Al Cleinman's Blog

New Association Formed to Promote Eye Health Awareness

The Healthy Eyes for Life Foundation was born into reality on August 21.   A tangible outcome of the Eye Health Summit held in July in Chicago, this new organization has been charged with a substantial task...and opportunity. 

The organization's mission is to increase the public's awareness about the importance of eye health through a nationwide messaging campaign that directs people to take better care of their eyes.  A lofty goal for sure; but one important to our entire populace. 

I was honored to participate in the Eye Heath Summit.  From my chair, it was clear that ours is not only a "cause" but also one with many potential "campaigns."  These potential campaigns encompass everything from diabetic health care to nutrition to vision's impact on education.  Our eyes are both a window to the world around us but also a window to our body.  The public needs a consistant message that drives home this message and the opportunity for institutional and corporate tie-in is tremendous. 

This new organization may result in the consolidation of other existing foundations; resulting in more focused and efficient resources.  The message must be delivered with credibility and the messaging cannot be perceived by potential non-industry supporters as being promulgated for self-serving purposes (ie; to sell more frames, lenses, eye exams, etc.).  Accordingly, I hope that the steering committee recognizes the importance of selecting an organizational leader from outside of our industry's ranks.  Certainly, there are many within the industry who have the inate capability to handle the job.  However, were this new organization to be led by an industry insider, the result would be, in my opinion, a dramatic reduction in the credibility of the mission,  Such an action would likely limit the organization's ability to gather the support of non-industry enterprises, which is critical to it's long term success.

Think big!  The Healthy Eyes for Life Foundation has an incredible opportunity to benefit mankind; and our industry.  It will be best served by a spokesperson of substance such as Peter Euberroth, Colin Powell or Bill Clinton; and by organizational leadership with nationally recognized experience in this type of enterprise and campaign. 

 

Compatible Health Care; the Science of Information and Energy

Some call it alternative medicine.  A friend of mine calls it compatible medicine.  I, for one, have had a long term philosophical connection to the power of the mind as it relates to health and wellness.  My recent brush with my own mortality only has enhanced my beliefs that we have far more control over our own health than we think.

I recently had the opportunity to view The Living Matrix.  This wonderful documentary explores the science of energy and information as it relates to the healing process.  I encourage all my readers, especially those of you who are health practitioners, and those of you who have loved ones with chronic medical conditions, to view this movie. 

The Living Matrix

The Empty Moments

As I've previously written, on August 4th I had a tête-à-tête with a vehicle while crossing the street near my office.  While still sporting a cast on my right arm, and still painfully aware of my bruises, I'm OK.  What the incident has accomplished, as many such instances do, is allowed me some time to reflect on my life; a life that was inches from being snuffed out prematurely.  I'm a lucky guy. 

While my deepest thoughts (not that I'm all that deep) would likely bore you to tears, I will share with you a poem from which I've taken a great deal of inspiration.  I uncovered "The Invitation" when it was first published back in 1999.  It struck a cord with me then and, from time to time, I dust it off.  It's a timeless piece.  I recently re-read this masterpiece and concluded that it really communicates a set of values; and questions; that are worth exploring.  This piece seems especially poignant as our nation struggles on a variety of fronts; and as many of my friends and associates join with me in examining their own lives and what's really important.  Enjoy!

The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer    

How American Healthcare Killed My Father

While the bureaucrats debate how to "fix" our heathcare system, the attached article provides some very interesting insight into what's wrong and what the "fix" might be.  Enjoy!

Download Howamericanhealthcarekilledmyfather.

Business Lessons From Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Four time Pulitzer Prize winning Poet Robert Frost wrote this wonderful poem, The Road not Taken, in 1920.  It epitomizes the means by which you'll succeed; by taking the road less traveled.  Use this poem in a staff meeting and brainstorm ways to "take the road less traveled."

Enjoy!

Al Cleinman

Look Both Ways Before Crossing

Well, the reality is that I did. 

Sorry for the delay in posts.  On Tuesday morning, August 4th, I was struck by a car while in a crosswalk near my office.  First...I'm OK.  Apparantly, I did a flip and landed on the hood of the car, then proceded to slither to the pavement.  The good news is that, while I was unconscious for about 30 minutes or so, I'm OK.  I've got lacerations over both eyes and some nasty bruises and a broken toe, but I'll heal.  Beats the alternative. 

The bad news is that I received mediocre scores on the flip and am out of medal contention. 

So, sorry for the delay in posts.  I'm recuperating nicely but don't have the brain for anything too deep.  We'll talk soon.