Read time: 3 minutes
Good morning, 66.1ers.
A patient, when asked what’s keeping them from doing the physical therapy exercises for their shoulder, told me, “Netflix”. This is after they said that the exercises are very helpful and they would like to do them, it’s just hard to stick with it. And the patient just got back from a trip abroad to help his mother with some housework, spends 3-4 evenings/week mountain biking and the others dancing. Skipping PT seemed inconsistent with how this guy operates. So I said something like, “John, I know we’re only just getting to know each other, but you seem like the kind of guy who likes to stay in motion.”
We’ve long been saying that the patients who find the most success in our study have a very clear (and often socially-oriented) Wellness Vision. Remember that line from last week, how people in Blue Zones tend to live so long largely because they just do everything that makes life worth living?
Back to my patient. Asked a few more questions, including if all my questions were too much, too soon? No, no, no, I need someone to help me get unstuck. Asked some more and some more and pretty soon we’re talking about a spouse lost to cancer a few years ago and a son who passed away way too young. Self-care fell off when caring for a dying spouse became a full-time job. Gained 100 pounds. Has lost a lot of it, but still 35 to go.
We’re in month 1 of 6 together, but I like this patient’s odds. He’s real in a way most people never are. Maybe he’s learned that life’s too short to pretend?
Then we talked about his mountain biking, how that was the social outlet that pulled him out of a depression after losing his wife. Any connection between doing your shoulder exercises and extending your mountain biking career? Or am I imagining a connection that’s not there? Nope, it’s there! Really? Yes, I’d ride more often, which means I’d see my friends more often, which is the whole reason I go anyway. I’d probably be able to ride for more years of my life, too.
More to come next week, and the week after and the week after. Will be fun. Won’t be easy, but he’s committed.
This patient + this post from Rick got me thinking about an equivalent for anyone thinking about their health. If you really do want to change, are willing to get uncomfortable, here are a few questions that might help you:
How long has it been this way?
How long have you been trying to change it?
What have you tried already?
Has any of it worked?
Say you continue like this for another 10 years, how does that sound/feel?
Respectfully, do you have another 10 years if nothing changes?
Does your spouse know you’re trying to change?
Will they stick around if you don’t?
Do your kids know? Grandkids?
Do you do everything you want to do?
If no, what aren’t you doing?
When’s the last time you did it?
Who do you like to do this activity with?
Would you describe your health as an asset? Liability? Something else?
Are you more/less healthy than your 5 closest friends?
Do you have 5 close friends?
If you hung in through all 16 questions, found yourself writing down some answers, maybe you want to reply here with a question of your own?
Marcus
