Hopefully, we can appreciate Dr. David Lucas for his eternal optimism and jump on board the train he is conducting as it leaves the station.

We’re all heading for the same destination, whether we get on board or not.

According to a University of Wisconsin research study Dr. Lucas recently acquired, Lawrence County ranks dead last in the state of Ohio in overall health and wellness.

That’s 88th place out of 88 counties.

“I love this place!” he emphasized recently at the very first Lawrence County Health and Wellness Summit, ringing out a sentiment we all should embrace. “How could such a beautiful place be rated last? I was stunned by this study.”

Some of the areas researched in the study were available healthcare, overall physical environment, social factors (such as recreation availability), obesity, physical fitness, drug abuse, tobacco use, and, of course, economic factors.

Einstein knew that it was foolish to continue doing the same things and expecting different results.

Dr. Lucas is confident that Lawrence County has its share of forward thinkers, those willing to work to do things differently to improve the plight of our home.

“It’s just a matter of changing the attitudes and thinking of people,” he stressed.

And that makes perfect sense.

If enough of us decide we are tired of the economic plight and unhealthy condition of our area, we are apt to want to do something about it.

And that’s where Dr. Lucas’s train comes into play.

He is reaching out to the community, from our county commissioners (who have already boarded), to local business owners, to everyday folks like you and me, in an effort that he has known from the beginning will be determined by our collective willingness to change our living conditions.

“One scar at a time, we can rub the ointment on and it will heal,” he said.

The whistle is blowing and the train is leaving the station. If you are willing to join this initiative, please contact Dr. Lucas at lawcohealthandwellness@gmail.com. You can also visit the upstart Web site at https://sites.google.com/site/lawcohealthandwellness/

Action circles are already forming. Your action could significantly enhance the power of one of those circles.

“This is a matter of life and death,” Lucas stressed, adding that our community has the ability to dramatically improve if each of us works to our strengths.

All aboard?

 

Billy Bruce is a freelance writer who lives in Pedro. He can be contacted at hollandkat3@aol.com.