Moon Landing: Celebrating the Possible!

The 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing reminds us of the far-reaching goals humankind is capable of accomplishing.

In 1969, the idea that men would land on the moon—and transmit words and images back to earth—seemed absolutely crazy. And, yet, this week, the 50th anniversary of that remarkable event and the words Neil Armstrong uttered—“one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind”—are being celebrated around the globe.

In honor of that magnificent moment and all that it represents, I want to share and celebrate the Global Wellness Institute’s (GWI) own “Wellness Moonshot: A World Free of Preventable Disease.”

Like the moon landing, this moonshot may seem impossible to some, but we believe we have the resources, technology, expertise, passion, and, importantly, the community to make a difference in fighting the chronic spread of lifestyle-related diseases.

Dr. Richard H. Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States and current chief of health innovation for Canyon Ranch, agrees the GWI can do it: “The Global Wellness Institute is the right organization to launch this moonshot, as it can only be achieved with high-level collaboration in the many health and wellness sectors.”

Since its launch in 2017, we have brought together 310 organizations and 421,427 individuals who support The Wellness Moonshot: A World Free of Preventable Disease.

This year, we proudly introduced “The Wellness MoonshotTM Calendar: A Year of Inspiration,” a call to action to create healthier cultures within companies and workplaces everywhere. The month of July focuses on movement and educating the world about the importance of all physical activity for overall health. Amazingly, one in four adults globally are not physically active enough, according to the World Health Organization, and, according to an extensive Lancet study of 1.2 million people, physical activity is even more important to our mental health than money.

As Rick Stollmeyer, CEO and co-founder of MINDBODY and The Wellness Moonshot sponsor for July, says, “What constitutes a good life? First and foremost, it’s a body that works. The best way to build and maintain a body that works is to move every day. If we can do that, we’ll be better positioned to get the most out of our lives.”

So, let’s all get moving! And do get your own Wellness Moonshot Calendar today!