Hospital Food, Oats, and World Peace

I went to a business event this week where one of the speakers was talking about er uhm, hospital food – wait, this is a good thing.

Outside the (cereal) Box
Because the hospital that was discussed is an anchor point in its city for services and jobs, visionary hospital leaders decided they wanted to buy as many local provisions as possible. They started small, with locally roasted coffee and bread. Their efforts grew to eventually replacing a global source for oatmeal, Quaker, with a local source. Oats at that time had never been grown in their state (Michigan).

It began through simply talking with local growers and businesses. Open dialogue. What if? And went from there to create exponential growth for those suppliers, new jobs for the community, quality foods and meals, shared prosperity, and happy faces.

What This Has to do with You and World Peace
Ask anyone if they want a peaceful world and most would say yes. What many don't realize is that the biggest thing you can do to change the world can be the most intimidating. Start in your own backyard.

• Is there a situation within your own home, family, or workplace that could benefit from honest and open talk?

 

• Could thinking "outside the box" by shifting your viewpoint on a situation lead to improved outcome?

Like the wonderful growing ripple effect of the hospital replacing global suppliers with local sources that began with a simple conversation, you can do your part for world peace with an added benefit:

​Having the intention and openness to create harmony within yourself and those around you can come back to benefit you and others in many, many unforeseen ways.

​Photo credit: Chepko/istockphoto.com