Taking Back My Life

Stress certainly steals my time. It distracts me from what is important to me and healthy for me. Having lived for more than 60 years on this ball of mud, my biological clock ticks ever more loudly. I'm not talking about the reproductive biological clock; that one stopped working years ago. I'm talking about the one that says I'm heading for The Big Sleep. 


It is said Time is money. Time is also life. And every dysfunctional person (human or artificial, Mitt) who causes me stress wastes part of MY LIFE. 


I DON'T LET OTHERS SPEND MY MONEY AND THEY AREN'T GOING TO SPEND MY LIFE. 

Distractions Gathered Traction

 Life's distractions tend to gather traction and take me in unforeseen directions. By August's end I had been through a carotid ultrasound, an echocardiogram, a nuclear stress test, a cardiac catheterization, two levels of cardiac MRI and numerous blood tests. I expected logical explanations and recommendations that would empower me to make choices about my health care. Instead, I found myself spending so much time doing research in an effort to understand that I began to feel I should bill the cardiologist for my time. My stress level, like my LDL level, was about to leave earth's orbit. 


So I started over, with an internist who respects me and my rights as a consumer of medical services. (I hire a doctor to advise me and treat me, not to make my health care decisions for me.) Since I'm the one who has to live with the consequences, I want to make the decisions. Besides, I have 60 years of experience with this body so I know it better than anyone else. I know what is "normal" for this body and what is not. 


This year will definitely be a health care year. I will be seeing a different cardiologist as well as other specialists. And my internist will act as the hub to help me coordinate my care. I certainly didn't choose to have health problems but I do have the power to choose how I will address them. 


Be well.


Copyright 2011

GETTING OUT OF PODUNK

There are those who cannot bring themselves to admit they do not have complete control over their lives. These people will tell you "Life is what you make it." There are those who believe the opposite: we are what life makes us, which is admitting we are powerless victims with no control over our destiny.

But the truth is neither extreme.We do not always have complete control and therefore are victims but we are not always powerless victims, as well. Accepting you have been a victim is nothing to be ashamed of. It's really no different than admitting you are in Podunk. There's no sense hashing over how you wound up in Podunk because you can't travel back in time and change your destination. You do have the right to take time to grieve your loss ... but don't turn your grieving into a career.  

Instead, empower yourself. Remind yourself that you were a victim but that was in the past. Start asking yourself questions. What can I do to get back on my path? It's normal for the negatives, what we can't do but wish we could, to pop into our minds. Just don't make a career out of that magical thinking. It won't get you out of Podunk. Instead, focus on what you can do, not on what you can't do. And before you know it Podunk will be behind you. 

Be well.

Copyright 8/12/2010