Health Matters

www.drjimshealthtips.com By James W. Jones, MD, PhD, MHA

Let Your New Year’s Resolutions Make Contributions to Needed Solutions

New Year’s resolutions have been around a long time, thought to begin with the Babylonians, made during extensive festivities to their gods and kings, at least two thousand years before Jesus. Continuing, the Romans payed homage to the two-faced god Janus, the god of beginnings, by resolving.

The practice endures, but has changed considerably-- although a sizable number are made, only a minuscule number are kept after a few months. To assess how you can improve your life is admirable, and we should do so often; however, we should consider the focus of the resolution carefully.

I recommend that New Year’s is a good time to self-evaluate. My Mom told me (from the time I was able to walk) over and over, “Son, in this life, if you don’t continually try to better yourself, you’ll surely wind up as sorry as dirt.” She exaggerated, of course, but made a point that guided me to grow mentally. WE ALL WANT TO GROW.

Make certain whatever you desire to expend effort to improve is worth the endeavor. Consider what is most important that lies distinctly within

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your sphere of influence. Do not let temporary efforts edge out enduring endpoints. The more indispensable things are in living, the more important they are to us. Choose important and enduring resolution goals.

Getting a novel, sought-after item such as a house or car is commendable, but it meets neither the best criteria of important nor enduring. Seeking better employment meets both criteria, but is outshined by your overall health. Obviously, pain or other physical discomfort commands our attention, but more enduring is when we find we have a serious disease or condition. I have seen this happen many times, and all else in life becomes unimportant, indeed. Maintaining health at desired levels triumphs greatly over other accomplishments. But what extent of effort is necessary?

Choosing healthier living styles fits the criteria for success in resolution achievement wonderfully. Resolutions should be doable. They should have steps that can be added incrementally. And, depending on your situation, your resolution can be designed to fit your lifestyle well.

Ponder which of the many healthier diet or exercise improvement steps would fit your lifestyle. One could start by excluding certain foods (such as processed ones) or adding more courses of fruits and veggies. Physical activity also fits well. One can start slow and gradually increase walking or cardio at the gym. Also, Tai Chi, yoga, or even Zumba could be started (depending on the initial level of fitness).

The quality of our lives is directly related to the quality of our thoughts and ideas. THINK HEALTHIER!

Suduko Solutions from page 22

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