4 minute read
acrOss the BOard
Practice what you preach?
Iwasn’t planning on having a bunch of free time. I always have a plan and almost never find myself with a minute to spare. As I was lying there in ICU for what seemed like an eternity, I had a lot of time to think because daytime talk shows really aren’t my thing.
I thought about how did this happen and what could I have done to prevent it? I thought about what if it gets worse and changes my life and what I’m capable of? Most of all, I thought about my family. It could not be a busier time—the business is celebrating its 100 year anniversary with a lot of new things planned. We are launching a new consumer magazine—our first attempt at this. Our house continues to be under a state of construction. My kids just started spring break, and—the icing on the cake—on the same day I started my “vacation,” my mother-in-law, who now lives alone, slipped and broke her ankle. Managing it ALL fell on my wife. I could not help, could not email, could not call and could not leave.
After what seemed like maybe a lunchtime burrito that didn’t agree with me, a few days later turned into a fever of 104 degrees and a trip to the ER. This followed in minutes with being admitted for what would be two-and-a-half weeks. I have never had a health-related hospital stay, which I count as both lucky and a byproduct of truly making an effort to take care of myself. I always have, but that kicked into high gear when my so-called “best friend” said when I announced that my son had been born, he immediately followed with this response. “Congrats, Dad, you’ll be 72 when he graduates college.” After a quick calculation in my head, I realized he wasn’t just being the savage that most of my friends are.
I eat relatively healthy and get a solid six to seven hours of sleep each night. I wake up at 0400 every day and head down to the garage to work out. I park in the back of parking lots to get my steps throughout the day (really because a GMC 2500 won’t fit in California parking spots) and take the stairs when I can. But here I lie, while I have to just have faith that my wife and team can take care of everything in my silent absence.
For me, this is my hell. Not just the hospital, or the helplessness having to rely on a team of strangers to care for me, or the unknown of the outcome. More than anything it’s the feeling of letting people down. Dumping all of this on my wife with no notice or planning. Leaving my team to fend for themselves, while I just lay here alone. The thought hit
Patrick S. Adams
Publisher/President padams@526mediagroup.com me that just last month, I was “preaching” to all of you in my article (see May Merchant, page 8) about “taking your health seriously” and here I am hooked up to machines along with “sick people” in the hospital.
I always have a plan, but what I realized is that with a lot of things, I simply can’t control the timing. I couldn’t control when we had a water leak that took our house out of commission for eight months and counting. I can’t control how our market, costs and our business overall continues to change and make things more challenging. And, I can’t control when I might be taken out of commission. For the first time, I thought about my family living without me—my kids growing up without me—and realized I am valued for more than what I “provide.”
While the health challenge is not quite over, I have learned a lot from this. First, that I have an amazing “team” around me who is more than capable and willing to step up when duty calls. That things still get done without me and in many cases, perhaps in a better way. I’ve been reminded of the lesson that I’ve learned many times throughout my life; that our time is limited and we’re not guaranteed a tomorrow. That we should take that extra time when we have the chance and perhaps, not take ourselves so seriously that we think we “must” work 60 hours a week.
I suppose my last column is still accurate; invest in your health. I’ll just add a footnote to that advice now... because you never know when you won’t have a tomorrow to get started. While that two weeks took about 31 lbs. from me, it didn’t take my gratitude for my family, my team, or having this great industry to serve. Stay healthy, everyone.
THE POSSIBILITIES KEEP GROWING: REDWOOD
