I'm Back Baby! (Boomers)

I apologize for the long absence. It has been exactly one year since I have established this blog. And 10 months since the last entry which was devoted to Andy. These past months have been filled with so many wonderful changes in my life. My daughter Molly and her husband Jeremy blessed us with a beautiful grandson, Andrew James Duchon, born on 5/5/11. And my son Peter married the love of his life and best friend Shirin on 6/10/11.

But those blessed events don't account for the time away from the blog. I decided to put my philosophy, No Regrets, into action. The first thing was to re-evaluate my career goals. I determined that the only way I could be the Psychiatrist I truly wanted to be - you know - backing out of the current in and out 15 minute, assembly line of patients -was to create a better way of meeting individuals with mental health issues.

There is a Clinic just 10 minutes away from my home devoted to health and wellness. It is called The Lu-Jean Feng Clinic. Dr. Feng is an internationally known plastic surgeon with cutting edge technology like the painless tummy tuck. The Director of Operations, Linda Haas, is just as brilliant with her business savvy. Both Dr. Feng and Linda have created a successful medical facility not only dedicated to state of the art medical care, but also employing providers such as Dr. Gaylee McCracken who is responsible for preventative and anti-aging medicine. Alternative medicine such as acupuncture is provided by Dr. Mao, a man so dear that being near him brings me peace.

So I decided to approach Dr. Feng and Linda with my resume and my idea of providing the "missing piece" to their clinic. I wanted to provide Mental Wellness and introduce the concept of preventative psychiatry. This wonderful clinic that offered health and wellness could truly be revolutionary by including both mental and physical well-being. How can one separate the mental from the physical? Have you ever had a medical illness that affected your mood? Has your state of mind had an affect on your health? I was so devoted to this idea of preventative psychiatry and the interplay between the mind and body that I began to write a book addressing this concept.

The wonderful outcome? They hired me as the Mental Wellness Coach for their clinic and I am currently in the process of publishing my book. NO REGRETS!!

And another life changing occurrance took place on 2/28/11 when I attended a lecture on nutrition given by Dr. Feng. She discussed the book, The China Study. She spoke of the health hazards of eating too much protein and how the right foods can actually reverse certain illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. I am now 61 years old, 7 years younger than my mother when she died of breast cancer. The lecture so transformed my way of eating that I am now eating a plant-based diet. I have not only lost weight, gained more energy to play with my new grandson, but also have lost my fixation with food. I only eat when hungry - a lesson so many diets out there tried to reinforce in me - and now you can say that I eat to live, not vise versa.

Because of this significant change in my body, my energy, and my mental clarity, I have accepted the position of Director of Food and Nutrition and have created a 12 week Ultimate weight loss plan for my clients. If this works for me - a person who has yo-yoed for most of their life, than it can certainly work for anyone. I am so enthusiastic. Tonight I meet with my first group of clients for an orientation. NO REGRETS!!

So, I have been busy but keeping true to my belief that we should have no regrets. I still have a few to conquer but for now, this Baby Boomer is back and promises to keep posting to my fellow boomers. Life is too short. Do you have any regrets that may be achieveable? I hope to hear from you. Peace, Dr. Campbell