What if I'm Hit by a Truck

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t ponder or more precisely overthink, scrutinize, and analyze- my diet, my lifestyle my aging. Are there enough fruits and vegetables in the house? Is this meal balanced? Should I be eating gluten? How many hours should I be fasting? Is oatmeal really good or bad for you? How many glasses of water did I drink today? What! Only two! Have I walked enough steps? Have I breathed deeply enough? Did I get my heartrate up? Should I really try yoga again? What supplements should I be taking? Is that enough or too many? Health, diet, nutrition, well-being-is on an infinite loop playing in my brain. My bookshelves are overflowing with a host of healthy living, healthy eating, and holistic health books. And here I sit. The needle hasn’t wavered much in a millennium. I realize that it takes more than information-it takes motivation and a deep and echoing voice reminding me that I’m worth the effort.

All of this is important. There are some that believe that a human being -under the right conditions-can live up to 120 years! What should we do and not do to help increase these odds? It is a conundrum, but I imagine that most of us can take steps to move toward living that healthy and hopefully happy life. First, it is important to see the wonder of who we are, the workings of this miraculously wired human apparatus, and what a gift life is. And of course, a reminder that the measure may not always be the ‘years in our lives but the life in our years’.

There seem to be certain universal truths regarding health and yet specific protocol may be as individual as our fingerprints. I keep searching for the best regime, the strategy that works, the motivation to keep me engaged. My cardiologist insists on at least a 30 minute walk every day at a pace that resembles being late for an appointment. And being in the fresh air, among the trees, below a roof of clouds does seem to be the finest elixir for all woes – a physical, emotional and mental reset. But there are some mornings that bed is awfully hard to climb out of.

At times I begin to wonder-if I give up honey in my black tea-one of the things I enjoy the most-and switch over to warm lemon water or organic green tea- what happens if I’m hit by a truck – and all of that lemon water will have done me no good-and all of the chocolate, cheese, ice cream and honey I’ve missed out on will just be sand in the hourglass. Where does the balance lodge? When does steamed broccoli call my name as loudly as Rocky Road ice cream? And yes, there are those who must listen to the voice of reason for their overall health and well being-their very lives depend on it.

In the event that one day I am hit by a truck-I don’t want to have given up the things I love-that piece of chocolate birthday cake, a crusty baguette with butter, freshly baked cookies – for naught. Some of those are the finest things in life. So, my ‘What if I’m Hit by a Truck’ diet requires not only self-restraint and omission, but also balance. A constant call for filling the tank with premium or high test rather than regular-a bit more expensive but an expense that may pay off with a smoother ride and greater longevity.

I for one am not a person to tell anyone how to live their lives-I am hardly an expert on anything and struggle with all of the same monkeys on my back and the tug of war between what’s good for me and what am I good for – we are each on our own journey and I think for the most part we know and hear or own truth within. I will continue this infinite loop and, in the meantime, I wish for everyone peace from within and the best and most rewarding and healthy and happy journey ahead. Oh, and remember to look both ways before you cross the street-no one wants to be ‘hit by that truck’.