A Necessary Change

“To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”

Buddha

“The wish for healing has always been half of health.”

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

“Give a man health and a course to steer, and he'll never stop to trouble about whether he's happy or not.”

George Bernard Shaw

I need to make a major change in my life.  Or perhaps it’s just a small change that can have a major effect in my life.

I got hit with a bad case of vertigo this morning, causing me to miss work and forcing me to rest and be still.  I literally have to be still or lie down on my side, switching sides about 10 – 15 minutes per side, to make it go away.  I also learned that while I have vertigo, I cannot go on walks, as I did this morning.

Actually, I learned, or relearned, I can’t do much of anything when my world is literally spinning.  I can still write, but it’s an effort.  I still don’t feel good, but if I stay still, I’m well enough to get this blog done.  This is what it takes sometimes.  Just doing the best you can under adverse circumstances.   Sickness is the worst of the adverse circumstances though. 

 Aren’t circumstances almost always adverse?  Here are some other things to deal with:

·      Fear

·      Other people’s agenda

·      Sudden “emergencies” – mine or someone else’s

·      Hunger

·      Fatigue

·      “Suddenly” remembering something I have to do

·      Almost any distraction imaginable.

But sickness is still the worst of them.

I need to take care of myself, my health.  Although my vertigo is fairly minor, it was enough to keep me from going to work or even enjoying a morning walk.  It’s time to take a step back and review my goals and then add a new one, perhaps the most important one – a goal of long-term health.  All the money and success in the world won’t mean much if I’m not well enough to enjoy them.

So this is something I want to add to my list of one-year goals.  I’d like to do the following (and none of these are revolutionary or original):

·      I’d like to drink 8 glasses of water a day.

·      I’d like to sleep at least 7 hours a night.

·      I’d like to eat at least 5 servings of fruits or vegetables.

·      I’d like to walk at least 30 minutes a day.

That’s all.  None of those would take much time out of my schedule and might even increase my time.  Technically, it’s not even time that needs to be managed – it’s energy.  If I did those four things, I would have much more energy.

When I’ve focused on my health before, usually with vitamins or exercise, I have been far happier and far more productive.  I was able to Get Started and Keep Going far more effectively and energetically.  So I look forward to making these major or small changes.  I look forward to health.  I look forward to life.