Almost There
I ran into my old friend John the other day. He was doing a quick shuffle through the park. He had his fists in the air about waist high, was pumping his arms back and forth, and doing what you and I might call "jogging."
John jogs in shuffle format, lifting his feet no more than an inch from the ground, and moves as fast as I can walk. I must say, he looked remarkably well and I commended his efforts. He's doing more than I am to keep healthy.
I commented on his rugged looks and asked about the status of his health, after all, isn't that what we should do with an 85 year old?
In reply to my questions John said in his raspy voice, "I've finally got my cholesterol down."
"Must be the running," I said.
"Aye?"
He didn't seem to hear me. He continued his shuffle jog. I walked quickly.
He said, "My blood pressure is great, no problems there." He puffed away. "I'm feeling fine."
"That's great John. It's amazing that you're still running through the park every day."
John didn't hear me.
"The only problem is�I'm only 125 pounds."
"Yeah, you do look a little thin John. Are you eating right? Do you get meals-on-wheels or anything like that?"
He didn't hear.
"The other day�a gust of wind darn near wiped me off my feet!"
"Well, that same gust of wind took away Harry's back yard fence."
"What's that you say? I look a little tense?"
I raised my voice, "No John, the gust of wind, took Harry's back yard fence."
"You say it doesn't make sense. I know it doesn't. I've been working hard all my life to get my blood pressure and cholesterol to a decent level and I can't even stand against the wind. It makes no sense."
After leaving John in the park I got to thinking: What is this thing we're trying to do, to find a balance in our bodies, get a good cholesterol and blood pressure reading, to have a healthy heart rate, and a good body weight? What is this goal of perfection we seem to be striving for? What if I'm like John, and I finally reach it at 85? What if I never reach it?
It used to be that maintaining a balance in all these areas was easy. My body just naturally went to the right levels. Now without consulting me it's on a new program. The doctor tells me I must cut out cheese along with my chocolate and yogurt. No more whole milk? I thought it was good for my bones. Now I'm told to cut back on my red meat, perhaps avoid it altogether. And he wants me to eat fish most of the time. "What do you mean there's a cup of oil in muffins? The donut shop is out? No cake, or cookies? They're full of butter you say? Where does this end? How come Harry can eat forty eggs a month and I can't?"
Well, these are some of the problems we run into as we age. It seems we're always reaching toward the goal of perfect health, seeking to maintain a level of goodness, a physical balance where everything is where it should be, like John. He finally reached a place of perceived normality only to find he has a new problem; he could get blown away.