Course Change

I have been re-reading a book by John Maxwell entitled Today Matters. It’s a good resource for self-evaluation on 12 main areas of life considered crucial to success. Having read the first couple chapters on Attitude and Priorities, my reasons for this re-read were confirmed. I still have a lot of work to do.

I thought I had enough on my plate to work with and had hoped that the next chapter would be a breeze so I could continue to focus on these two areas. Chapter 3 is on Why Health Matters Today. I was spared… or so I thought. I’m not unhealthy. Not overweight (well, at least not according to the scale – the mirror tells a different tale, but I think it’s a liar). I have my blood pressure checked a few times per month and it’s almost always in the 100-120/60-80 range. But, I’m not healthy either. That is, I do very little consistently to build and maintain my health. Regrettably, I find that I assume I will indefinitely maintain the general status of health I currently enjoy without doing anything to maintain it. A very simple look at life shows this to be untrue. I know a great number of people who have made similar assumptions and have landed in places I certainly wish to avoid. But what to do about it? I love foods that I shouldn’t eat much of and hate exercise for its own sake. I think that makes me like the majority of people in the world (or at least the USA).

I wish I could say that I awoke to some great epiphany about my need to clean up my act and get healthy. I do acknowledge the importance of good health, but I have a hard time doing much about it. Here is what I have come up with and am trying to keep a hold of: I don’t need to do much about my health. What I do need to do is a little about it. Small course changes (like not eating 7 pieces of pizza at the lunch buffet, maybe only 3-4) are the way to go. I remember hearing that if astronauts leaving the moon are off on their trajectory even by a degree or two they could miss earth, so they better have the numbers nailed down. I think the same could be said of health. I, like millions of other people, am off a couple degrees. If I can make some slight alterations to my course, I will, in the long run, be on track. For instance, I hate jogging. I’ve tried it, but I loathe it. So, I’m trying to jump rope for a few minutes every other day. Trying anyway. Small course changes. That’s the way to go. It’s like retirement. I wish I had about $100K to throw into some accounts and let them compile interest. But I don’t. So we contribute small amounts every month with the knowledge that over time those accounts will grow. Enough consistent, small deposits (course changes) in my health will afford me the potential return of a longer and more fulfilling life in which I can stay actively involved.

Last, I do not believe this subject would be as meaningful to me without the example of my wife. She had a debilitating and likely life-ending disease followed by 2 high-risk pregnancies all of which prohibited her from having good health. She has diligently made the small changes (often frustratingly small for her) over time to greatly increase her health. Soon she will be at the state she was before any of this happened, and that was a lifestyle full of sports and activity. She is an inspiration to those trying to change, and she should serve as a conviction to those who allow obstacles to stay in their way.