While cleaning out my spam folder yesterday, I noticed that there have been a total of 500 comments on this blog since February of last year. And that seemed like a good reason to stop and recognize the thousands of readers out there who are helping to spread the good word.
As I approach the one-year mark with this blog, I am gratified by the community around the world that has participated in its success. Right now, I am sitting in the same chair at the Mystic Starbucks where I nervously hit the old “Publish” button for the very first time.
A candid shot of Sal, as he ponders the extensive and exceptionally healthy menu at the Candle Cafe
So far, I have only met two of my “followers” in person. And most of you are familiar with one of them — Sal Liggieri of New York City, who has been following and commenting since Day One. Sal and I met for lunch last month at my favorite restaurant in New York, the Candle Cafe at 75th and Third Avenue.
There are some classic comments that Sal has made since last February; I always love hearing from him. But until I met him in person, I didn’t realize what a warm, caring and positive person he is. He’s definitely not a negative person, as some of his blogs might imply. He’s just a realist about the snail’s pace that plant-based nutrition is being embraced by the mainstream. Take a look at all of his comments by clicking here.
In addition to thanking my readers, I also wish to thank Gary Vaynerchuk who wrote the book, Crush It, and my publisher, Glenn Yeffeth, for suggesting that I read it. Gary’s message in that book is all about leveraging the power of the internet and social media to build your own brand around your passion.
As I read it, it seemed as if his message were written directly for me. With a published book, great passion for my topic, a fair amount of web management experience, some steadily improving writing skills — and most importantly, the time required to devote a large portion of every day to my passion — I simply realized that I was in an ideal position to execute the strategy he so clearly laid out in his book.
If you want to brand yourself and figure out a way to make a living doing what you love, I suggest that you order Crush It today. It changed my life — it just might change yours. Now on Amazon: Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
Gary’s goal is to own the New York Jets. Our goal with our book and this blog is to change the world. I have no doubt that if twenty million people read our book that it would indeed change the world. Speaking of which, I remember what Steve Jobs had to say about the crazy ones:
The people who are crazy enough to believe that they can change the world…are the ones who do.
And with your help, we can. Finally, a bit of thanks for Steve’s contributions to our world. After reading his biography, I probably would not have enjoyed working for him; but I do acknowledge that he changed the world as much as anyone ever has. He certainly made my blogging, writing and speaking world much easier from a technology standpoint, and for that I am grateful.
One more thing. I just looked back to my first post last February, it featured Barbara Walters and her TV special on heart disease. Like Dr. Sanjay Gupta on his “Last Heart Attack,” she also featured Bill Clinton in her special. But unlike Sanjay, Barbara came up way short in terms of telling people how to easily reverse their heart disease with a plant-based diet.
Barbara Walters. Says she ate a lot of baloney sandwiches after her surgery to gain weight.
Barbara Walters…A Missed Opportunity
‘Barbara Walters Special: A Matter of Life and Death’ A Review by J. Morris Hicks of this ABC special that aired on 2-4-11 Expecting so much more, I was very disappointed with the Barbara Walters’ special that aired on Friday night. … Continue reading →
About seven months later, I posted a similar blog on Sanjay’s outstanding special. In both of the blogs, I took a look at who was paying for the show — the companies who advertised. Very interesting. $$ Dollars and Sense of “The Last Heart Attack”.
If you’d like to order our book on Amazon, visit our BookStore now.
J. Morris Hicks, author and activist. Working daily to promote health, hope and harmony on planet Earth.
Want to receive some occasional special news from us? You may wish to join our periodic mailing list. Also, for help in your own quest to take charge of your health, you might find some useful information at our 4-Leaf page.
And if you like what 4-Leaf eating is doing for you and your family, you might enjoy visiting our new “4-Leaf Gear” store. From the seaside village of Stonington, Connecticut – Be well and have a great day.
—J. Morris Hicks…blogging daily at HealthyEatingHealthyWorld.com
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J. Morris Hicks, engineer. writer. big picture guy. 
I have to say that I don’t understand people’s ‘fear’ of plants! Some co workers (nurses) at work have a vague idea that I eat a ‘vegan’ diet – but no one has ever asked me about it. When a fellow RN was diagnosed with fairly severe osteoporosis at age 55, after a lifetime of weight lifting, running, and backpacking, (and drinking dairy based ‘protein’ shakes every morning) I offered to loan her “The China Study”. When she returned it to me, her only comment was “I could never be a vegan.” and my thought, which I didn’t voice, was ‘not even to save your spine and hips!!??’ She did not believe the surgeon who looked at her xrays and diagnosed her. Even though he has seen thousands of xrays, she said he was wrong. I just don’t get it.
Jim,
It excites me that you are making progress, though slowly. We will have to accept that change will be slow. But also accept that for many people there will never be change. For some smokers, they will continue to smoke until they die from it. Some obese people will opt to stay fat. They will all get what they deserve: A life of health misery!
I admit that it’s frustrating to talk to people about “plant foods.” When you question what they eat, you are questioning their religion. They all eat “healthy.” Why are we who eat the plant food diet (PFD) always asking the questions? In my thirty years of eating this way, no one…and I mean no one has ever asked me what I eat. Not even in my obese family.
Yes Jim, we will make progress but measured in centuries.
Long live the Broccoli!
Sal