The One Thing Keeping You From Health
What's the one thing you can think of that all the sick and unhealthy people you know have in common? I'm not referring to serious diseases or poor living conditions that cause poor health. If you look closely enough at those people who are "sick and tired" of being "sick and tired" or who can never seem to shake that chronic aggravating health condition or that extra 20-50 lbs. you will find a big HUGE... excuse! Or maybe you will find multiple small excuses but I promise that you will find some sort of excuse!
I had an epiphany today while having a conversation with my mother-in-law. For those of you who don't know my current situation I am the caregiver for my 83 year old mother-in-law who has Parkinson's and the beginning stages of dementia. I believe her conditions have been completely brought on by poor diet and prescription drug use. She lives in our home and for the most part I am her daily caregiver, fixing her meals, cleaning up messes, and bathing and helping her to get dressed. This has been a huge adjustment for our family and has caused many arguments between my husband and I. It's not easy being a caregiver to someone much less a hard headed, negative, and demanding elderly person who wants no part of health. That's a whole other story...
As we sat there eating my freshly prepared, super healthy organic chicken and rice soup (she had a side of bacon flavored ritz crackers with hers, not because I buy it but she does and then requests it) she proceeded to tell me that the reason she was not active or in good shape, are you ready for this? Is because she had to take care of my husband (30 years ago!!) when he was in a car accident and shattered his hip! Are you freaking kidding me? This is not the first EXCUSE I have heard from her for her poor health. She told me that the previous two years before that she had joined the Y and was exercising every day and felt better than she ever had but then...he had an accident and she had to care for him. She took a very temporary situation and used it as an excuse to just stop. There have been many conversations where she has blamed her ex-husband, her job, and anything else she can think of to blame for her poor health. I see these as obstacles but not legitimate reasons.
So this conversation got me thinking, is it really a reason or just an excuse? I mean I am currently a caregiver to her, I homeschool my 8 year old son, I help my husband with his business, I am trying to grow my business I keep up my house and I still find the time and energy to exercise and stay active. I could throw my hands up in the air and give up but that's not really what I want so I press on. How does one person use excuses like a stepping stone to poor health? Why would someone even want to use all these excuses for a situation that they don't even want to be in?
I have had situations that didn't go my way and were difficult to crawl out of but in the end when I decided this is not where I want to be I figured out a way to change it and get out! I will add that I was responsible for most of those situations. So I guess the real reason would be that these excuses actually keep you from accepting any responsibility for your current situation. It makes it easier to pass the blame onto someone else than to say, hey I did this to myself!
So why does all this matter and how does it affect you? You have two choices: you can make EXCUSES or you can make CHANGES! There will always be reasons why things are more difficult but at the end of the day there is always room for improvement. I consider myself a work in progress. No one wants to be stagnant. Stagnation stinks! You want a living flowing life that grows and evolves. Next time someone asks you, why...remember to keep it honest and forget about excuses.
I thought I should add that my mother in law is NOT online and can't really even read because of poor eyesight. That's the ONLY reason I can be open and honest about our difficult situation here and now. I will also add that I have a new respect for caregivers. It is the most difficult thing that I have ever had to do!
I thought I should add that my mother in law is NOT online and can't really even read because of poor eyesight. That's the ONLY reason I can be open and honest about our difficult situation here and now. I will also add that I have a new respect for caregivers. It is the most difficult thing that I have ever had to do!
