On the occasion of Thanksgiving I wanted to write about something that is relevant to people this time of year. Gratitude. I, like many others, forget to be thankful for the things that are in my life because it is so easy to overlook the blessings when you are busy complaining about the shortfalls. My mom always tells me that "when feeling down, always look at people below you, at people who aren't as fortunate as you because by seeing their suffering, your problems will look pretty minuscule." Puts things in perspective, doesn't it?
Long time ago I heard a story where a man goes to heaven and sees three stations. At the first station, there are several angels who are busy opening letters and sorting them. The man looks confused and asks an angel as to what's going on? The angel replies that this is the receiving department. Here, prayers and requests are received from man and presented to God. The man moves on to the next station. Here, the angels are equally busy packing envelopes and boxes. The man asks the angel to explain. Here is the shipping department, the angel explains, all the blessing and wishes that God has granted are shipped from here. The man moves on to the final station where he only sees one angel who is yawning. The man asks the angel what department is this? The angel says that this is the acknowledgment department. He says that human beings are very quick to ask for things and when God grants their wishes, they forget to say thanks so that's why this department is always slow.
Why do you think it is so hard to say a prayer in gratitude? Maybe because we take things for granted or maybe we think that it is our right and we deserve the things we have, but without God's benevolence, nothing is possible. He gives us this life to enjoy and He can easily take it away from us just like that. So I am making it my mission to say thanks everyday, not just on special occasions because the Sun comes out everyday, the air we breathe is a constant and He is the mastermind behind it. When he doesn't forget us for even a single moment, isn't it our duty to say thanks? Next time look around you and count your blessings because their abundance will outweigh shortfalls any day.
R
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Mind Games
A few years ago a friend of mine introduced me to "The Secret", a groundbreaking concept that popularized "the law of attraction", which basically said that if you focus on something enough the Universe will make every effort to get it to you. I remember watching this DVD with some skepticism but there were some points that even convinced me to take charge of my own destiny. I instantly came home and relayed this message to my husband and told him that we should make a vision board and put all the things that we desire on it. This way it's out there in the Universe and the law of attraction will bring them to us. He listened to me and amused me while I went through the internet and magazines to search for picture of the things I would like to have. Even though people in the video put some outlandish things on their vision board, I took the practical approach and only asked for things that seemed reasonable. Over the years we have achieved a few things that are on that board but some still remain out of reach. Today every time I look at that board, I question myself whether my desires have come true because of it or were they part of a master plan that was already in place by the Almighty? Do we really have the power to change our destiny? Can we really get each and everything that we desire? If the answer to all these questions is yes then why do we believe in God? Why not just pickup a pen and paper and jot down all our desires and wish them upon us? Why not wish all the bad things out of this world? Does man really have that power? I have subscription to South Asian TV channels and every other commercial is about a numerologist, an astrologer or a clairvoyant who promise to vanish all your problems and guarantee that you will have peace and wealth in just seven days. Is this even possible? Are there people among us who possess the power to eliminate all our problems and make us rich and happy? Is there a mathematical equation that can eradicate all ailments? If so then why is it that only a handful among us are able to do this and not all? Wow! so many questions right? But didn't all of us at one time or another sought answers via reading our horoscope, showing our palm to a psychic or calling a clairvoyant to predict our future? I know that I read my horoscope all the time and will also admit to visiting a psychic once. Does that make me an evil person? No I don't think so because desperate times call for desperate measures. When we are at a low point in life and feel that our prayers are not being answered, we do get swayed by promises made by these self-proclaimed Gurus who promise instant gratification. I am at a point in my life where I am thankful to God for everything that he has blessed me with but I can certainly see someone who is going through a tough time in life sitting in front of his or her TV when a commercial comes on that promises to make all your problems disappear, you will most likely pickup the phone and call and shell out a hefty fee in hopes of getting some answers. It is the vulnerable that these people prey on. There is a whole community out there of people who promise you the world and people of all background and educational levels are falling for it because who doesn't want Utopia, but does Utopia really exist? Are human beings ever satisfied with what we have or do we always want more?
Recently I saw on TV that one of the self help gurus featured on "The Secret", James Arthur Ray, has been arrested for three counts of manslaughter because three people died at one of his retreats in Arizona. This man who made millions of dollars making public appearances and selling books went too far when his followers were led into a sweat lodge to clean their mind and body, to free themselves of all the negatives and essentially have a rebirth. Three people died of extreme heat and dehydration and many were injured. Ray was arrested and is now awaiting his day in court. So my question is: if this man can teach others to attract positives in their lives and make themselves happy, then how come he is facing criminal charges and public scrutiny and is unable to make them go away? Touche.
R
Recently I saw on TV that one of the self help gurus featured on "The Secret", James Arthur Ray, has been arrested for three counts of manslaughter because three people died at one of his retreats in Arizona. This man who made millions of dollars making public appearances and selling books went too far when his followers were led into a sweat lodge to clean their mind and body, to free themselves of all the negatives and essentially have a rebirth. Three people died of extreme heat and dehydration and many were injured. Ray was arrested and is now awaiting his day in court. So my question is: if this man can teach others to attract positives in their lives and make themselves happy, then how come he is facing criminal charges and public scrutiny and is unable to make them go away? Touche.
R
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Random Thoughts
I recently attended an event where I saw many middle aged women dressed like teenagers and I felt completely disgusted. It's one thing to want to look young but why do women feel the need to borrow clothes from their two-sizes too small daughters? In this day and age growing old gracefully is not an option for people that's why the anti-aging cosmetics is a multi-billion dollar business around the world. In every country women and some men are trying their hardest to reverse the aging process and they are willing to go through any length to make it happen but dressing in tights and tank tops that accentuate their muffin tops instead of hiding it is just tasteless. People think that the more skin you show, the sexier you look but that's not always true. A woman dressed in a great fitting jean and an embroidered blouse can look better than a woman who is all for skin show. I know many teenage girls who complain that their mothers want to look like their sister when in reality they want their mother to look like their mother and not some hoochie! I understand the need to look young and sexy but dressing like a hooker will only attract the wrong kind of attention.
Another issue that is burning me up is the Gulf oil spill. It makes me sick to see all that oil leaking and threatening the lives of so many innocent people and animals. It broke my heart to see sea gulls and other creatures weighed down by the sticky oil, and what about the fishermen who lost their livelihoods because of some very greedy executives at BP? I was happy to hear that the government is initiating a criminal investigation against BP and I think that they should throw these executives in jail to show the rest of the world that there are consequences for playing with other people's lives.
Well I think that's it for burning issues for now but I will be back with some more later.
R
Another issue that is burning me up is the Gulf oil spill. It makes me sick to see all that oil leaking and threatening the lives of so many innocent people and animals. It broke my heart to see sea gulls and other creatures weighed down by the sticky oil, and what about the fishermen who lost their livelihoods because of some very greedy executives at BP? I was happy to hear that the government is initiating a criminal investigation against BP and I think that they should throw these executives in jail to show the rest of the world that there are consequences for playing with other people's lives.
Well I think that's it for burning issues for now but I will be back with some more later.
R
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The big disconnect
I often talk to teenagers and most of the time they tell me that their parents just don't get them. They feel that there is a barrier in place and their parents just don't make any effort to break through it. For the purpose of this blog I will use Desi parents and their kids as examples. A Desi is anyone who has immigrated to the western world from India, Pakistan and other neighboring south Asian countries. Desi people started coming to America in search of a better life for themselves and their families. The land of opportunity was so alluring that they could not resist and left their homeland. In America they threw themselves into work and many of them succeeded astronomically. Soon they began reaping the rewards for their hard work by buying nice homes, purchasing luxury cars and providing their children with all that they never had. For them this was life fulfilled but in living the American dream, they forgot to communicate with their children. These kids grew up to be excellent students because anything mediocre was unacceptable. They sported impeccable manners because that was how "Desi" kids were supposed to behave but they could not communicate with their parents because they grew up in a completely different world. Although desi parents try their best to instill all the cultural aspects in their children, but what they forget is that their kids are first and foremost Americans. They ignore the fact that taking them on a trip "back home" once a year will not change who they are. Instead of bridging the gap, our desi parents relegate to speeches about us vs. them. Those Americans are not like us, they don't have a sense of religion or culture, they have boyfriends and talk back to their parents but we don't do that. We respect our parents, we are supposed to stay chaste until we get married, we don't allow this and we don't allow that. These parents fail to realize that these speeches always have the negative effect on their children. They begin resenting their parents and start questioning them that "If you hated the American culture so much then why did you come here?" It is totally unfair for parents to live in a western country and bash it's people and it's values. Every country has good and bad people and it's up to the parents to talk to their children and teach them the proper values. These values should not be about us vs. them but about incorporating good things from both cultures to raise a complete human being.
I have also observed that parents are completely clueless about what their kids' interests are. The foundation to be involved in your child's life should be laid at a very young age. You should always ask questions about their likes and dislikes and make them used to talking to you because once they hit adolescence they will go into a shell. I grew up in a home where my mom was always there. As soon as I came from school, I would tell her everything about the day and this habit is still there even today. Most parents are too busy to talk to their kids while they are growing up and suddenly become interested in their lives once they reach adolescence, but by this time the kids have made friends and have other confidants and last thing they want to do is share their feelings with their parents.
I believe that every parent should make an effort to become interested in their child's hobbies such as music, movies, books and any other interests at an early age. Conversation to your child should not be limited to "How was school" because nothing will turn them off faster than a school question. A father who educates himself about his son's favorite sport will always have a special connection with him. A mother who learns about the latest trends in fashion and popular culture will always have something to talk about with her daughter. These are foundations that will make your child feel comfortable and they will want to come to you with more serious issues such as drugs, peer pressure, sex instead of going to a friend. I am all for parents who are friendly with their kids but also establish certain boundaries. Trying to become your child's best friend can backfire just as ruling with an iron fist will turn them into rebels.
So desi parents work hard but do not neglect your child because believe it or not your child wants to talk to you but you have to make the first move.
R
I have also observed that parents are completely clueless about what their kids' interests are. The foundation to be involved in your child's life should be laid at a very young age. You should always ask questions about their likes and dislikes and make them used to talking to you because once they hit adolescence they will go into a shell. I grew up in a home where my mom was always there. As soon as I came from school, I would tell her everything about the day and this habit is still there even today. Most parents are too busy to talk to their kids while they are growing up and suddenly become interested in their lives once they reach adolescence, but by this time the kids have made friends and have other confidants and last thing they want to do is share their feelings with their parents.
I believe that every parent should make an effort to become interested in their child's hobbies such as music, movies, books and any other interests at an early age. Conversation to your child should not be limited to "How was school" because nothing will turn them off faster than a school question. A father who educates himself about his son's favorite sport will always have a special connection with him. A mother who learns about the latest trends in fashion and popular culture will always have something to talk about with her daughter. These are foundations that will make your child feel comfortable and they will want to come to you with more serious issues such as drugs, peer pressure, sex instead of going to a friend. I am all for parents who are friendly with their kids but also establish certain boundaries. Trying to become your child's best friend can backfire just as ruling with an iron fist will turn them into rebels.
So desi parents work hard but do not neglect your child because believe it or not your child wants to talk to you but you have to make the first move.
R
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Healthcare Reform
On March 22nd, 2010 a historic event occurred on the house floor. The United States Congress passed a government run healthcare reform bill with a 219-212 vote. This bill was overwhelmingly supported by democrats while Republicans strongly opposed it. President Barack Obama succeeded in achieving a feat that many of his predecessors tried and miserably failed. On Monday this news was all over the media with many people from all walks of life weighing in on it. There were some strong opinions by supporters as well as people who absolutely hate it.
I as many of my fellow Americans have an opinion about this. Now I don't claim that I fully understand this bill because it is close to a thousand pages and I highly doubt that even the lawmakers who voted actually read and understood what all it contains; however, there are some points that jump out at me and I would like to comment on them.
Basically the government will take over all the healthcare provided to the American people in it's own hands. The government wants to insure approximately 36 million Americans who are uninsured to make sure that quality healthcare is available to them. The Operating word here is "quality". Most of the people who are already on Medicaid today do not receive quality care as is because Medicaid pays the doctors pennies on the dollar. With passing of this bill, Medicaid will add millions of more people who will want to see a physician who is already overworked and underpaid. When denied an appointment, these same patients will crowd the emergency rooms of hospitals further delaying "quality care" because hospitals don't have enough physicians nor nurses to meet the demand.
I support the bill as it extends healthcare to people who did not have a chance to go see a doctor before due to no insurance but I have a problem with the basic economics of it. It all comes down to supply vs. demand. The government has created a demand but they did not look at the short supply of medical personnel. The number of medical students willing to go into family care has decreased significantly in the last 10 years. There are many countries in the world who have implemented socialized medicine and from here the picture looks all rosy, but when you take a closer look you will realize that a patient wanting to see a Cardiologist in Canada or England may wait up to six months to get an appointment where in The U.S. you can choose a Cardiologist of your choice and get in the same week! This can mean a difference between life and death. Early prevention can eliminate higher medical costs in the future. Instead of giving access to people who are non-compliant why not promote a culture of healthy eating and healthy living?
I recently saw a show on ABC where a British chef goes to a small American city to change their eating habits. He is received with a lot of skepticism and hesitation because he wants to break the culture of processed foods and introduce fresh produce. He goes to a school and is horrified to see so much processed frozen crap that we are feeding our kids. Our goal should be to bring change from ground zero which is our school system. I think every parent should see that show to realize what kind of junk their kids are being fed. The basic root of the problem are our eating habits and our sedentary lifestyle and until we change that we will keep driving up the healthcare costs.
This new healthcare bill is very ambitious but it has several loop holes and can strain our fragile economy even further where hardworking honest taxpayers will give a huge chunk of their money to the government so that the government can support people who have chosen to be non-compliant. I like Barack Obama and respect many of his views but I do not like the fact that he took such a hasty decision on this very important piece of legislation.
R
I as many of my fellow Americans have an opinion about this. Now I don't claim that I fully understand this bill because it is close to a thousand pages and I highly doubt that even the lawmakers who voted actually read and understood what all it contains; however, there are some points that jump out at me and I would like to comment on them.
Basically the government will take over all the healthcare provided to the American people in it's own hands. The government wants to insure approximately 36 million Americans who are uninsured to make sure that quality healthcare is available to them. The Operating word here is "quality". Most of the people who are already on Medicaid today do not receive quality care as is because Medicaid pays the doctors pennies on the dollar. With passing of this bill, Medicaid will add millions of more people who will want to see a physician who is already overworked and underpaid. When denied an appointment, these same patients will crowd the emergency rooms of hospitals further delaying "quality care" because hospitals don't have enough physicians nor nurses to meet the demand.
I support the bill as it extends healthcare to people who did not have a chance to go see a doctor before due to no insurance but I have a problem with the basic economics of it. It all comes down to supply vs. demand. The government has created a demand but they did not look at the short supply of medical personnel. The number of medical students willing to go into family care has decreased significantly in the last 10 years. There are many countries in the world who have implemented socialized medicine and from here the picture looks all rosy, but when you take a closer look you will realize that a patient wanting to see a Cardiologist in Canada or England may wait up to six months to get an appointment where in The U.S. you can choose a Cardiologist of your choice and get in the same week! This can mean a difference between life and death. Early prevention can eliminate higher medical costs in the future. Instead of giving access to people who are non-compliant why not promote a culture of healthy eating and healthy living?
I recently saw a show on ABC where a British chef goes to a small American city to change their eating habits. He is received with a lot of skepticism and hesitation because he wants to break the culture of processed foods and introduce fresh produce. He goes to a school and is horrified to see so much processed frozen crap that we are feeding our kids. Our goal should be to bring change from ground zero which is our school system. I think every parent should see that show to realize what kind of junk their kids are being fed. The basic root of the problem are our eating habits and our sedentary lifestyle and until we change that we will keep driving up the healthcare costs.
This new healthcare bill is very ambitious but it has several loop holes and can strain our fragile economy even further where hardworking honest taxpayers will give a huge chunk of their money to the government so that the government can support people who have chosen to be non-compliant. I like Barack Obama and respect many of his views but I do not like the fact that he took such a hasty decision on this very important piece of legislation.
R
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Life Lessons
Ever wonder what it means when you hear the phrase "live life to the fullest' or "don't worry about anything because you have one life to live"? What does it really mean to live a full life? Does it mean party all you want, travel, shop and have fun or is there something deeper in it? I have always struggled with this because as I was growing up, I avoided parties and hanging out with the popular crowds because I was afraid to get influenced by the wrong people. I was afraid that they would get me hooked on the wrong things and thus kept my distance, but now as I sit here and write this piece, I wonder if I lost out on something very integral, what people call the zest of life. I don't have any regrets but a part of me always wonders what kind of a person I would be today had I been more social or experimental. Does this mean that I really missed out on enjoying life to the fullest?. For me a full life also consists of how much of a difference you have made in other people's lives. I was raised with a sense of responsibility and a sensibility towards others. I believe in service and generosity and my favorite and best teacher has been my mother. My mother is a wonderful cook and many family members showed up at our home to have her food or if she made something special, she would pack it up and send it over to whoever asked for it. She always tells me this is her way of showing love and while others can afford to shower expensive gifts, she loves sharing her food and is appreciated just as much if not more. So this life lesson is extremely important because it is not about how much money you spend on someone but showing how much you care by little gestures such as cooking like my mom.
Another life lesson is about friendship. I am very fortunate to have a few but very good friends. We may not talk on the phone everyday or see each other in months but in our hearts we know that we are there for each other. It is certainly a challenge to be close to your friends all the time due to our hectic schedules and geographical distances but true friends will always be in your heart no matter where they live and even if you meet them after years, it would always seem like you just talked yesterday. There is another side to friendship which can hurt and make you miserable. These are people who come into your life for a short period of time but leave a bad taste in your mouth. I've had my share of so-called friends who brought a lot of negativity and toxic energy in my life. When I was younger, I found it hard to tell them about the damage they are causing, but now I feel it is important to distance yourself from such people. We should always make friends who bring out the best in us, not the ones who suck the life out of us and leave us exhausted. So I have let those people go because they do not contribute anything significant to my life.
Lastly, the most important life lesson comes from our spiritual side. We all believe in a higher power and know that there is something greater out there that controls everything and everyone. Once I was having a discussion with a very dear friend about taking care of your body and skin and all the outer things and she suddenly asked, "So what are you doing for your soul?" That question shocked and puzzled me and I couldn't help but remember that in Islam and most of the religions around the world, it is taught that your body is finite, only your soul is infinite. Life as we know it is temporary because one day we all have to die and leave this body behind, only what's inside gets to go and be with that superior being. So what do you do to cleanse your soul? I don't think it is necessary to pray 24/7 and preach about your religion to people every opportunity you get. For me living my life with honesty and integrity is also an act of faith along with religious rituals and prayers. I know plenty of people who pray all the time but are nasty human beings who hurt people. There are so many ways we can be spiritual. Just doing what my mom does by serving her food to people is an act of faith. Giving charity is an act of faith. Watching your neighbor's kid while they are out is an act of faith. I could go on and on but you get the idea. So the lesson here is that while it is great to take care of your body and live a healthy life but it is more important to have a healthy soul.
Life lessons are important and the purpose should be to learn from them. If you have made a decision in the past that has left a negative impact on you then you should do everything possible to avoid repeating that mistake and if the results are positive then you should try and replicate them. I believe in making life easier for people by providing my services and advice whenever I can and I also try and learn from my elders because their experiences enrich my life. So my friends learn from life because there is no better teacher and live your life to the fullest because after all, we only get one life to live.
R
Another life lesson is about friendship. I am very fortunate to have a few but very good friends. We may not talk on the phone everyday or see each other in months but in our hearts we know that we are there for each other. It is certainly a challenge to be close to your friends all the time due to our hectic schedules and geographical distances but true friends will always be in your heart no matter where they live and even if you meet them after years, it would always seem like you just talked yesterday. There is another side to friendship which can hurt and make you miserable. These are people who come into your life for a short period of time but leave a bad taste in your mouth. I've had my share of so-called friends who brought a lot of negativity and toxic energy in my life. When I was younger, I found it hard to tell them about the damage they are causing, but now I feel it is important to distance yourself from such people. We should always make friends who bring out the best in us, not the ones who suck the life out of us and leave us exhausted. So I have let those people go because they do not contribute anything significant to my life.
Lastly, the most important life lesson comes from our spiritual side. We all believe in a higher power and know that there is something greater out there that controls everything and everyone. Once I was having a discussion with a very dear friend about taking care of your body and skin and all the outer things and she suddenly asked, "So what are you doing for your soul?" That question shocked and puzzled me and I couldn't help but remember that in Islam and most of the religions around the world, it is taught that your body is finite, only your soul is infinite. Life as we know it is temporary because one day we all have to die and leave this body behind, only what's inside gets to go and be with that superior being. So what do you do to cleanse your soul? I don't think it is necessary to pray 24/7 and preach about your religion to people every opportunity you get. For me living my life with honesty and integrity is also an act of faith along with religious rituals and prayers. I know plenty of people who pray all the time but are nasty human beings who hurt people. There are so many ways we can be spiritual. Just doing what my mom does by serving her food to people is an act of faith. Giving charity is an act of faith. Watching your neighbor's kid while they are out is an act of faith. I could go on and on but you get the idea. So the lesson here is that while it is great to take care of your body and live a healthy life but it is more important to have a healthy soul.
Life lessons are important and the purpose should be to learn from them. If you have made a decision in the past that has left a negative impact on you then you should do everything possible to avoid repeating that mistake and if the results are positive then you should try and replicate them. I believe in making life easier for people by providing my services and advice whenever I can and I also try and learn from my elders because their experiences enrich my life. So my friends learn from life because there is no better teacher and live your life to the fullest because after all, we only get one life to live.
R
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Change
Change is tough but it's inevitable. There is always fear of the unknown but you can't rule out the curiosity to learn something new. Personally I have gone through many changes in life as most people reading this blog. My first big change came when I left Pakistan at the age of 11 and came to America. At the time I had no clue where America was and what it had in store for me but coming here was my destiny, so I came. The next big change came about when I was through with college and had an opportunity to live and work away from my parents. This was a big shocker because in our culture, unmarried children no matter how old always lived with their parents. With a lot of begging and pleading I finally got permission to live on my own. This I would consider as one of the most enlightening phases of my life. I was asked questions like, "Why do you not live with your parents?", "Do you not get along with your parents?" Some people even branded me as being a loose character because no good girl leaves her parents' home and lives on her own. There were whispers among family members also with aunts and uncles calling my mom and asking about my intentions. They also didn't fail to mention that no eligible boy from a good family would consider me for marriage; boy were they wrong!
Next change came when I was scoping out prospective suitors for marriage. Most guys I talked to were surprised when they learned that I didn't live with my parents, but there was one man who admired my courage to be independent and make a life for myself so I married him.
Married life was a huge change. My husband and I had known each other for only a few months before we got married and it was a very big adjustment. The first year was tough as we were both getting to know each other and learning to love each other in the process but after that it has been smooth sailing. I am proud to say that he is my best friend. He is the most kind and compassionate person on the face of this earth and although I don't say it to him enough, I love him dearly.
So change is scary but it's necessary because it means progress. I thank my father for the first big change for bringing us here. I know that my sisters would agree with me because we were living a very poor life in Pakistan not knowing if we would be able to go to college or get married in a decent family. I thank my parents again in believing in me and giving me the freedom to pursue my dreams of higher studies and a great career. I also want to thank my husband for loving me and changing me as a person. I am more grounded because of him. I value people and and their deeds rather than jewelry and clothes.
There are many changes in store for me in the future and I know that I will embrace each change because change is progress.
R
Next change came when I was scoping out prospective suitors for marriage. Most guys I talked to were surprised when they learned that I didn't live with my parents, but there was one man who admired my courage to be independent and make a life for myself so I married him.
Married life was a huge change. My husband and I had known each other for only a few months before we got married and it was a very big adjustment. The first year was tough as we were both getting to know each other and learning to love each other in the process but after that it has been smooth sailing. I am proud to say that he is my best friend. He is the most kind and compassionate person on the face of this earth and although I don't say it to him enough, I love him dearly.
So change is scary but it's necessary because it means progress. I thank my father for the first big change for bringing us here. I know that my sisters would agree with me because we were living a very poor life in Pakistan not knowing if we would be able to go to college or get married in a decent family. I thank my parents again in believing in me and giving me the freedom to pursue my dreams of higher studies and a great career. I also want to thank my husband for loving me and changing me as a person. I am more grounded because of him. I value people and and their deeds rather than jewelry and clothes.
There are many changes in store for me in the future and I know that I will embrace each change because change is progress.
R
Saturday, February 6, 2010
GO RED!!
We all know that heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America, but do we know that treatment of women with heart disease rests in the hands of political bureaucrats and big insurance companies? Working for a Cardiologist has given me an inside look into the future of American health care. Recently Medicare has cut reimbursements for critical cardiac tests for up to 40%. This may not mean much to a patient until he or she realizes that insurance lobbyists have convinced our government to set high deductibles and premiums for average Americans who believe they have decent health insurance. For example, you are paying $300 a month in premiums for medical insurance thinking that you will get the best possible service when you need it but what you don't know is that most of the insurance companies impose deductibles on some very necessary tests. A deductible is the amount of money that you have to pay from your own pocket before your insurance even kicks in. If you are lucky it could be as low as $1,500 per family but it could go up to $10,000 a year. Which means that unless you get into a car accident or have a heart attack you will never meet your insurance deductible for that year.
Medicare has justified cuts in cardiology tests as too many tests being done and it is bankrupting the government. I agree that there are doctors out there who run a battery of tests unnecessarily but what about honest doctors who are in the profession to help people and only order certain tests to rule out major complications? They are being punished by the government for taking care of or even keeping their patients alive.
We had a patient come into our office the other day needing a stress test. Upon verifying her insurance we found out that she has a $1,000 deductible and considering the way insurance works we were not going to paid a single penny unless the patient paid something upfront. When I said that to the patient she almost had tears in her eyes because she thought that she had good insurance and all she had to pay that day was her copay. Although she needed the test, she left our office without being seen. Now I work for a great Doctor who would've seen her without worrying about the money a couple of years ago but considering his expenses, he couldn't afford to see this patient.
Bottom line is that Americans are getting sicker and need medical care now more than ever but the insurance companies and the government are tying the hands of capable physicians by not paying them for their hard work and also penalizing the patients by imposing high premiums and deductibles. This is all because of lobbying or should I say bribery by big insurance companies in congress. This may not effect an average healthy person right now but it will when you and I need a doctor and the good ones will all be gone.
R
Medicare has justified cuts in cardiology tests as too many tests being done and it is bankrupting the government. I agree that there are doctors out there who run a battery of tests unnecessarily but what about honest doctors who are in the profession to help people and only order certain tests to rule out major complications? They are being punished by the government for taking care of or even keeping their patients alive.
We had a patient come into our office the other day needing a stress test. Upon verifying her insurance we found out that she has a $1,000 deductible and considering the way insurance works we were not going to paid a single penny unless the patient paid something upfront. When I said that to the patient she almost had tears in her eyes because she thought that she had good insurance and all she had to pay that day was her copay. Although she needed the test, she left our office without being seen. Now I work for a great Doctor who would've seen her without worrying about the money a couple of years ago but considering his expenses, he couldn't afford to see this patient.
Bottom line is that Americans are getting sicker and need medical care now more than ever but the insurance companies and the government are tying the hands of capable physicians by not paying them for their hard work and also penalizing the patients by imposing high premiums and deductibles. This is all because of lobbying or should I say bribery by big insurance companies in congress. This may not effect an average healthy person right now but it will when you and I need a doctor and the good ones will all be gone.
R
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Prayers for Haiti
It's amazing how much mental stimulation you get when you engage in conversations with people from all walks of life. Lunch time at my office is one such forum. We talk about anything and everything under the sun. No topic is off limits. These days our main topic of conversation is the earthquake in Haiti. It is definitely heart wrenching to see all the devastation and loss of precious life. Sometimes it makes me think about all the mysterious ways in which God works. I can't help but wonder why most of the worst disasters hit the poorest and densely populated nations? To that, one of my coworkers said that maybe because the more fortunate choose the best locations to live in where they feel safe so the underprivileged have no choice but to live on the land that's left over. I don't know about anyone else but her thought did resonate with me and I kept thinking about some other natural disasters such as the Tsunami, earthquake in China and India. It takes years for people in those nations to rebuild their lives because they lack the infrastructure and basic resources. In Haiti for example, a corrupt government has left the country with buildings that were unstable so their fall in the face of such a disaster was inevitable. I remember taking a tour of San Fransisco in one of those city tour buses a couple of years ago and the tour guide pointed out that most of their government buildings in the financial district were built on foundations that acted like ball bearings so if for instance an earthquake hit, the buildings would move from side to side and come back to their original positions and not collapse. Now that was amazing to me. Taking a proactive measure instead of reacting after a major catastrophe. My heart goes out to all those people who have lost their loved ones and homes and I thank God everyday for the blessings he has showered on us.
I'll share more topics of discussions in the near future.
R
I'll share more topics of discussions in the near future.
R
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