What The Hell Are You Thinking

What The Hell Are You Thinking

Do you smoke? Do you eat fast food more than once a week? Do you know what foods are good for you and which are not? Do you take a walk around the block at least 4 times a week? Do you get blood test at least every six months? Do you sit at a computer, do stuff on your tablet, read or watch TV more than 8 hours a day? Are you way underweight? Are you way overweight? Do you drink at least one bottle of wine every day? Do you drink at least a half a bottle of hard liquor every day? Do you think about being healthy? Do you believe your health has anything to do with your happiness?


If you answer NO to 2 of these 12 questions, you're probably in decent health. If you answer NO to 5 of these questions, you're circling the drain. If you answer NO to 8 or more of these questions, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING!!!


When you're young health is not your highest priority. You think you're indestructible. You eat whatever taste good and can afford. Most young people don't exercise. Instead they're texting on their cell phones. They rarely if at all get yearly check-up with their doctor. Most don't even have a doctor. They don't worry about their weight and don't believe their health has anything to do with their level of happiness.

30 and 40 year olds are engrossed in their career and their social life. As long as they're feeling good, health takes a back seat to their everyday life. I'm not saying these people are not happy. Some are and some are not. However, neither group believes health has anything to do with their happiness. Nor would these 30/40 year olds trade off eating that great juicy hamburger or exercising unless it has a negative effect on their career or their after work activities.

 
I'm not saying it's bad to have that fabulous burger, But in excess it will catch up to you. And when it does your happiness will be diminished by your lack of health.


When we get to 50 and beyond health starts to take on a more serious role in our lives and our happiness. Many of us who wind up with health problems around this time, wish they were more diligent with their health when they were younger. However, it's too late. That ship has sailed.


When I was young the main conversation with my friends was about work and the next party we all were going to. Once 50/60/70 years old, all we talk about is health issues. Friends having heart attacks, family having cancer, friends and family having emphysema, High cholesterol, hip replacement, all the drugs we are taking to make our health a little better, when is our next colonoscopy, The cost of health insurance, what is that mole on my back and why am I feeling tired all the time.


Could these entire health problem been eliminated if we did all the things we should have done when we were younger? No all, but a few. If we didn't smoke when we were younger, if we exercised more, if we had yearly check-ups and/or if we ate healthy at least 3 times a week, some of these problems would be lessened or not happen at all.


Would we be happier if we didn't have these health problems - YOU BET! Just ask a 60 year old who is breathing through an oxygen mask if he would be happier if he could walk around the block without running out of breath. Ask someone who has a stent in their arteries if she would be happier knowing her heart was as healthy as a 30 year old. Just ask someone who is having trouble paying for their prescription drugs if they would be happier if they didn't need most of them.


I'm writing this blog for my young readers so they might realize how heath is critical to their happiness. We older readers have to realize they got themselves into this fine mess and they have to do everything they can to create a happy life even though they have health problems.


That's right, just because you have health problems is no excuse for making health a reason to become an unhappy person. There is still a lot of life left in us and we can decide to focus on our lack of health and become a "woe is me" or accept our situation and focus on all the good stuff that's going on around us.


Health is important to happiness, but if lost, there are many, many other ways to see the world through happy eyes. I've always said that as long as my brain is in good working order I can enjoy life. Even if my lungs have failed me, even if my heart has failed me, even if I'm in a wheelchair I can still do so many fun things with my brain and my speech. And even if I lose my speech, technology will allow me to communicate my ideas, infect people with my sense of humor and love the life I still have left with everything I've got.
 
Please, pretty please make a commitment to make health a priority. Please, pretty please make a commitment to find happiness in your life. Those of you who have given up I have only one thing I can say to you:

What The Hell Are You Thinking