As the years passed, taught by the actions of some wiser people in my environment, I started to change my habits and take a little more care of my health.
Heart diseases and heart attacks of several people around me pushed me to increase prevention, to eat healthier, to walk more, to reduce the stress level in any way possible, to schedule more frequent systematic medical examinations.
One friend had a heart attack, another had a stroke (which, thank God, survived without serious consequences), and their condition scared me, so I made certain changes in my behavior.
I even included the risk of heart attack and stroke in my insurance policy.
Probably, one of our friends from the Hive world, who had a heart attack and made it out alive, will tell his story and what he did after the heart attack, which would be the right post for us, who are still talking about the same thing, but I will get involved with a hypothetical approach, because the question was: "What would you do, if...".
And why?
Because no one is old enough to accept that it's time for a heart attack.
After experiencing and surviving the first heart attack, habits must be changed from the roots, in order to prevent the second and third and... the last one...
And that's why my question is, why not change something before it comes to that first one.
Are you a man who is approaching or has passed half a century (although heart attacks do not bypass women as well)?
Do you have a job?
Do you have a lot of stress at work?
Do you eat healthy? Do you eat fast food every day? Do you exercise?
Do you spend time in nature on long walks?
Do you drink every day?
Do you smoke?
Not checking your health regularly?
Change your habits and behaviors.
Don't behave in a way that increases your risk of heart attack, change your thinking, reduce your stress level, eat healthy and be active.
A heart attack and the scar that remains on the heart, if it happens, does not necessarily have to be a point in your life's journey.
Most often it is an exclamation mark, which will warn you if you have treated your heart and health with too little attention in your life, and I really think and want to believe that by changing your behavior, that scar can be changed into a comma, after which it is still possible to live life, but certainly not to continue, but to change it fundamentally.
Stress at work? If you can't get rid of it, change jobs.
Unhealthy diet? Start preparing food for yourself that will positively affect your health.
Too little activity? Get moving.
Do you smoke? Stop it.
Are you drinking? Reduce it.
Do you feel any changes in your body? Schedule an appointment.
Do everything possible, before the heart is scarred.
And what would I do if, despite the change in habits of the last 15 years, I had a heart attack, which I would survive?
If I wrote that I would collect insurance and leave the life I lead now, in a big city, in a dynamic environment, at a demanding job and to settle down somewhere in nature or maybe in my cottage in the village, someone could ask me: "So why don't you do it now, why would you wait until you have a heart attack?".
True.
Maybe that would be the right path, not only for me, but for all of us, but I don't think that's what I want at this moment, because I want to believe that there are more adventures, business challenges and successes, travels and discoveries for me, which I would probably have to give up if I were to retreat to some peaceful and quiet, less stressful place.
That's why I'll continue with the life I'm leading now, sticking to the habits I've adopted, listening to my body's needs for rest, activity and enjoyment.
With one Relax, I will relax whenever I can and enjoy life.