RECOVER: August 9, 2013

You Sunk My Battleship

The summer is getting near its end.....although I'm pretty sure it's too early to declare the heat over and done with.....I know it's getting near the end because my kids are starting to get a little punchy.  They haven't actually admitted that they are ready to go back to school........but despite camps, activities and everything else that makes up an eventful summer, they're still "bored"......even in the midst of shark-week.  

After dinner they pulled out battleship, the Hasbro game, from the closet.....you know, the old, boring, plastic version, with no sounds or beeps or lights, but yet still engaging. And as "B3", "E4", "H9" and a series of other combinations were called out, I slipped into nostalgia and remembered playing the game myself.....and then I started thinking about it.  We're all playing this game every single day.  How many times a day does a risk "hit" us?  Maybe it's blood pressure or blood glucose, maybe it's stress or lack of exercise, maybe it's driving in a congested area alongside people doing dumb things......or maybe it's just sitting too much......but every day that we don't combat the risks is a day when the "hit" count is creeping closer to the point where we're sunk. 

The more I thought about it, the more the analogy fit.  One ship might represent physical health, another mental health & stress, another might be financial health, and yet another might be your relationships (social health).  Since they rarely get equal attention, one area is the more formidable "battleship" where another is the little ship that can only take a couple of hits before it's sunk.  So how do we build a defense against the constant barrage of risks that we face?  And where do we start?   

I had this exact conversation with someone earlier today.  He was ready to make a serious effort at improving his health and had at least three areas that he had identified as targets.  All three definitely needed work.  I think he was a little surprised when I suggested that he pick only one.  We agreed that all three need attention.....but starting with an overhaul of habits could weaken his resolve...... 

After a few minutes of weighing it all out......he decided exercise would give him the most benefit initially......and so we've set out to restore his fleet.  Of course, turning a submarine into an aircraft carrier is nearly impossible.....but turning some rough habits into better ones is not......I hope to be reporting about a great success in a few months......stay tuned.