Building a Foundation, a.k.a Helping People Get "It"

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."
Henry David Thoreau

When I first read that quote, it made me think about health literacy. I think of the castles in the air as well-meaning health advice, preventive interventions, and information that is intended to help people improve their health and wellness. Unfortunately, sometimes the advice, interventions and informational materials are not easily understood by the consumer, and may as well be like the castles built in air - they are unreachable and frustrating - you don't even know what you don't know! With all the conflicting information about our health, sometimes we get our wires crossed.

What is needed is a good foundation - something that links great advice, interventions and materials to the earth where consumers and get to it. After reading the definition of health literacy in the link above, let me simplify it for you - look at this picture. I like the image shown - the woman sitting on the stool is engaged with the woman holding the medicine bottle -- it looks like there is some good foundation building going on there.

Our goal is to do some foundation building out there. When people are able to understand the information that affects their health and wellness, kids are healthy enough to go to school, adults don't miss work, families save money, and society as a whole benefits.

We welcome your comments and want to know what you think!