Insha Allah, we are about to enter a new year. Let me begin this conversation with a story.
It was her second visit in 3 months. Yours truly was pissed with this fifty-something year-old and I was not hiding it. 3 months earlier, I had ordered labs, started her on BP meds, ordered a mammogram and asked her to return for a pap smear. She had not filled the prescription and did not show for the mammogram or the pap smear. When I expressed disappointment, she said, "Doc, I am busy. My job and my children and my mother are all counting on me. There is hardly time to do anything else!"
I took a long pause and said, "Given how busy you are, I suppose if Death came calling, there would be no time to receive him?". She took a long pause. Then I added, "Napoleon used to say that graveyards are full of indispensable people!" She and I hope, you too get my point.
Your most important responsibility in the coming year is your health.
Here are a few suggestions: 1: Visit a Doctor at least once this year.
2: Review your habits-- If you smoke, drink or have unprotected sex with multiple partners, stop.
3: Improve your diet and start excercising.
4: Reconcile with friends and family who are estranged.
5: Start doing something for others, through your church, a club or alone.
6: If you have no hobby, pick up a good one, like reading or sports.
I hope that you find these helpful. Discuss and pass them on.
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