
Like most men I know, Iāve spent a good chunk of my life treating doctors and dentists like vampires: best avoided unless theyāre in a book, film, or tv show.
If it didnāt hurt, bleed, or interfere with daily life, I mostly ignored it.
Preventative care? Not typically on my radar.
Annual check-ups? Iāve only rarely made it that far.
Part of it is the cost. Navigating healthcare in the US can be a financial headache and nightmare. Even with insurance, Iām left wondering if the diagnosis is worth the bill.
But if Iām being honest, a bigger part of my avoidance is sheer stubbornness.
Some of it comes from that old-school ātough it outā mentality. Some from fearāof bad news, of not being in control, of becoming the patient. And some of it is pride, that dangerous cocktail of independence and invincibility I pretend not to drink.
But Iām rethinking things.
Lately, Iāve been tuning in to the signals my bodyās been sending. Not just the sharp pains or the sleepless nights, but the smaller cues: fatigue that doesnāt go away with rest. Digestive stuff I used to brush off. A tooth Iāve been ignoring for months.
Maybe it's aging. Maybe it's wisdom. Maybe itās watching too many people I care about go through health crises that started with something āsmall.ā
Whatever it is, Iām finally, slowly taking small steps toward being more proactive about my physical and mental health.
After a chat last night with a friend fighting diabetes, I realized I also shared many of his symptoms and challenges. He suggested I order a glucose testing kit. Which I did as soon as I hung up the phone. The kit arrived first thing this morning, and based on my first test, it looks like my blood sugar levels are relatively normal.
Bloody, pricked fingers crossed they stay that way.
Iāll be tracking for the next few weeks just to be sure.
Next up is to get my diet and exercise on track. Even if I donāt have diabetes, I could use an overhaul in the diet and fitness departments. Iāve fought a losing battle with obesity since I was a kid. Itās time I started eating better and moving more. I know it would help me feel better.
While Iām working on those things, Iāll be making some appointmentsāwith a doctor, a dentist, and an optometrist. Itās been too long on all three fronts.
Iāll also be drinking more water, improving my sleep āhygiene,ā and listening moreāto my body and to people whoāve already walked this road.
This isnāt a dramatic reinvention. Iām not running marathons or doing juice cleanses. But I am shifting my mindset. Thinking less about illness and more about wellness. Less about what could go wrong, and more about what I can do right now to stay well.
Health isnāt just about survivingāitās about feeling good while youāre alive. And maybe, just maybe, itās worth facing a little discomfort, a little expense, and a little ego-bruising if it means getting a few more good years.
So hereās to finding a new kind of strengthāthe kind that checks in, speaks up, and isnāt afraid of a follow-up appointment.
Wishing you health, wealth, and happiness!
Clint šāļø
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FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
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ON THIS DAY = APRIL 16
BIRTHDAYS
1867 = Wilbur Wright = American inventor
1889 = Charlie Chaplin = English actor and filmmaker
1919 = Merce Cunningham = American dancer and choreographer š
1921 = Peter Ustinov = English actor and filmmaker
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1947 = Kareem Abdul-Jabbar = American basketball player and coach
1954 = Ellen Barkin = American actor
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1965 = Martin Lawrence = American actor and filmmaker
1971 = Selena = American singer-songwriter, actor, and fashion designer
1972 = Raymond Chan Chi-chuen = Hongkongese politician and host š
1976 = Lukas Haas = American actor and musician
1984 = Amelia Atwater-Rhodes = American writer š
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EVENTS
1061 = The first recorded same-sex wedding occurs between Pedro DĆaz and MuƱo Vandilaz in the Galician municipality of Rairiz de Veiga. They are married by a priest at a small chapel. The historic documents about the church wedding were found at Monastery of San Salvador de Celanova.
1908 = Natural Bridges National Monument is established in Utah.
1910 = The oldest existing indoor ice hockey arena still used for the sport in the 21st century, Boston Arena, opens for the first time.
1943 = Albert Hofmann accidentally discovers the hallucinogenic effects of the research drug LSD. He intentionally takes the drug three days later on April 19.
HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES
PORTRAIT + QUOTES OF THE DAY
āNothing is permanent in this wicked world - not even our troubles.ā
Charlie Chaplin
āThe hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.ā
Charlie Chaplin
Wonderful shift of focus onto realistic health needs. I am biased, of course. Take good care of yourself. You're much more than worth it. I take 9 different medications a day (plus some supplements) to keep all my blood tests in the normal range (close to the unhealthy limits in some cases). Came back from the hospital check up today. My only abnormal (not very) result is one that tracks my impaired kidney functions. Quality of life is important in my opinion. Well decided, Clint.
Right there with you - I've been flirting with the upper range of normal on lots of tests for years, and the 30ish pounds I've gained since moving to Spain haven't helped...