Published Articles for The Spokesman Paper

The Spokesman Newspaper Volume 1 Issue 9

Balanced Health 101

Article written by Susan M. Poore, RN, CNC, CPLC

What would you do if you found out today that you would live to be at least 100 years old?  Would you want those years to be productive?

Would you want to think clearly and have the ability to move around and really live and enjoy life?  Or would you “take the cards as they fall” and do whatever you wanted knowing that it increases the chances of living those last years in distress.

What would you do differently?

Many people approach life with the thought that “if this doesn’t get me…something will” and continue bad habits that cause inflammation and disease in our bodies. Remember, we weren’t born with expiration dates. None of us know when our days are up. Living well does not mean living without health challenges.  Living well means living with possible health challenges with a positive approach.

As an RN, I have taken care of many patients over the years that wish they could go back and do things differently. I remember vividly one

gentleman who was in the ICU and just had a heart attack. He was at least 50lbs overweight and had not cared for himself. He smoked and had a long history of cancer in his family. Mr. X was NOW scared and desperate to live. His daughter was about to give birth in a couple months and his son was coming home from being in a military war status. He asked me what he could do now to live? He always thought that cancer would take him at an early age like his parents so he lived as if he were to die tomorrow, however, the cancer never happened. But the damage done by the heart attack was significant and definitely altered his life.

There is so much we have control over in our lives. Have you ever heard the saying “it’s not what happens to you in life, it’s how you react to it that counts”. The first is what we choose to put into our mouths; the second is how we handle the stress in our lives.

We know so much more these days than in the decades before us. We know that if we eat well, consuming the right foods and nutrients our bodies need we can fight the diseases that challenge our bodies. We also know that stress can cause more damage to the body than

some diseases. If you need help learning to live well, get help. There are a lot of resources. Take a step every day towards improving your body and mind. It’s not as hard as what we think. The alternative may be debilitation and being cared for by others...perhaps for years.

So let me ask you again...

What would YOU do differently in your life if you found out TODAY that you would live to be 100 years old?

Susan is a Registered Nurse who is extensively trained and Certified in Nutrition, Stress Management and is a Life Coach. Her practice is located at 9

th and Delaware. Susan can be reached at (575) 491-5036 or Susan@BalancedHealth101.com