DEAR HARRIETTE: My college friend’s best friend just died. It is so weird. He looked fine in the photos she used to post of him and of the two of them hanging out. When I asked her about it, she said that he had high blood pressure and other ailments and that as much as she tried to get him to take care of himself, he never really did. He was not even 60 yet.
This death scares me. I have high blood pressure, too. I do take my medicine, and in recent years I have started to exercise. Honestly, I have been slow to step up to take care of myself. I worry that it could be too late for me, too. I am afraid to go to the doctor. I am embarrassed that I could be near death. I promised myself that I wouldn’t end up like my father’s family, and here I am. What can I do? -- On the Edge, Atlanta
DEAR ON THE EDGE: It is time to be vigorously proactive. Schedule a physical immediately. In order to protect yourself and get on course, you need to know what you are facing. Heredity figures in to your health, as do your eating and exercise habits. Commit to eating as suggested by a doctor or nutritionist and moving your body at least three times a week. This sounds like basic stuff to some people, but if this has not been your practice, it can seem insurmountable. That’s why the concept of "one day at a time" is so important. If you do something each day to fortify your health, it is likely that you will become healthier.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)