So I changed quite a bit after the stroke. It’s easy to say that I should have changed before the stroke. But post stroke, reality sets in. If you don’t make changes, no one else will. And I could die. If you can learn that lesson while you still have good health, God bless you.
My wife has done her best over the last 20 years or so to keep herself in good health, good shape. She’s had some ups and downs I guess, but for the most part, she’s been working toward good health for a long time. Cancer was one of the bumps in the road that gave her added discipline. She decided after her brush with breast cancer, that she would not put anything in her body that gave the cancer a chance at coming back. Not if she could help it. She’s been pretty focused on that for a while now.
Something like that happened to me after my stroke. I decided two things, food and exercise were going to get their due attention in my life. Those were the two main things. Another was stress levels. Another was being outdoors. Maybe these are all related to good health.
Whatever good health looks like to you, a couple of things need to happen for you to have it. You have to take an honest assessment of your health status and you have to find the discipline and determination to make it better.
I honestly don’t know where the determination came from for me to stop eating junk food and take charge of my diet. I know that the stroke was the lets get serious moment, but where does the daily will power come from to eat well and wisely, healthy eating that is? I am surprised by that change in my brain. I have not lacked for willpower to accomplish certain things in my life. But I’ve allowed work and age and other peoples expectations to overly influence my health decisions. Much of that has changed since December 6th, 2021, the day of the stroke, my Pearl Harbor moment if you will.
Who has time to exercise or make nutritious meals today, or tamp down the heavy stresses that affect most of us? Those were the questions that I needed to answer for myself. I’m still answering them. Truth is, I’m responsible to live a life that suits my body and brain well, that brings good health to my heart and head. Nobody else is responsible for that. My wife has been a great coach and supporter in my health quest, but even she is not responsible for my health. I alone am.
I suppose under it all, you’ve got to want to use your life for something good. Otherwise you may lose your ambitions for good health. I see more than a few people that could have more years in their existence but because their health is too far gone, they give up and throw in the towel. You have to reach into your thoughts and rediscover what makes you tick in order for you to want to keep on ticking. Then, and likely only then, will you have the motivation and the discipline to get your health house back in order. Please don’t wait to get outside and walk and run, or change your diet, or change the stress factors as much as you can. You have this day, why not start right now.
It’s a great blessing to wish good health upon others. I wish for the best of health for you.