First of all, I want to thank you for the time you took this year to read these blogs. I hope you found some advice that enriched your life.
The year 2023 has been a year of awakening, a year full of blessing from the Almighty, a year of financial awakening, a year of spiritual awakening. From changes in the stock market, to the price of daily groceries, 2023 was indeed the year of change.
For this year we paid more money at the gas station to fill our cars and the cost of consumer goods such as eggs were higher .
Peaks of Otter,courtesy of Kofi Amo-Mensah,MD
This post COVID 19 era has innately awakened our attention span to be better prepared for future pandemics, and has awakened our realization that we are mortals.
I sincerely hope you continue to find all the answers to your questions and most importantly, that the Almighty grants you good health and prosperity in all your future endeavors. I hope you continue to make better strategic plans to improve your life everyday. May you continue to be a beacon of hope and a blessing to all the people that you encounter. Until the next year, cheers!
Each year, as I grow, one of the most striking observations is how different life continues to change progressively right in front of my eyes. Some of the changes are good, but some of the subconscious ideas, are in fact dangerous for the well-being of children and our youth. If you ask some or most adults living today to compare their childhood to how children are growing up today, one of the answers you may get is that children growing up in today’s society are exposed to too much ideas than they did at a younger and fragile age. As we all know, we are living in the information age.
For a better change, it will be great if as parents, we can continue to increase outdoor play time for children and decrease screen times on phones and computers. Studies have shown that too much screen time may negatively impact the cognitive learning process of children.
It is also essential for each parent to teach our children about God and what God expects from each one of us. Micah 6: 8 states:” He hath shewed thee, O man what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humble with thy God ?”
For example, it is a great idea for the family to have daily devotions with God every morning before the children go to school. This personal time spent with the children and God will strengthen and remind the children to behave themselves well at school, the time spent will increase the family bond, and most importantly will allow children and parents/guardians to spent time with our Heavenly Father, who gives guidance, purpose and protection for our lives. While growing up as a teenager, I remember during our devotional studies , my mother and my father will pray for their children to have retentive memories to study at school and the prayers of my parents have gone a long way into making all their children successful adults.
If possible, it is important for parents to read stories to children at bedtime for as long as possible to enhance our parental- children family bond.
Economically speaking, it is also important to teach children slowly but progressively about savings, investing money and about how money works, so they can use money as a positive tool that will help them build a brighter future. Ideas to be taught include telling our children to take advantage of opening a Roth Individual Retirement account once they start working. One advantage of a Roth Individual Retirement Account is that since it is an aftertax money account, it gets the opportunity to growth, and compound interests on the childs behalf, which will lead to money the child will not have to pay taxes on when they take that money from their account. As Parents and Guardians, it is our duty to teach each child early about the positive and negative impact of credit cards. It is also important to teach children about ways to manage and avoid unnecessary debts.
Thank God, there are many responsible young adults doing amazing things for our society and they should be acknowledged for their positive impacts on our society.
However, in our modern society, there is an increased opioid and alcohol endemic going on across our nation.
As parents, we must continue to be vigilant and pro-active to warn our children about avoiding illegal and unprescribed drugs such as Marijuana, oxycodone, cocaine,meta- amphetamines, etc. As a physician, I had to managed a young adult in her twenties who had overdosed on illegal drugs. We as parents must reach our children first before the sellers or friends of our children get to them. There are many programs available to help young adults addicted to illegal drugs, such as narcotic anonymous. However like they say, prevention is better than the cure.
Positive parental guidance shields our children from unnecessary headaches and points them towards building a future that will benefit the child, his/her family, and most importantly the society as a whole, because every one responsible young male or female can contribute to the stability of our society.
Last week, one of my patients was admitted to the hospital for uncontrolled Hyperglycemia and Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. He plainly told me Doc, I have been an alcoholic since the age of 18, and am still trying to fight this disease at the age of 50. He had been to numerous alcoholic anonymous programs but relapsed many times in the past. Prior to his discharge from the hospital, thankfully his brother and sister had arranged with the hospital Social Worker and enrolled this patient in an intensive alcohol rehabilitation problem to help him. Sadly his case of alcohol dependence is one example of many alcohol addiction problem facing our nation.
In conclusion as Parents and Guardians, we must commit the time to spend and teach our children about the importance of God, virtue, stewardship, accountability, personal investment, and the avoidance of alcohol use and drug use. Proverbs 22: 6 states: ” Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. “
If you or someone you know is addicted to alcohol or illegal drugs, there is help to change your life around. You can contact this national hotline number at 1-800-662-4357 for information on programs for drug addiction and mental health programs. You can also contact your local town community service board for more help.
For most people living in the 21 first century, driving a car has become a necessity for commute to work, errands, family vacations,ets. At some point, you will need a car. Here are tips when you need to purchase a new, pre-owned or used car. For the record, I am also a car enthusiast. One of the best cars I have ever driven was a manual transmission 1987 Acura Integra. It was so much fun to drive from Queens New York City to Brooklyn on the Beltway Parkway.
Cadillac ATS courtesy of Car and Driver Magazine.
Tip#1 : Find a car price within your working budget. ( A price that will not cause a dint in your savings for the future. )
Tips#2: Test drive the car and if during the test drive, you find a fault with the car, simply walk away. ( From my personal experience, In the past I once bought a vehicle even though I felt something was wrong with the car. During the the test drive, I heard the wheels shaking, and had thought the fault was due to bad tires, I bought the vehicle anyway and changed the tires and the problem persisted, to my surprise and hurt.
Tips#3: Buy a car with great gas mileage per gallon. For example a car with a V6 engine will give you on average a combined 24 miles per gallon compared to a bigger V8 engine which may only give you 15-18 miles per gallon. Spending less on gasoline means more opportunity to save money and invest for your future.
Tips# 4. Explore the option of an electrical vehicle as one of the two vehicles in your household. Electric car owners on average pay lower maintenance cost when compared to gasoline cars owners. Unlike an combustion engine, with electric cars you will have no more need of changing the oil, changing the radiator, changing the alternator, no more changing the engine gasket.. If you decide to buy an electrical car, make sure the company has superchargers around the country for longer distance travel,
Tesla Model Y -Courtesy of carguru.com
Tips# 5: Buy a good car with the longevity track record and reliability that will last 15 years or more. You may pay more upfront but you will be get the most out of that car with fewer costs and repairs over the years. If you decide to buy a very cheap car, either make sure you are a good mechanic yourself or knows someone who can fix that car, because the maintenance cost over the life time of that cheap car may be more than the actual purchased price.
Tips#6: Perform your due diligence and do your good research on the car you are interested in such us the model, make and year manufactured before making the purchase. Good car purchasing resources include Car and driver magazine.com, Kelley Blue Book.com, Edmunds.com
Tips#7: Take your trusted mechanic with you to inspect a used car before purchase.
Tips#8: Plan to pay off the car within 5 years and no more. Better yet, if possible, save and pay for the car in cash.
Tips#9: Purchase a car that may have affordable parts, and a car that spends less time in the mechanical shop.
Tips# 10: Read car reviews about previous owners that purchased the car of interest before buying.
Tips#11: Compare car prices on web sites such as cargurus.com, autotrader.com, carmax.com They may tell you if you are getting a great deal, good deal, or a fair deal price , or if you are spending too much money for the car.
Here are some example of best cars for college students in Snow Areas: Toyota RAV- 4, Jeep Rubicon.
Best 3 Row Luxury SUV: Mercedes GLS 450, Mazda Cx9, Chevy Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade, Toyota Sequoia , Toyota Landcruiser. Lexus LX 600
Best Sport Sedan: Infinity G35, Lexus 250IS, Cadillac ATS, BMW 3 Series-the maintenance cost is too high so think twice before buying a BMW.
Best Midsize Sedan: Toyota Corolla
Best Sedan: Toyota Camry, Acura Integra( Also comes in a manual transmission.)
Best Pickup truck: Ford F 150.
Best Minivan: Honda Odyssey
Best Electrical Midsize SUV: Tesla Model Y.
Best Reliable SUV: Toyota 4 Runner. It also has a high resale value.
Best Sport Coupe/Convertible: Chevy Corvette, Porsche 911, BMW 4 Series,
Best car for you: A safe car and the right amount of money that you can easily afford without breaking the bank!!
Wow what a month in August. For our family vacation we visited Ghana. It was very exciting to go visit my childhood home, visit my grandmother and for my son and daughter to meet their cousins, great grandmother and experience the ways of life for people in Ghana . The time spent visiting families, old childhood friends, worshiping God, created lasting memories that I sincerely thank God for.
Manhyia Palace Museum, Kumasi, Ghana. Courtesy of Kofi Amo-Mensah, MD.Tree at Manhyia Palace , KumasiAccra at night. Courtesy of Kofi Amo-Mensah, MD.
When I was in school, my French teacher Mr. Morgan stated in our french class” when I discover who I am, then I will be free”. As individuals, we all have great strengths and weaknesses. Self discovery is one of the greatest turning point in achieving greatness. Discovering the meaning of life, discovering the importance of marriage, discovering the key to happiness, discovering the intent behind your friends questions, discovering the path to financial independence are all momentous steps that moves all of us as individual to accomplishing our goals.
Cape Coast Castle,GhanaKwame Nkrumah University, Kumasi, Ghana. Black Star Square , Accra Ghana, Courtesy of Kofi Amo-Mensah, M.D.Lake Bosomtwe, Ghana.
I sincerely hope you discover yourself and know your strength, your weakness, your short comings, find the diligent paths to your dreams, and endeavor to keep your ambitions alive. At the same time, In the process, I hope you find time to be nice to yourself. I have discovered that some of the key components to true happiness is to trust God, be nice to self by treating self sometimes, be diligent, and have the courage to take the necessary risk needed to achieve your goals and your happiness.
University of Ghana, Accra. Courtesy of Kofi Amo-Mensah, MD.
Good day friends. Wow, now that are in the middle of July, we are now only 6 months till the end of the year 2023. Through the ups and down and surprises of life, we are “still in the land of the living”.
This month topics centers on learning to live well. The other day I was reading a passage in the Bible in Isaiah 1:17 which states” Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
How does an individual learn to do well? For many, the path to living well will be different. But for most, it starts by acknowledging our current position in life and making the conscious decision for self improvement. For some, they may be at the zenith of life’s achievement, while for others, they may be beginning the path to living well. Where ever once finds his/her self this day, the important part is to formulate your plan to live well, and to surround oneself with thinkers who can help you to achieve your goal. Finding a good mentor, reading many books in the area of interest, and carefully attending seminars in your field of interest will guide you to keep the burning desire alive till discovery and breakthrough stage is obtained.
Names such as Ray Kroc, former American Entrepreneur known for expanding McDonald from a local chain to one of the most profitable Restaurant Franchise, to Jeff Bezos, co- founder of Amazon, have built conglomerate Empires. They both started with new ideas and implementation of those ideas. Who knows, for in the next few years, it may be your business that may be featured in Fortune Magazine.
In conclusion, seeking to maintain a balance life, having a humble mindset and preserving your individuality are important traits to hold on to when success comes into your life. Finding ways to live well will enhance your happiness and allow you to be of service to your communities and to the whole world.
Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful men in our society. May God continue to bless you as you care and love your families through your guidance, sacrifice, leadership and your presence.
Self understanding of one’s deficiencies are essential for personal growth and improvement. In his book Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill talks about having the desire and thinking positively, to achieve all your dreams. When I was in elementary school, one of my teachers would ask” What is energy? Simply, Energy is the ability to do work. Work is the force times the distance required to complete the work. To sustain a good personal transformation requires been persistent by spending time to perfect your masterpiece that only you can create. You and I must continue to persevere and be determined to achieve all our goals. For example, In order for our house to stay immaculately clean or for our lawn to be beautiful , we must put in the work to keep the place clean and keep the weeds out. The Second Law of Thermodynamics Entropy states that an object will stay or increase in a state of disorder unless an energy is acted upon it.
We all must be persistent in every faucet of our lives. On the topic of Persistence, President Calvin Coolidge stated: ” Nothing in this world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On!” has solved and always will solve the problem of the human race”
In conclusion, one must remain persistent, determined, have the desire to achieve all of one’s goals and objectives. Proverb 13:19 reads : ” The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.”
Happy Memorial Day to our brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice of love for our country. Currently as rains tears of joy and remembrance on this beautiful day, I want to thank our Soldiers for their life of service. May the Almighty God bless, guide and nurture the wives, husbands, children, parents, nieces, nephews that such soldiers left behind. May we as individuals continue to hold on to the memories, the love, the ambitions, creativity, humility and services of our heroes.
First of all, Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful Mothers across the whole globe. I want to personally thank you for the love, patience, hope, nurture, and stability that you bring to our families. May the Almighty God bless you and your families everyday.
Interestingly, Flow is defined by Merriam Webster definition as “to proceed smoothly and readily.” Flow is synonymous with circulation and circulation is synonymous with life. As a physician, I encourage my patient to have more flow in their lives. The circulation of blood from our pumping heart to our brain, and all other organs depend on adequate flow. Our Respiratory System circulates oxygenated blood to all our cells for life sustenance.
Interestingly, flow is life and the lack of flow is the absence of life. The lack of flow to vital organs ultimately results in disease processes such as Myocardial Infarction(heart attack), Cerebral Vascular Accidents( stroke) and Mesenteric Ischemia( gangrene of bowel), and peripheral artery disease which is insufficient flow to the lower extremities (legs) which can cause a condition called intermittent claudication. Patients with claudication may feel numbness, pain, tingling sensation with ambulation.
Here are advantages to having greater flow in our lives.
According to the Center for Disease Control, exercising for 150 minutes a week provides our bodies with adequate flow of blood, and promotes good health.
Better Flow of words, between husbands and wives, parents and children promotes trust, an essential ingredient in building healthy relationships between families.
Economically speaking, having increasing cash flow into our accounts, and other assets , promotes wealth and freedom to live the life that we desire.
Spiritually, spending time daily in prayer with our Maker promotes healing and guidance for every facet of our lives.
In conclusion, do you have flow? If not, make the changes today. After all, optimal flow will result in a greater life for all.
What is happening in that beautiful mind of yours from infancy to adulthood? The unique ability to remember and retain all things happening in our lives are assets to unlocking some of life’s greatest rewards. But first, what is going on in April?
The month of April is filled with significant memorial Holidays in the Judeo-Christian faiths such as Passover and Easter. During these Holidays, we are called to remember particular events that positively impacted the past, present and future of our existence. Whether one identifies himself as a Christian or not, the eschatological questions, such as who am I, why am I here, where am I going, and what happens when this life on earth seizes for the individual, are important questions worth asking of self. Some individuals simply chooses to ignore these thoughts and continue to focus on the present demands of this world such as our work, of family responsibilities , mortgage payments, planning for the future. On the other hand, a few individuals take the necessary time to study and research the past history of humanity and obtain the keys to build a better future.
Now a focus on memory. Our memory is made up of short term and long term memories. The part of our brain that controls memory is called the Hippocampus. Modern science tells us that most of our long term memories stays intact. The ability of our grandparents to tell us many events from the distant past is a good example. On the other hand, our short term memory allows for us to recall recent events such as to remember the details of a recent school or business meeting, or to remember the immediate questions that our children asked us two minutes ago. The short term memory may experience changes depending on how it is exercised. Other factors that may positively or negatively impact memory depends on inherited genes. There are some neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers disease and Parkinson’s Dementia that negatively impact our short term memory.
However, the great news for everyone today is that there are great physiological adaptations that each of us can take advantage of immediately to increase and maintain our mental capacities and vitality. For example, eating a well balance diet with fruits, vegetables, nuts, protein, less fatty meals, improves our mental capacities and decreases the incidences of severe debilitating illnesses. Healthy food contains antioxidants that facilitate and repair damages to our DNA.
Secondly, participating in a 150 minutes per week of resistance training and aerobic exercises increases perfusion of oxygenated blood to vital organs such as the brain, the heart, the lungs, the stomach, and kidneys and removes excess carbon dioxide in our bodies.
Thirdly, drinking adequate amount of water provide the cells in our bodies with decreased viscosity and increased permeability necessary to removes excess nitrogenous waste from the kidney. Simply, check the color of your urine throughout the day. The more water one ingests during the day, the less concentrated the color of the urine and vice versa.
Fourthly, remember to read good books. Reading is a great way to mentally stay sharp for many decades.
In conclusion, remember to stay mentally and physically sharp in every decade that God has given you. Remember to dream big and achieve greatness for yourself and your family. Some of the greatest ideas in this world came when people remembered to put the ideas into actions. Remember the story of the personal computer and Bill Gates. You and I are gifted with a beautiful mind and we must continue to exercise our minds daily to extract the most opportunities that life will present our way. Finally, remember that you are and will always be the child of the King.
2023 is already going full speed ahead. I hope all is well with you and your family and my sincere desire is that the Almighty shield and protect you and your love ones this year.
According to Archives.gov, In 1776, our founding Fathers stated in the Declaration of Independence from the 13 colonies of United States of America that “we hold these truths to be self-evident , that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. “
History teaches us that freedom is important. In a society where people are free, advancement through innovative technology, medicinal breakthrough, enhances the lives of humanity. For example, Tesla motors with their advancement with Electric Vehicle technology continues to create cars and SUVs that operates without gasoline. Cars that do not have engines and yet are able to move passengers with advanced battery technology from the West Coast to the East Coast of Unites States of America.
On another note, what are we doing with the freedom and time that we are given on this Earth? How can you and I be more happier this year? What one extra plan or activity must one incorporate or remove from our routines to increase our satisfaction and obtain inner peace?
A few days ago, I was managing a Covid 19 patient in the Emergency room who was in acute respiratory distress. He was managed with supplemental oxygenation, and covid 19 protocol medications. After he felt better and just before I left his room, he told me a story that intrigued and amazed me. He said only in America can a humble person who grew up with little get the opportunity to become a Navy fighter pilot and achieve his dreams. His story of success is one of the many millions of Americans stories envisioned by our founding fathers 247 years ago.
If I may suggest, find opportunity near you, reach out to newer heights today. Envision a better tomorrow for yourself and efficiently make your dream become a reality by working on your dream everyday. It could mean saving every month for your Children’s 4 year college tuition starting today, it could mean retiring from the workforce 10 years earlier than you had planned, it could mean achieving financial independence at an earlier age, it could mean volunteering to assist the homeless or less fortunate in your society with your free time. It could mean savings 10-20% from your gross income to enable you to achieve financial freedom to have the choice to live the life that you choose for yourself. Your dreams can be endless.
Seek your path to pursuit your happiness. Make time to take care of your health. Take time to laugh. Make time to watch the sunrise. Truly listen to the bird singing. Find the time to communicate well with your children and your spouse and try the technique of listening more than speaking. Read a good book once every 2 months, if time permits. Visit your library and explore something new. Make time for what is important for you. Enjoy the simple things in life like riding your bicycle in the park, going fishing, watch the stars at night, plant trees or grow vegetables and fruits in your garden. Travel and explore different cities to experience the essence of life and create beautiful memories.
In conclusion, make this year a new year to find true happiness.
Wow, the 2022 world Cup was a great event for the world! Congratulation to the 32 teams who competed and brought excitement, joy, fun, laughter and amazement to everyone who loves the game. There were lessons that I took from this world cup. For example, intense personal preparations, out of this world mental toughness during penalty kicks, perseverance, courage, great decision making skills by these players, excellent communicative abilities, the coaches making the right adjustments when down in points and most importantly the players cohesive team chemistry were the characteristics traits and the ultimate ingredients to win the world cup.
Now let us focus on a personal level. How can one obtain greatness? Greatness may be defined as achieving all your set goals over a specified time period. You see, time is the limiting ingredient which will run out for each of us at some time on our journey in this life. Therefore, one must seize each day and maximize his efforts so he can finish what he starts. Achieving greatness will have different goals and meaning to each individual. It could mean competing and finishing a marathon race, obtaining a college and a post graduate degree, being a mentor to your children, setting a clear path for the generation behind you to emulate, living a life of self control under all stressful conditions, or achieving financial independence at an earlier age. A life of greatness is a process more than a destination. Others may differ to say that a life of greatness is more of a destination than the process involved. The beautiful thing about achieving greatness is that it brings so much intense joy to its owners that, even money at that moment ,cannot be compared to it. Proverbs 13: 19 states ” the desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.” The great ones, Albert Einstein, Michael Jordan, and Dr. Benjamin Carson, just to name a few, achieved greatness through hard work, determination to be the best and demonstrated the desire for knowledge. Furthermore, the application of knowledge is what separates the best from the rest.
Albert Einstein .courtesy of google.com
Dr. Benjamin Carson, courtesy of google.com
In conclusion, one must endeavor to be the best in every aspect of life. One must have patience, show courage, demonstrate love, have determination, work efficiently, exemplify hard-work characteristics, have integrity, develop an intense desire for knowledge and most importantly ,apply knowledge to every faucet of one’s live to propel and achieve greatness.
Wow. I will start by saying good morning, afternoon to you. I hope you are having a good day so far. Accountability, responsibility, budgeting, planning ahead, and situation awareness are some traits that separates the best individuals from the rest. Stewardship is life. Stewardship is managing effectively and efficiently the resources that our Almighty has given us. Our resources come in the form of our time, our talent, our money, our environment, and the decision-making choices we make regarding our relationships with our spouses, children and others.
Who then is a good steward? A good steward is a person who pays his/her tithe. A good steward is a person who cares for the life of people and animals alike. A good steward protects his family at all cost. A good steward opens his eyes and is able to plan and foresee events before they actually happen. In this life, character development is essential to become a great steward, so does recognizing our self limitations early on in life and therefore making the necessary adjustments. To be a good steward is to be aware of where every single dollar you earned is going, and consciously growing all your assets over time while limiting your liabilities. You see, the choices that we make everyday ultimately defines and makes us. Thomas Stanley wrote in his book The Millionaire Next Door that to make great fortune, one must play both offense(make money ) and defense ( keep your money for your projects and out of the hands of creditors). He also states in the same book that “wealth is more often the result of a lifestyle of hard work, perseverance, planning , and, most of all, self discipline.”
In conclusion, a great steward is one who looks for ways to improve his/her current condition. A great steward is self conscious of his/her time, plans ahead to make sure his decisions today will benefit his family, and grand children for over many generations. A good steward is a person who is equally balance with his financial matters, has emotional stability, is physically active, spiritually stronger, and one who provide services to his/ her community. Look at the life of Mr. Warren Buffett and you may find traits of a great steward.
Remember Proverbs 13:22 : ” A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children.”
Live The Best Possible Life Ever 