What Healthy People Do

Sure we are living longer — but should that be our primary objective? I think not. Our goal should be live in better health and with more meaning while we are alive. How do we do that?

"Better health" is quite simple and builds on the advice that your mother told you when you were a child.

She told you, "Eat your fruits and vegetables." To that, we should all add "all five of them and some whole grains and nuts every day and some fish a couple of times a week; cook with olive oil, and enjoy some red wine with dinner (but not breakfast)." Every day, your mother sent you outside to play, which is not a bad way to think about exercise. And she took you to get your "shots," which is a great example of preventive medical care, a large bucket that includes cancer screening, treatment of cholesterols and blood pressure. And she told you to get enough sleep and enjoy life. In reality, when all is said and done, she was right and there is not a whole lot more that you need do to stay healthy.

Meaning. We spent the middle 30 years of our life working for success; now is the time to work for meaning, to give back to the world. As boomers we have always changed our world — usually, but not always — for the better. We certainly face a world of problems, locally and globally. What a wonderful opportunity to make a difference.

Enough preaching about my philosophy, but I felt it important to put all of us on the same page.

Live well while you are alive. Dr. Bob

This blog post was originally publisehd at my former blog, "Healthy for Life."