Thought Provoking Question #4

“The bravest thing I ever did

was continuing my life

when I wanted to die.”

                                ― Juliette Lewis

The Risk of Living: Some Thoughts on Life! 

When the smell of Spring is in the air and Valentine’s Day approaches, who but only the most callous of human beings is not reminded of loves lost and loves gone by. Loss through death and loss from failed love are called the great levelers. Even power, status, eminence, achievement, or wealth have much weight or influence at those crippling and equalizing times when we find ourselves both victim and survivor all in one and all at once. I know, for like many, I’ve been there on both counts. Nothing so captures these thoughts more then the words of W. H. Auden.  

"He was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong."  

Life is a piece of art, not a piece of cake, isn’t it? There’s a line in a Woody Allen movie that places risks and the health consciousness phenomenon in perspective. Allen says: "Someday medicine is going to discover that the secret to long life is cigarettes and Hershey candy bars." Allen’s comments aside, there are few guarantees in life, for a long life. We can try and attempt to do the right things. Keeping risks to a minimum is tough work. We can attempt living and working in only nurturing environments. We can try and eat the right foods and watch our weight. We all try and seek employment that is meaningful and seek out play that is fun and not too harmful or risk-intensive. We strive to foster nurturing relation-ships and hope to find time for exercise, rest, and leisure. We know safe sex is a must, if we get any at all. We often find ourselves driving out of the way to avoid dangerous and otherwise violent situations. That’s life, isn’t it?  

If you think about it all, it’s all quite enough to make you drink, something else that we must only do in moderation. What were the results of your last physical? If you had one at all, your cholesterol was probably too high. Taking responsibility for our actions is tiring at best, and besides, being fatigued is bad for our immune system, leaving us susceptible to illness and disease. With all the above said, the best advice still seems to be what our grandparents told us: everything in moderation. Research seems to be proving that as well. The following exercise looks at the risks of living.  

The following exercise examines risks to our health by looking at what we do and don’t do with our lives. Review the following risk factors and evaluate yourself in relationship to them. How might you live a longer, healthier, and more enjoyable life? Read each of the risk factors and place a check mark next to the yes or no response if it represents something you do and use in your life or do not do and use in your life. Keep in mind these factors include both negative and positive risk factors. When you are through, review your findings. (1) Were your surprised at your risks, both positive and negative? (2) Develop a plan that includes a timeline for making changes in your life that reduces your risks of living. (3) What were some of the major risks shared by others you know? (4) Were many of your negative risks somewhat offset by positive factors? If so, which ones?  

YES--NO------RISK FACTORS 

____ ____ Abuse Alcohol and Drugs  
____ ____ Alone or Loneliness  
____ ____ Annual Physical Exams  
____ ____ Dangerous Hobbies  
____ ____ Dangerous Work  
____ ____ Depressed  
____ ____ Destructive Relationships  
____ ____ Domestic Violence in Home  
____ ____ Drive Aggressively  
____ ____ Drive Under the Influence (DUI)  
____ ____ Eat Junk Food  
____ ____ Enjoy Friends  
____ ____ Enjoy Pets  
____ ____ Exercise  
____ ____ Regular Medical-Dental Care  
____ ____ Follow Medical Directions  
____ ____ Meditate or Reflect Often  
____ ____ Overweight  
____ ____ Personal Growth Outlets  
____ ____ Quality Time  
____ ____ Reading Regularly  
____ ____ Smoke  
____ ____ Take and Plan Vacations  
____ ____ Under High Stress  
____ ____ Unkind or Abusive  
____ ____ Unsafe Sex Practices  
____ ____ Use Seat Belts  

Anytime is good for change, not just the Spring or the first of the year. Is it time for changes in your life? Is it time to take care of you now? Choose that which is best for you. The risks of living don’t have to be so risky after all.  

[This article is by Dr. J. Davis Mannino and originally appeared in the community newspaper We The People. All Rights Reserved by the author.]