Sunday, March 3, 2024

I always tell people I care about to be good to themselves. It’s very simple advice, but I think it’s good to let others know that you care about them, their welfare, their health, about their life in general. There are those that don’t like to be told that; mind your own business, they say. I remember when I used to smoke 3 packs of cigarettes a day, and friends and family would tell me how harmful it was, that habit. I would become very resentful, and yes, I’d tell them to mind their own business, I know what I’m doing. What a load of garbage that was, being defensive in the face of people looking out for you, people who care about you.

I did quit eventually, but I did it because I cared about my health and my family, and I had seen too many examples of what emphysema and other ailments, smoking related, does to one’s body. I also used to drink 12 diet cokes a day, well, at least 8 a day, which was also pointless and stupid and unhealthy!

I think that everyone comes to a point in their lives when they decide that they have to make changes and choices in the way they live, when they start thinking of dieting or exercising or adapting to a different lifestyle. In my case, it was after my fortieth birthday, after the cigarettes and the diet cokes, that I decided I’d start exercising and modifying my eating and drinking habits. The cigarettes were the hardest to get over, one of the hardest addictions to get over, but once I quit, I quit! Never smoked another cigarette. Sometimes it pays to be stubborn, I guess. Mostly though, when I thought of all the difference being healthy and being more aware of the dangers of overindulgence made, everything became easier.

In Belize, dinner is at noon, so you are able to walk off that heavy meal at work. Doctors suggest that after dinner one should walk for at least 2 minutes to help the digestive system. 2 minutes can make a difference in your everyday life, adds years to your time here with the rest of us. Walking as a whole is strongly recommended anyway; but, boy, those 2 minutes sound easy enough to accomplish!

I am an assiduous exerciser; I go to the gym, I walk a lot, ride my bike, and try to eat right, healthy. Not always easy, most of the more delicious foods are bad for you, and what’s good for you isn’t always the tastiest. Some of us have no choice, we can only eat what we can afford. But as poor as you are, exercise is free. You can still walk or run to your heart’s content, also for a contented heart and mind and body. You can make your own gym, using furniture or even cans of food or anything heavy enough around the house to use to do curls and squats and stretching. If you want to exercise you will find a way!

I’m not trying to tell anyone what they should do with their bodies. All I’m saying is that the rewards are priceless, those rewards one derives from trying to live a healthy lifestyle. It keeps you out of the hospital, keeps your body and mind fit and in shape. It makes you more confident, more optimistic, maybe even breggin!

So, be good to yourself. Get up off that couch or hammock or chair. Turn off that loud ass television after dinner and go for a walk. You might see new things, meet new people, maybe even get robbed. But if you are in shape at least you can run away from that thieving son of a b___ who’s trying to take what’s yours. See? You feel better already. Be good to yourself, take care of yourself, love yourself. No one can do it better than you, and for you, in my opinion.

Glen