Ten Things for a Healthy and Happy 2004
As in past New Year’s Healthy Lifestyles articles,
it is a good time to explore ideas for living in better health.
It seems impossible to separate "good health" from
happiness and living life to the fullest. So some of these
ideas don’t seem very "medical". Nonetheless,
here is my list of ten things to help build a healthier happier
life in 2004:
- Set for yourself a challenging goal. Why not set
a challenging physical goal for yourself? Something you
may have thought about doing, but would be a stretch. Perhaps
run a 10 K race or a marathon? A short (or long) triathlon?
Climbing South Sister? Bike ride to Mt. Bachelor, or a
century (100 mile) ride? It should be something that could
inspire you. You would have to train for it, perhaps learn
new skills. Success might not be certain. But if you succeed
(or know you have tried your best), it will certainly empower
you. Go for it!
- Adapt and care for a new pet (if you don’t
already have one). Yes a mobile pet like a dog can be messy
and disrupting to the order of your household. However,
having a little creature who loves you completely and who
will great you with unfailing enthusiasm every day can
truly enrich you life. An added advantage of choosing a
dog for an animal addition to your household: They will
want to take you for a walk every day. Not a dog person?
Despite some rumors to the contrary, having a nice cat
around the house can be just wonderful.
- Give yourself a makeover. Forget that old style
that may have been so comfortable since high school. You
might enjoy a new updated version of yourself. You don’t
need Oprah or the "Fab Five". You might enlist
the help of a friend with good taste and summon the courage
to give up the safe and comfortable for a bit of new style.
Update your wardrobe. Get to the gym or yoga class and
tone-up. Spruce up your home, bringing in more color, order,
and beauty. Get a new hairstyle and brighten up your skin.
Then host a small party for your close family and friends
to celebrate.
- Put prevention into practice. This is a good time
to get pro-active about your health. There is more knowledge
and technologies available to allow us to take control
of many major health risks. The American Academy of Family
Physicians has developed extensive resources to chart a
life strategy for effective prevention. These are specific
for each age group and gender to give the most benefit
and avoid the unnecessary. Visit your family physician
this year to get a good check-up with preventive screening
and risk-reduction strategies. Online see: www.familydoctor.org and
click on "Staying Healthy".
- Give up on gossip. It may seem like fun in the
moment to talk about someone else’s foibles when they
are not present. However, it inevitably diminishes us and
destroys trust in subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways. Gossip
has been called "the snake that bites everybody".
It hurts everyone involved. Gossip can wreck marriages,
destroy friendships, undermine organizations and creates
distrust, resentment and isolation. Remember the simple
3-way test before speaking: Is it true? Is it necessary?
Is it kind? If not, let’s leave it alone. We can be
better than that.
- Turn off the TV tonight. We will not long regret
having missed a favorite show. Yet taking a walk with your
spouse or a friend under the moonlight might be a sweet
experience to be long remembered. Do a "first Friday" gallery
walk. Take in a free concert. Try out a new restaurant.
Take a class at COCC. Browse a bookstore. Summertime offers
many more possibilities. Let’s just get up and get
out there more often. Or Just as good: Stay home and have
a "game-night" with your family.
- Write a letter (or a card). It is so easy to put
off writing to those we care about. Why not tell someone
in writing how much they mean to you. Someone you admire
or someone you simply appreciate for being who they are.
Receiving a letter (or a card) is even better when it’s
unexpected, rather than on an occasion like a birthday.
The hard part is just getting started. Keep a stack of
blank cards handy. (The sentiment should be your own, not
from Hallmark.) To be told that one is cared for or appreciated
will be treasured greater than gold.
- Travel to somewhere "foreign". Yes his
may take more resources and planning than the other ideas.
But consider: An adventure to a new place can be the highlight
of your year. Is there someplace you have always wanted
to go, but have been putting it off? Thought about a certain
special adventure for "someday"? Make it happen
this year if you can. Consider going somewhere "foreign" where
people live differently and may speak a different language.
Meet the people. Eat their food. Learn about how they live
and what they value. There may be no better education than
through travel. It can change you in wonderful ways. It
need not even be out of the country: Visit a fishing town
on the coast, an Indian reservation in New Mexico, New
York City, or Alaska. But note: get out of the resort hotels.
That doesn’t count! And stay out of war zones and
places of unreasonable risk. We want you home safely when
the travel is done.
- Eliminate unnecessary worries and risks. What
is it that occasionally keeps you up at night? The cost
of such worries is just too high. Even worries that never
come true can exact a heavy toll with damage to health
and emotional well-being. Some risks can just be dropped:
Worried about dying in a car accident? Slow down and become
a more relaxed driver. Choose among the safer cars and
never ever drink and drive. Others other risks may require
more planning and action: Afraid of financial ruin from
possible future health problems? Take out long-term care
and disability insurance. Talk to an insurance or financial
expert. Worried about a heart attack because of your family
history? Get a cholesterol panel and perhaps an EBT heart
scan. Modifying your risk factors can re-write your health
future. Choose to live long and well. (See # 4 above) Whatever
the worry, there is and answer out there for you (or perhaps
within you).
- Practice gratitude. Want to live a truly wealthy
life? Take a moment each day to practice being grateful
for what you have. Perhaps in the car on the way to work.
What do you have that is most valuable? Your family. Health.
Friends. Your home. Life. Living in America (and especially
Central Oregon). Your work. Your spiritual life. Freedom.
An opportunity to give to others. Ask yourself what you
have to be grateful for and the answers will come pouring
in. This practice opens the heart. And it will certainly
transform and uplift your day. The practice of gratitude
is a simple and powerful way to enrich one’s life.
These are just a few chosen from many ideas that my office
staff suggested. My wish for each of you is more health,
happiness and great adventures in 2004. May it be your best
year ever.
Paul Van Camp MD
Dr. Paul Van Camp is medical director of Aesthetics MD. 115 SW Allen Road Bend 97702. Further information
is available at www.aesthetics-md.com/
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