Healthy? You Can Be! Start NOW!

Today, March 8, I begin my 61st trip around the sun. I’ve been wondering today where the time has gone.

60 years have passed, OR

720 months, OR 3,120 weeks, OR 21,900 days. In that perspective, the number 60 doesn’t look that bad;

HOWEVER,

I fully believe that age is a meaningless number; more meaningful is my outlook on life and how I feel. Most days, I feel no older than I did 20 years ago.

Twenty years ago, I was turning 41. My two boys were turning 13 and 15 that year, I was was finalizing my divorce that year, and I would be embarking on my second marriage that October.

Three years ago, I attended my fortieth high school class reunion. I felt younger than some, but there were a few that made me feel older than my 58 years of age.

It seems fitting that as I turn 61 I commit myself to Mission Possible: Healthy Me, but I am not the only person in my household or in my world. It also seems fitting that I want my family and friends to be healthy; therefore, I need to also commit to Healthy Us as well.

I am not an expert, nor do I possess any health field certificate (which a physician rudely pointed out recently), but I want to share with you my story (the story of my journey and the people I care for), my research, and the knowledge I learn.

MY PHILOSOPHY

To me, journeying the path of a healthy lifestyle is one of having an open-minded, questioning, researching, exploring alternative treatments and therapies, and engaging in open dialogues between doctor and patient. It is a journey of learning how to exercise and the best type of exercise for you, learning about food and nutrition, learning about the positives and negatives of prescription medications, learning the options that exist, and learning what makes you tick psychologically and emotionally.

My journey in the search of a healthy lifestyle requires me to be mindful of what I do, mindful of what I put into my body, but mindful of my health as a whole so that I can live fully for the next ___ years.

THE BEGINNINGS OF MY JOURNEY

I was born before most of the childhood vaccinations existed. I lived through measles, rubella, mumps, and chicken pox. I suffered through numerous bouts of tonsillitis and strep throat, but I still have my tonsils. I remember standing in line for the polio vaccine on a sugar cube while one of my classmates lived daily with polio. Oddly enough, although I have sprained each of my ankles, I have not broken any bones (KNOCKING ON WOOD AS I TYPE THIS).

Now is my time to change my lifestyle. Now is my time to take action. No longer will I go mindlessly through the day without being mindful of my health.

WHAT AM I BATTLING AT THE PRESENT?

I am overweight by at least 45 pounds.

I don’t, at present, exercise with any regularity. I wear a Fitbit and am aware of the number of steps I take daily, but I rarely push myself to get the recommended 10,000 steps in daily.

Although I watch the portions I eat at meals, I haven’t been counting calories or the nutritional components of the foods I eat.

I was diagnosed with asthma several years ago after four consecutive bouts of bronchitis; however, since moving to Middle Tennessee, I rarely hit the good ol’ inhaler.

Winter gray skies find me down and listless with no motivation to get anything accomplished.

My current doctor (I am in the process of looking for a new doctor.) has ordered Pravastatin to combat my cholesterol numbers, but has not had a dialogue with me as to my options. I am not impressed with her.

I am caregiver for my husband’s numerous health issues: diabetes and complications from the years, kidney disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart issues, nephropathy, and arthritis.

There are days where all this finds me wanting to just run away from life and responsibility, but I don’t.

LET’S START BY LOOKING AT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HEALTHY

What do you picture when you hear the word “healthy?” An athlete? A trainer? A dietitian? A nutritionist? Someone who exercises every day AND enjoys it? Someone who only eats “healthy” foods? Something only some people can achieve?

Dictionary.com gives the word “health” four definitions: “the general condition of the body or mind with reference to sound or vigor; soundness or body or mind, freedom from disease or ailment; a polite or complimentary wish for a person’s health, happiness, etc, especially as a toast; vigor, vitality.”

Confusing. Frustrating. And so inaccurate. If this definition were true, most people could never call themselves healthy.

In 1948, the World Health Organization (an organization that still exists today), gave us a better definition. “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In 1986, they further clarified their definition. “Health is a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources , as well as physical capabilities.”

Your health and well-being allows you to be engaged with the daily aspects of living. Your health and well-being allows you to combat illness, condition, and ailment. Your health and well-being can be improved.

Even if you are struggling with a chronic illness or disease, you can strive to be the healthiest person you can be physically, psychologically, and emotionally.

Rebecca (Becky) spent 34 years in a teaching career, but when she retired in 2014, she picked up her pen and pursued her passion to write. As a high school English teacher, Becky held the philosophy that she wouldn’t give any writing assignment that she personally wouldn’t or couldn’t do. That philosophy strengthened and broadened her own writing.

In addition to publishing her writing on various platforms, Becky also blogs at Life is for Living, a blog to encourage, motivate, and help others live the best life possible. As an extension of Life is for Living, she also publishes a weekly newsletter, Let’s Chat. (Check it out HERE.) Life is for Living also has a social media presence with the group Coffee on my Porch. (Check it out HERE.)

After teaching writing for 34 years, Becky began Ink & Keyboard, a blog for writers at all levels. She supplements what she writes on the blog with a subscription newsletter, The Writer’s Notebook (Check it out HERE.) and the social media group Ink & Keyboard (Check it out HERE.)