believed to be Aquaman. By the time we got to the entrance, we were all out of breath, barely able to tread water and Matt was doing his best not to puke. I was the best swimmer out of our crew, so I went first. Felix and I sunk into the water where he pointed out the lethal reef and coral. At this point, I was already seeing double thanks to the strong RumChata, but I figured if there was one way to go out, this was it. I carefully swam over the death zone, doggy paddling and hoping that I would live to see another day.

One by one I waited for my friends to meet me, praying that we wouldn’t need to rush to the hospital. Step one was complete, and we followed Felix up a steep cliff, at points on our hands and knees doing our best not to fall off the narrow path. At the top, we looked down, and yeah, this wasn’t fifty feet. “Listen, when you jump make sure to get running start. Like this!” Before we could ask any questions, Felix was falling from the sky. When we studied the water below it was clear what he meant. Directly below us were dozens of sharp jagged rocks sticking out from the water. “See? Easy!” Felix yelled from the sea, safe and sound. We all looked at each other. I walked to where stone met grass and took a deep breath. I confidently gestured for my friends to move to the side, a brave attempt to look calm and cool even though I was anything but. After a few deep breaths, I jolted forward and flew through the sky with the birds before I was swimming with the fish.

Be Responsible

We all made it back in one piece, but it was clear when I arrived at my apartment in Brooklyn that I needed to get a check-up. The combination of cliff jumping, hiking up an active volcano, beach parties, excessive drinking, and lack of sleep had proved to take a massive toll on my body. Body parts ached that hadn’t before, and my sore throat wouldn’t go away. It’s safe to say that a much-needed visit to an urgent care facility was in my future. It didn’t take long for the professionals at a neighborhood urgent care to diagnose me with bronchitis and a minor fracture in my elbow. News you never want to hear but a reminder of a trip I’ll never forget.

Yes, I was in rough shape, and I had to begin nursing my body back to health immediately. Was it worth it? Hell yeah, it was worth it! We don’t get many exciting opportunities in life which is why we must create them for ourselves. Any chance you get, travel, embark on an adventure with your friends and take a risk. Go for it and don’t look back. With that being said, be safe. We all want to be the bold badass that everyone admires but we also don’t want to be buried six feet under.

Smart Traveling

After I had fully recovered from my trip to Martinique, I still had the travel bug. I didn’t know where I wanted to go or whom to go with, all I knew was that there was more world to see, and I didn’t want to wait. All my friends were busy with work and personal obligations, so I decided to stay in America and drive cross-country by myself. I had no plan. I didn’t write an itinerary or create a travel guide for myself. I would rent a car and start in Brooklyn and finish in Los Angeles. I only told a handful of people of my not-very-thought-out plan and before I knew it, I was on the road.

The trip was a perfect disaster. Or was it? I did zero preparation, packed terribly, and thought it would be “cool” to not use a map and get to California only by street signs and asking for directions from locals. It didn’t take long for me to get completely lost in the boondocks of Pennsylvania. Adding insult to injury, I got caught in a terrible storm where I swerved my car off the road and hit a tree. I sustained only minor injuries but thanks to my lack of planning I was in an area with terrible reception and had no idea where I was.

Finally, once the rain stopped the next morning, I was able to walk a few miles where sure enough I ended up in a small town called Warminster where I wandered into, you guessed it, a local urgent care clinic, needing assistance. (This happened to be a Chai Care location, if you must know. True story! Of course, back then, I didn’t know I’d end up writing blog posts for the very same venerable medical organization!) They supplied me with a few stitches on my chin and a splint for my swollen finger. When they asked me how this all happened, I felt too stupid to tell them the truth, so I lied and told them I got jumped.

By the way, here’s a handy link, should you ever want urgent care in Warminster, Pennsylvania.

And just so that everybody else don’t feel left out, here’s a link to all Chai Urgent Care locations. Find the nearest one, if you’re traveling through New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, and happen to be in need of patching up!

Moral of the story: Don’t be dumb like me and plan your traveling. It’s easy to romanticize “the road” and want to live on the edge but take it from personal experience, and plan for the unexpected. It’s the least you can do, and I’ll be expecting a thank you when you arrive home safely.

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.

Cowardice Will Cost You!

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Okay, let’s face it: No one like seeking medical attention. And this includes you. Right? Chances are when you do visit your local urgent care facility you receive bad news, being told that you need to lose weight, have high blood pressure, or contracted some sort of illness or disease. It would be great to be presented with positive news that you are perfectly healthy, but the truth is getting this much-needed medical information is crucial to proactive living and can maybe even save your life. Still, we rebel against the seemingly dreadful visit because changing your lifestyle is no easy task, however, it does not need to be so difficult.

Sounds like you? Yeah, that’s what I thought. What do you do about it?

Don’t Be That Person

You’ve got to quit being lazy! Trust me when I say you can’t rely on cough drops and quick-fix over-the-counter drugs to solve all your problems forever. Your car breaks, what do you do? You go to a mechanic, right? Same thing with your body, you should see a professional, and don’t procrastinate. Procrastination is cowardice, and if there’s one thing, I want you to get out of this article, it’s this: Cowardice always ends up costing ya!

Yes, these things can help you but what they can’t do is provide the necessary information on how to be your most healthy self. It’s like putting a band-aid on a wound that needs stitches, an insignificant attempt at a potentially life-threatening problem. Seeking this information could be intimidating but don’t be the unfortunate person who finds out too late.

Are You Due for a Check-Up?

If I had to guess, I’d say you are not an Olympic athlete or an absolute health freak. Sorry but chances are you need to change some lifestyle choices. Even if you are feeling tip-top and have been exercising and watching what you eat, going in for a routine check-up or yearly physical is always beneficial. But for those who do struggle to live a healthy lifestyle, luckily our bodies are constantly informing us about what needs to be looked at. It’s time to shut up and listen!

The signs are simple and most of us already know what they are. A sore throat isn’t going away, shortness of breath, unusual bowel movement or constant urination, and unexpected weight loss are important messages from your body that something isn’t right. But for some unexplainable reason, we still ignore these signals, convincing ourselves that we will be fine and that going for a check-up is waste of time. Why are you trying to tough it out? We are surrounded by trained professionals at your local urgent care facility who contain the knowledge and a dummy-proof blueprint on easy steps to live proactively.

Even if you are not feeling unwell it’s still important to get looked at least once a year. Whether for a routine check-up or you’re curious about improving your lifestyle, visiting your local urgent care establishment is never a bad idea. It’s important to note that when you do decide to go that you should come prepared with any questions that you have and most importantly, be honest about any issues or injuries that you are experiencing. Getting the hard truth can be difficult so many people decide not to be honest because of fear of a bad diagnosis or much need for a lifestyle change. Remember, these medical professionals are here to help and the best way they can do this is by you giving them full transparency!

It doesn’t take a ton of courage to do the right thing for yourself. If I may make a suggestion – just visit the nearest Chai Care clinic and get a checkup.

All right, there’s a flip side to it  – but it’s all connected, as you’re about to see.

Misguided Bravery

About a year ago a few friends and I were playing a pick-up game of basketball. My friend Joe, a former D-1 college basketball player who was clearly the best player on the court, was driving to the rim and made a sharp side-step against a defender, me when he felt something tweak in his knee. Even with the immediate pain, he still managed to score and continued to finish the game. For the rest of the day, he limped around, squinting with pain, and denied all our suggestions of him going down the street to the closest urgent care. After all, he played in college, none of us did, and he claimed he would be fine in the morning. Nearly two weeks later after more swelling and bruising he finally visited an urgent care when after an X-ray he was given the unfortunate news that he tore a ligament in his knee and would need surgery. That wasn’t the worst part. If he had just gone to an urgent care facility weeks ago the injury would be that much closer to healing. Instead, he walked around every day, even exercised, and continued to play basketball, only making the issue worse. Of course, I felt bad for Joe, he couldn’t play the game he loved for months, not to mention a grueling recovery process and expensive rehab, but all of that could have been avoided if he put his ego on the back burner and made the smart decision.

At the end of the day, it’s important to know that living a healthy lifestyle isn’t just about you. We all have family and friends that love and support us. People who deeply care about our well-being and want the best for us. If seeking medical assistance is something you absolutely hate, think about those who are closest to you. Your children, partner, or friend. Maybe even your dog, who’s going to feed Rex if you’re not there? We all must make sacrifices for the people we care about, at least you can make a choice that not only makes them happy but also created a healthier life for you!

* Legal disclaimer: The content of this article and the entire Chai Care blog is for educational purposes only; it does NOT constitute medical advice and must not be considered as such. Please consult a medical professional regarding any symptoms or health concerns you or your loved ones.