IF THERE’S NO WIND, -ROW

Originally Posted: June 13th, 2008

So here’s a frequent comment that comes across my desk. “But doctor, it’s really tough to quit smoking/overeating/not exercising _____ (or fill in the blank yourself), because my spouse won’t change”. Ok, ok, here’s a little hard love coming at you. That you love, support and bond with your spouse is fabulous and it actually is a plus factor for longevity. But if your spouse is into bomb de-fusing, you’re probably not going to visit the work site! What I’m saying is that when it comes to your health and wellness, it’s time to be ’selflessly selfish’. It’s the time when you can sincerely say, ‘it’s all about me’, and feel good about saying it!

The commitment to your own health has to come from within. I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already know, but I do want to confirm your independence and right to make that change. I love the old Yogi Berra-ism that states, ‘If you don’t change direction, you’ll end up where you’re going’. So today is the day. Why not commit to, just for today, being selflessly selfish and forging a path to your own wellness? You don’t need a buddy for this. You are your own best friend. So if you don’t feel the wind of support, ROW! We’ll talk about the ‘oars’ next time.