The phone rang early on the morning of July 11th. It was my brothers voice on the other end. Dad had died. That call was over 30 years ago, I was still in my teens living with my cousin and our roommate. I knew it was only a matter of time before Dad took his last breath. A few months earlier he had been diagnosed with cancer and it was obvious that his chances were not very good. He still had hope - right before he feel asleep that evening he wrote to my mom (he could not speak or eat at that point) that now that my brother had moved back home he could go to Sloan Kettering for treatment, a few hours later he died in his sleep. The gurgling sound of water in his lungs stopped and he was gone. My reaction when I got the call was to jump up from bed and run to the living room screaming and crying. When I think about it, I believe it was a young girls reaction. A person that had not yet grown past a deluge of emotions.
I was brought back to this moment when yesterday my daughter told me about her co-worker. A girl in her 20’s whose father passed away unexpectedly. She too had an extreme reaction to the news. And I would expect nothing less. My daughter’s reaction to myself and her Dad was “Did you exercise today?” “Did you eat healthy food?” She was envisioning her life and reaction if this experience became her reality.
We all know we can’t cheat death. And we also know that we can help ourselves to stay healthy. This time of year I start preparing for what I would like to accomplish the following year and I look back at what I have accomplished or fell flat with during the current year.
My questions are always the same:
How can I succeed this year?
What do I need to do?
What do I want to do?
Health is always a top priority. But as I heard my daughter share her story and ask her questions it took my health priority to the next level, gripping a strong hold on my heart. Our daily choices can affect not only ourselves but our family and friends. For me, I have been writing my daily eight areas I want to connect with each day for a while now. They are:
Journal and Meditate
Eat Healthy - WFPB (Whole Food Plant Based) No Gluten, Low Sugar
Creativity - Did I create something artistic today?
Make the world a better place.
Graceful Living - What have I done today to be a better life coach?
Connection - Have I connected in a positive way with another person?
Finances - Have I made good choices for our family?
Exercise - Did I do cardio, stretching and/or weight training today?
For me all eight are important for my health. I am a huge fan of Dr. Dean Ornish. He has written many books his latest is UndoIt. He’s done the research, run the tests and has been able to prove his theories scientifically. Dr. Ornish shares the things that we need to do to stay healthy. They are:
Exercise
Stretching/Yoga/Meditation(Prayer)
WFPB diet
Connection to others
I’ve got these covered on my list and then added my own important items. If you haven’t done your daily list consider making today the day you write it. It’s up to each of us to care about ourselves enough to make each day a healthy one. Some things we can’t control and life can end unexpectedly. But….there are also many things we can do to live a long, healthy, clear-minded, happy heart and soul life.
So, I ask you…
What is it that needs to be on your daily check list? And how do you plan on attending to it to make every day a good day?
Happy Thanksgiving from the Miller’s!
Let’s make 2020 the year of Good Health, Happiness and a Great Well-Being!
Wishing you Grace, Peace & Healthy Living,
