As you may remember from this post, I set an intention to work through the Healing Journey Program (as far as it is available for download) and report back here on my progress. The eagle-eyed among you might have noticed that it is much more than one week since I did that. Knowing myself, I put out a request for a buddy to keep me accountable and through the Healing Journey newsletter I got my wish, so then there were no more excuses.
I’ve now completed the first week of the program and so it’s time to let you know my thoughts. A lot of what was in the week’s session was information I was already aware of – through the conference presentation I mentioned last time and other reading – but what caught me up short was the part about taking it seriously. I was once told that the most dangerous phrase to making progress is ‘I know that’, and it really applies in this case.
I know that cancer is serious – I watched my mother die from it. I believe that I can affect my own health by both my actions and my thoughts. And yet, I don’t always pay my health enough (if any) attention. Although I know exercise to be beneficial, since moving house in March (and losing a daily walk up the hill from the school run) I’ve completely failed to get my exercise program restarted. Although my diet isn’t appalling, I constantly struggle between the desire to eat foods that ‘feel’ healthy to me and the need to put something on the plate that my children might eat. So I guess I just haven’t been taking my own health seriously.
This might also apply to someone who has been diagnosed with cancer if they just put their trust in medical treatment (the passive approach) and assume that they will be ‘fixed’ and then will be all right. It can also apply to caregivers and supporters who neglect their own health in their understandable desire to do everything and anything to help the person who is ill.
For me, the first step is to get back to doing some exercise, and so I am delighted to say that I’m taking up Scottish Country Dancing, which is something I used to do when I was at school. It’s great fun, and the challenge of learning the steps keeps my mind off the energy needed.
What could you do to take your own health seriously?
Taking Health Seriously – Healing Journey Week 1
7, September 2010 by Anne Orchard
3 Responses
Leave a Reply
Top Posts
FREE BOOKS!
Categories
- Breast Cancer
- Cancer Developments
- Cancer Diagnosis
- Cancer Information
- Cancer Research
- Cancer Treatment
- Carers Week
- Communication
- Conferences
- Coping With Cancer
- End of Life
- Families and Cancer
- Free Information
- Fundraising
- Guest posts
- Inspiration
- Interviews
- Prevention
- Research
- Support
- Their Cancer – Your Journey
- Uncategorized
- Videos
-
-
After my husband and my father died back to back I got a health wake-up call of my own. My blood pressure spiked up to level one hypertension. I was given BP pills, and I remember sitting down and thinking…I could have to take these for the rest of my life. I read up on hypertension, most everyone in my family has it, but I need details so I know what is going on.
I cut sodium down in my diet and began a walking routine. A few months later my BP was good enough I could be off the meds. I took that as an early wake up call that I needed to take my personal health as seriously as I took my husband’s when he had cancer.
Sadly, now that the urgency is gone, I find myself struggling again to remain steadfast to the things that helped me get off the meds. I’m afraid that next time I wont be so lucky, so until it becomes natural, I just force myself to do what I know is right.
Not easy, but don’t like how it could turn out otherwise.
Thank you for your thoughts! Keep on keep’n on!!
It’s great that you at least did notice the wake-up call. I’m not sure I have the answer yet, but hoping that this programme will help ingrain some good habits
Anne, I added your blog to my “miscellaneous cancer blogs” section at Being Cancer Network. Keep up the good work!’
Take care, Dennis