It’s good we don’t have crystal balls to see into the future because sometimes it would be too overwhelming. 2009 has ended up being a year when I’ve had to face some health and old horse-related injury matters needing overdue attention.
I won’t bore you with the details, but bottom line is I am just fine, blessed with great family (including our 4-legged family members!), friends and clients and a full work schedule to keep boredom at bay. Still this has been a year of more than the usual doctor visits and procedures which has reminded that I’d rather be doing just about anything except sitting in doctors’ waiting rooms for what always seems twice as long than it really is…. and then once you finally get “the call” from the nurse indicating it’s your turn to see the doc, you are subject to being poked, prodded, x-rayed and often stripped of any dignity you thought you had left!
Worse, it is demoralizing to be fussed at by doctors for not having sought medical assistance sooner…they look down at you with their parental-like “You know better” looks. It stings even more when you know they are 100% correct! Not to mention, if it’s sympathy you’re after…you get far less, if any, when you have made things worse from your poorly-thought-out delays in getting needed medical attention!
My intended primary point with today’s ramblings? Stop, don’t pass go to collect $200, immediately cease and desist from ALL your excuses and ASAP get the medical check-ups or tests you may have been putting off.
We know what we need to do.
In the extreme, your life could very well depend on it and the consequences of our procrastination – minor or major – can dangerously increase over time.
Many of us are very experienced and quick to tell our clients, potential customers, family members, friends and others what THEY need to do. And yet, at the same time, we are downright careless and — excuse me — plain stupid, regarding our personal health matters (myself included). We lie to ourselves by saying that we don’t have time to stop our busy lives to seek medical care or we don’t like being the patient so we avoid it altogether (until we have no choice that is) and/or or we are just plain scared to know the truth.
Whether a medical issue, self-improvement efforts are needed or both, we are indeed usually lots smarter than our over-rehearsed procrastinatory actions would indicate. We’ve just allowed our common sense to become uncommon when it comes to taking care of ourselves.
Let’s allow our common sense to reign again, quit with the denials and excuses and become far more proactive (and timely!) when it comes to taking care of ourselves. No, it’s not the “fun” part of this wonderful journey called life, but an essential one and we know it.
And finally, once we’ve gotten off our duffs and sought out the help needed, we must keep open minds and explore all the options out there as to how to “fix” whatever needs fixin’ (e.g. western medicine options, alternative medicine resources, a combination of the two, second/third opinions, etc.). Again, isn’t it common sense to be an educated and proactive part of our medical solutions? Unless time is truly of an essence in a life and death situation, we probably shouldn’t accept the first pill, procedure or other option suggested. We must be our own best friends and make the effort to educate ourselves about our condition, illness, etc., explore all of our options carefully, seek out multiple trusted opinions and then take the quiet time needed to decide on the best course of action for us. Our final decision may not be what our friends or family members would do, but we must find the courage to do what we think is the right course of action.
Thanks for visiting. May your busy week be filled with lots of heartfelt smiles in the midst of it all – — those given to you and those you share with others.
With smiles from my neck of the woods to yours,
Nancy