Hey, take care of yourself out there

photo by Susan Kauffmann

Hey everyone, I’ve already declared to anyone who will listen that I’ve ‘ordered’ a good year for all of us. Would the gods dare contradict me? Do help it happen — take care of yourself in 2016 because if you read this blog, I care about you.

Do I know anything about taking care of oneself? Not really, but there are others who do, so here’s some of what I’ve read. For even better ideas, see your own doctor, have regular check-ups and take your medications regularly.

When did you last see your doctor?

They suggest you grab your dog, a pal, or your sweetie (okay, even someone else’s sweetie??) and get out there. Moderate exercise, like steady walking for about 30 minutes is said to be enough if you do it regularly five times a week. While you are on the go, you can tell off-color jokes, discuss brilliant ideas, and gossip about the nasty neighbors.

guys need friends too

It is said women communicate more easily, but you fellows need companionship too. A friend to talk to is a good thing. If there isn’t one around, reach out and find somebody — you deserve it. The more satisfied you are with your life, the better.

Maintaining a decent weight has been a lifelong battle of mine, so I know

Oh, oh!

it ain’t easy. Nutritionists suggest we adopt healthy eating habits we can live with for life and avoid crash diets — easy for them to say. The Arthritis Society says the loss of only one pound is equal to about three/four pounds less stress on knee joints. Think about that. Lose five pounds and your knees consider it to be 15/20! Not bad….

Take a walk with some friends

If your doctor says you should lower your cholesterol, take his/her advice and do what you can to help things go in the right direction. Eat well and have fruits and vegetables every day — they’re good for you. And, should you, heaven forbid, be one of those few still smoking, this is a good time to quit. It’s a New Year. Breathing is important and smoking is a killer.

two each day

Now, not to ruin your fun altogether, but with alcohol, as with many things, moderation is the key. Apparently, if you keep it to two beers, or cocktails, or glasses of wine each day, that’s okay. (I didn’t make this up. It’s in the book.) Oh, and it means two in TOTAL per day, not two of each. Sorry about that. Besides, if you’re reading this, you matter a lot to me, so please don’t drink and drive.

However, all of this effort is wasted if you drive recklessly and don’t bother using your seat belt. Do mind the speed limit and buckle up.Too many drivers are still using cellphones in spite of all the accidents caused by this dangerous practice. But, you wouldn’t do that, would you? Am I beginning to sound like an old fuddy-duddy? Well, that’s what I am!

You don’t drive? Well, pedestrians concentrating on cellphones are in danger as well. Be safe, put it away. And, when you walk after dark, please avoid wearing black, it makes you hardly visible to drivers. (Nag, nag, nag…)

Surely, you get the general idea, don’t you? I want you to be safe and well this year.

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“Helpful” comments that hurt

Pssst! Do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell? A real shocker? It’ll blow your socks off! Perhaps no one ever told you, and you may not believe it, but it is really true. Honest. Okay? Ready? Are you sure? Are you sitting?

Here it is: Everyone who is overweight already knows it. And, everyone who has gained weight knows it. YOU don’t need to tell them. Believe me — they know. They also don’t need you to advise them to lose weight. They know that too.

Yes, Spiderman knows….

 You are shocked? You need to recover? I understand. Take a deep breath. You are a good person. You thought they needed you to tell them, that they were not aware of it.  You care and want to help. However, I guarantee I am correct on this. Just tuck this revelation away in that filing system in your brain and hold on to it. Remember it and no matter how much you want to tell them, don’t.

You can be sure, she knows…..

What actually happens is, if they’ve gained weight, their scale tells them. And, if they don’t own a scale, their clothes tell them. Sometimes, their mirror has the audacity to tell them. And, don’t worry, if their lives are in danger as a result, their doctor will tell them. Your unnecessary words only hurt and offend no matter how helpful you mean to be. They are dealing with a very complicated issue, which is far from simple.

Furthermore, if you’ve just met, and (horrors) decide you ought to tell the poor thing he/she needs to lose weight — how would you know if they may not have already lost a whole bunch of pounds and don’t need your advice at all? Get it? Best play it safe and stay out of it entirely — especially if you want to make/keep friends.

Sure, they may have health issues, but remember thin people have health issues too. Losing weight is not a guaranteed cure-all for every health condition we humans encounter. Unless you are a medical expert, resist giving medical advice or opinions to anyone. Suggesting that if only they lost weight their dizziness wouldn’t reoccur, or their sore shoulder (injured years ago) or whatever — will magically be cured is nonsense. Without a medical degree, you cannot know what will cure them. And, even if weight loss would help their condition, leave that to their doctor. It is absolutely inappropriate for anyone else to comment.

And, while I’m in the mood, I’ll go further. How come some of the very people who tell you you need to lose weight will sabotage you by saying  “Oh, one slice won’t hurt you.” when you are attempting to count calories. They really don’t get that it is an unfair thing to do. Be kind.  Just accept the “No, thank you.” without comment.

Something else to clue into: (Will this never end???) People who are very thin, or tall, or short, or different in any way, know it too. They don’t need your clever remarks. You can be sure they’ve already heard them. Let’s face it, if you had red and green skin with yellow polka dots, you’d know it, wouldn’t you?

Enjoy your friends as they are. Celebrate the differences in people and let them be. If you do, everyone will be happier. And me? I’ll be proud of you.

She knows, and she likes it….