Hello again; I am happy to have heard from so many people who are either in good health or who have promised to take steps to make sure after reading last week’s post. I do believe that good health is critical to your long term success at anything. So, I wanted to follow up by addressing other aspects of good health.
Vision
It is pretty well known that I am almost totally blind. I have a genetic disease called retinitis pigmentosa. I have only light perception at this point. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t have to worry about eye health.
In fact I was surprised to find out that having your eyes checked is another way that your doctor’s can recognize disease early. In my case my last eye exam turned up large cataracts on both eyes. I was thinking big deal I can’t see anyway.
But the doctor, who I don’t remember; said that they would eventually have to come off. He explained to me that even though there would be no improvement in my vision that eventually these cataracts would start to put pressure on the eye. He said the pain would get to the point that I would have no choice but to have them removed. He told me to expect it to happen in a couple of years at the outside. He did also tell me that my optic nerves seemed to be just fine. He suggested that other than my retina my eyes were in good condition should I want to explore any experimental treatments.
We then discussed the current available ones. I told him that I didn’t believe the electronic implants gave a sufficient amount of vision improvement to warrant the risk of surgery. I also told him that at last word the retinal cell replacement trials in Kentucky had been successful but had run out of funds. Like many blind people, I am always hoping for a break through and follow the current research.
Dental
And after years of neglect I finally saw a dentist. I went to the Woods Dental Clinic. I was surprised to find out that I wasn’t as bad off as I thought I was.
They started by taking a complete set of x-rays. Then, they started by doing a deep cleaning of my gums to begin treating a deep infection. This was done with lasers, and I was under anesthesia at the time.
Next, they followed that up with additional cleanings every three months. They had scheduled me for some fillings but the plans were thrown out the window by me having to have a wisdom tooth pulled. They managed to save the tooth next door but I did get my last two wisdom teeth pulled.
Its the first time in my life I can remember using the pain prescription given to me by a doctor. My dad was a big anti drug anti drinking kind of guy. He never took any medicines he didn’t have to either. Funny how much pain our teeth can cause us. And there is some research saying poor dental care can lead to infections traveling to other parts of the body.
Pets
The only other topic I want to cover has to do with the health of our pets. Our four legged friends do a lot to help us maintain our mental well being. They are our friends and give unconditional love. So, do you make sure they have their regular check ups?
We had been good about getting our dog penny her shots, but we were perplexed when she seemed to have developed a tumor on her belly. This was made worse by the fact that penny doesn’t have any doggie insurance or a regular vet. We always just took her down to the pet smart.
This time we were told that it would cost over $500 to get her fixed up. She had started to bleed from the lesion, so we knew we had to do something. My brother looked online and found a foundation called palm to paws. They help people who love their pets but don’t have a lot of money to care for them.
They diagnosed penny with a skin tag. They removed it from her, updated her shots, gave her an injection for fleas, and included her antibiotics for about $200. We were so happy to find them. And I am even happier to have my buddy penny back home and happy again.
The lesson
I wanted to share all this for two reasons. One, I wanted to let people know about the CLL and that I am okay. It is not immediately threatening, and with my positive outlook on life; it never will be. The other reason behind this post was to get you thinking about your own health. As bloggers and business owners we all work too hard. Most of us do two or three things at once. Many of us don’t get enough sleep or rest. We eat poorly if at all. We stress over is our site ever going to get traffic receive comments, or make money. And many of us neglect our health.
The down side to all of this is that by not maintaining our bodies we are making it even harder for us to succeed. If you are physically run down, you are not at your best mentally or emotionally. You can’t come up with creative solutions or find the energy to execute them if you are dragging through your day.
Challenging you to do better
So, I want to challenge you. I want you to make your health a priority. I want you to put it on a level equal to your family and business. And if your spouse and kids see you making the effort, they will too.
Get moving
I want you to commit to exercising at least fifteen minutes a day. My friend Farnoosh Brockhas a 10 minute yoga routine that might be perfect for some of you. Its all about being active in some way.
Talk to your doctor
I want you to commit to making an appointment with your primary care physician for a real check up. Don’t just go through the motions or show up to get your flu shot. Talk to your doctor. If they nag you about something, ask them for suggestions on how to take action to make the necessary improvements. When they give you test results, ask questions and make sure you understand the answers. And if you don’t have a regular doctor, please take whatever steps you can to find one.
Get your rest
I want you to think about the amount of rest you are getting. Are you sleeping soundly? Has your wife or girl friend nagged you about your snoring? I posed the question that way because this is something more likely to be a problem with men than women. A sleep study is a painless procedure. You spend two nights in what seems like a motel room hooked up to monitors. And using CPAP or BIPAP machines is no big deal.
eat healthier
I want you to think about your diet. I’m not here to tell you to go vegan or even cut out all the fun stuff. The main reason I won’t tell you that is it doesn’t work. I will say to ask yourself if you could do better. Consider such simple things as drinking more water, cutting down or eliminating caffeine, eating smaller portions, and trying to avoid eating when you aren’t physically hungry. And given our modern lifestyles, a daily multi vitamin or calcium supplement would be a good addition.
One at a time
I know I just mentioned a whole laundry list of things to do. I don’t expect you to do them all at once because that doesn’t work either. Just like building a business or starting a blog, you have to make small changes. Pick one of these and do it for a week or a month. Then pick another and repeat. And if it helps, this is how I lost over 80 pounds during the run up to having gastric surgery. Its also how I have managed to make so much progress afterwards. And i am here for you. If you need someone to bounce ideas off of, or you want someone to hold you accountable; I’d be happy to help you along the way.
Well, in spite of the Cll I am in the best health of my life. I am at my ideal weight, and all my other test have come back normal or better than normal. Dr. Scarborough said my cholesterol is the best he’s ever seen for someone not on medicine for lowering it. Most importantly i have a positive outlook on life. I see nothing but bluer skies and greener grass in front of me. I want that for you too. I firmly believe that good physical health and well being leads to success in all other areas of your life including your business and your blog.
Sharing is caring
Well, this is the point where I usually ask you to share my post. And I would love you to do that. But this time I don’t want you to do it for me. I don’t want you to do it to support a friend’s blog.I want you to do it because I know there are a lot of people out there struggling with maintaining a healthy balance between work, family life, and physical well being. I think this post could help remind them of what’s important. If a business person is convinced that poor health is costing him money and effecting his productivity, he will most likely take action to change things. And I know before I started down this road I had no ambition and couldn’t find the energy to see a better day much less do anything to move towards it.
Donations welcome
I recently started charging for my coaching sessions. I believe I have a lot to offer to those who are ready to change their lives. However, I am still in the beginning of my practice, and I could use any support that I can get. My friend and sometimes editor Lorraine Reguly says that I should end every post with a reminder about the donate button. I’m not sure about every time, but this post feels like a good fit for it. Another way you can show your appreciation besides leaving comments or sharing on social media would be with a small contribution.
Well, I love hearing from my readers. If you have a question about any of this, or if you just want to get to know me better; then by all means send me an email via the contact form. I answer all my mail and reply to all the comments. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks and take care out there, Max
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I’m glad you are doing okay Max. I need to go to the dentist too, it can be expensive though. I am glad you were able to get help with Penny. My dog recently went through a huge dental procedure and it cost a bunch. As silly as it sounds, brushing your dog’s teeth every once in a while can have huge benefits in the long run.
I agree that we need to watch our health. Thanks for the reminder not to stress out about our site. I think that causes me the most stress out of of everything, partly because I’d like it to eventually be a full time job. It takes a lot of time though. I will be focusing on my interpersonal relationships this week. I have scheduled three dates this week and I also am running a meetup on Friday and Saturday. I also am having dinner with some of my group therapy members after group therapy on Thursday so it should be a full week that will keep my mood upwards and keep me distracted from constantly focusing on the site. 😀
I will let people know about your coaching service.
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Hi Sebastian; Glad you appreciated the post for what it was meant to be. and yes we do focus a lot on our blogs. I have to confess that a lot of my inter personal activities are via phone or Skype. I did contact a organization this week called the friendship center. they offer what is called para transit or low cost transit for the blind and otherwise disabled. Its cheaper than a taxi and more available than a bus. it will require more scheduling than if i could drive myself, but awe well the google car isn’t here yet. I applaud your efforts. I wish you all the best with the socializing. and with the dates remember just asking for one, going out with a person, and doing your best to have a good time while there are all you need to consider it a success. glad to hear you aren’t putting any pressure on yourself. way to go my friend. And thanks for any help you can give with the coaching. Take care, Max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Good health makes me a better blogger part 2
I’m glad you are okay, Max. Penny, too! Wow. That must’ve been a bit scary, especially since you could not see exactly what was going on with your dog – ahem -FRIEND. And yes, good advice you have given here. Many people don’t see their doctors or health care professionials enough.
Thanks for the reminder. My appointment is on Friday. 🙂 Seriously, I have to get my leg checked out again. It should be the last one for a while, since my operation was the one I had last January! But all seems to be good now, thank goodness, although a few weeks ago I had bumped it and caused it to bleed. But it’s better now. Phew!
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Hi Lorraine; Yes, I am glad that I am healthy. the cll is something to be watched but not to be worried over. I am very happy i wasn’t here by myself when penny needed someone who could see to look after her. glad to hear your leg is improving. Hopefully, there will come a day where you don’t even think about it any more. just hope i didn’t come off as preachy or as if any of what i was suggesting is easy. Its not easy but it is necessary. thanks so much for all your help and support, max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Good health makes me a better blogger part 2
Hi Max,
You know God has given us an amazing life to live. We all have some unique quality in our own and you are an extraordinary blogger with unique thought.
I am glad that you do take care of yourself and you have your teeth good.
All the bloggers should take care of their health so that they can work hard.
Health is what we need because if you are not healthy then you can work, your can enjoy your life, your life will become hell.
It’s always recommended for people to maintain them.
Thanks for sharing about you.
Have a nice week ahead.:)
~Ravi
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Hi Ravi; Thanks for those wonderful thoughts. I agree with you that we are all gifts from god and just need to find out what it is we were sent here for. we can’t do that if we abuse or neglect our bodies. this is also true if we don’t attend to our mental, emotional, and spiritual good health too. glad to hear you are well. blessings, max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Good health makes me a better blogger part 2
Hi Max,
What an interesting topic. To tell you the truth I see people being totally oblivious of their health on a daily basis, and that’s a huge mistake, especially in the long run.
What people don’t realize is that once you’re health is gone there’s not much of anything that you can do as far as work is concerned, so our health is the one and utmost important things we need to take care of.
It’s funny that you’ve included our pet’s health here too. As you may know, my 4 legged child Sophie just lost her battle to cancer, and I did spend 6 months of hardship to keeping my blogging/online biz going. Of course, cancer is not really something you can prevent, but for anything we CAN it’s all worth it.
Thank you for your wonderful tips, Max.
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Hi Sylviane; Just read about your losing your mom and your doggie. that couldn’t have been easy. yes our health is important to our ability to persue any passion including blogging. I lost my dad to cancer. we thought it was lung cancer, but now we are thinking we should take a closer look at his records to make sure it wasn’t something similar to what I have. he broke a bone in his wrist a couple of years before the cancer got him. a similar thing happened to my grandmother on my father’s side. and my doctor said my brothers and their kids should get tested although its unlikely they have it since it is a mutation. I’m still working on my ebook and would appreciate any pointers you can give me on publishing and sales. I have lorraine ready to help edit. thanks again for sharing with me through these comments. Take care my friend, Max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Good health makes me a better blogger part 2
Hey Max,
Thanks for more updates and happy to hear how you and Penny are doing in all areas.
Mom had her cataracts removed before we moved her to Houston and although they promised her that her sight would be better it’s not. As a matter of fact, they messed it up so bad that she can’t play golf anymore which was her beloved sport. She can read some without her glasses but she wears them all the time. I definitely wouldn’t want them if they’re going to cause me pain though.
My teeth are good thank goodness and I do have those checked from time to time as well.
I learned with having Blake, my Cocker Spaniel who by the way has been gone 9 years today, that I don’t need to take Kayla to the vet yearly like they suggest. I religiously took him every year and every six months for certain treatments. Granted, he lived to be 19 years old and was in great health but a lot of what they gave him was not necessary. I know when Kayla isn’t feeling well or not herself and will take her to the vet. I’ve had her 6 years and she’s doing beautifully.
I do walk every day for 30 minutes so that’s all the exercise this woman is going to get. It’s just not my thing but I do eat good and I’m not a big person at all. I really do try my best to take care of myself Max and that’s all we can do right!
Thanks again for sharing this and I’m glad you’re on top of things.
~Adrienne
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Hi Adrienne; Thanks for the kind reply. I’m glad to hear that you, your mom, and your pets are all doing so well. It sounds like you are addressing your health needs through prevention which is always the best way to go. tom sullivan is a famous blind musician and actor. he plays golf and says he has an easier time of it without sight because he doesn’t have the natural inclination to lift his head up and look for the ball. 🙂 of course he has someone or several someones he can play with I’m sure. You should read his account of playing augusta. there was a scheduling conflict so he had to play the back nine including amen corner before he played the front nine. I don’t really want any more surgeries and having one that will not improve my vision does seem pointless. well, next week I’ll have to find something else to write about. Thanks so much for your support. Take care my friend, max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Good health makes me a better blogger part 2
Max- I am happy to hear that you and Penny are doing well. Sometimes we forget that our health is our greatest asset and all the rest really doesn’t matter. When you have your health you can do just about anything, of course within reason
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Hi Arleen; You are so right. Its like with a car. a finely tuned engine gives you the ability to drive to and from work take yourself friend and family to events and at least think about driving down the autobahn at high speeds. take care, max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Good health makes me a better blogger part 2
Hi Max,
You surely gave us lots to think about, especially where our health is concerned 🙂
Yes, after our health, it’s out teeth that are often neglected- and unless we are in pain, we hardly visit the dentist, whereas it should be a visit once every 6 months. My dad always keeps reminding us about it too.
Sorry to hear about your pet, and all that happened, though I am glad all is well now. Yes, their care is SO important and I know that because my dog is also aging now and needs constant care and attention.
I think if we eat well (I am a vegetarian, so that’s good in a way!) and exercise regularly, and of course sleep at least 7-8 hours at one go, we should be doing alright. I lack in sleep I think from all the other things, need to work on that. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your words of wisdom with us. Have a nice week ahead, whatever little is left of it. Also, you must share your posts as soon as you put them up – on the community – always good to read you, dear friend 🙂
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Hi Harleena; thanks so much for the warm reply. Its great to know that your blogging friends really care about you. as for posting to the community I’ve gotten used to the format in the bloggers helping bloggers group where you post one link a week. That plus it seems that whenever i have a guest post I forget about my own work. I need to address that. I think you are doing well. I am not a vegetarian and doubt I will be my uncle is having good results improving a heart condition since becoming vegetarian. he is in his 70’s and wants to get back to running in marathons. penny doesn’t require a lot of care but she does insist on a lot of attention. 🙂 and yes not getting enough sleep is a problem that a lot of bloggers and business owners struggle with. I know i sometimes have to remind myself its time to get my rest. well will be seeing you on the community site. take care my friend, Max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Good health makes me a better blogger part 2
Hello Max,
Thanks for point out a lot of important things here to keep health good.
Hello Manik; Let me welcome you to my blog. Its nice to have you here. I hope it does help people to take better care of themselves. good luck, max
Hi Max – You are absolutely right about good health. I appreciated the statement that when you are run down you are not at your best mentally and emotionally. That is so true and we often fail to realize that physical health is necessary for good mental health. Glad Penny is OK.
Lenie
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Hi Lenie; well i know how my physical health has effected my attitude about my life. and as they say most of the time you can’t change what happens or happened but you can change how you feel about it or react to it. you can only do this if you are in the right frame of mind which i believe is directly tied to how you feel physically. thanks for your concern over penny. she means a lot to us. and maybe that’s an idea for a future post on your site frugal dog care or doggie home remedies? 🙂 take care now, max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Good health makes me a better blogger part 2
Happy all is well with you and Penny. Nice reminder that without our health we have nothing at all. My grandmother used to tell me that very often!
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thanks jacqueline; so often the ones concerned with health are older or are experiencing problems. I am lucky that me and penny are both in good health and should be for a long time to come. but i have seen those people in the many waiting rooms I’ve been in who the only thing they can talk about is related to their condition. I appreciate your concern. take care, max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Good health makes me a better blogger part 2
I am happy to know that you are fine. Your advice and tips are up to the mark.
When we feel we are fine and do not take time to visit Doctor for our eyes , teeth etc. but when we are in trouble then we rush and sometimes its too late. We must be careful about our health and consider it as a blessing from our Lord and take care of it by regular visits to the doctors.
Like humans animals do have problems and if an animal friend is living with us in house , we have to be extra careful for its health as everyday we get to know about many viruses that are transmitted to humans by animals.
This is also a good suggestion to start following your tips one by one as it is hard to follow and be very punctual all of a sudden.
Thanks Max for a great post.
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Hi Andleeb; thanks for your warm reply. i hadn’t even thought about the transferring of illnesses from pets to people. that is another good reason to maintain your pet’s health. and i thought it was important to remind people that you can’t do it all at once. I find if people start to think about everything they need to do they get overwhelmed and do nothing. and that would be a shame. anything we do to improve ourselves be it physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, professional, etc that little bit even makes us better than we were before. that’s what i wanted people thinking of. thanks again and take care, Max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Good health makes me a better blogger part 2
Can’t really think of anything that you wouldn’t do better when you are feelling good and being healthy.
hi ken; i couldn’t agree with you more. thanks for the comment, max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Good health makes me a better blogger part 2
Hi Max
The important thing here is that you are doing much better but you have given us a lot to think about as far as it relates to our health.
I learned my lesson the hard way recently because I neglected to look after my teeth. I kept treating a dental infection for 3 times over the course of this past year and neglected to get the tooth extracted. Finally in May the infection got so bad I could not eat nor sleep for days. The infection stopped responding to the antibiotics. The long and short of my story was that the local anaesthetic did not work to extract the tooth so the dentist had to refer me to an oral surgeon to have the extraction done under genal anesthetic. It turned out to be an emergency where I had to be put to sleep so I could be relieved of all my suffering. It was an awful experience. So YES, YES we must get our dental check up regularly.
My vision at the moment, I must use glasses for reading, if not words seem to be running in one. I can see clearly and without glasses for things that are at a distance.
Thanks for sharing the lessons you learned with us. Have a wonderful day.
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Hi Max,
Thank you for reminding me that we are old friends, I liked your gesture.
This is such a self-awakening post and what an interesting discussion! You are so right, it is very essential to take care of our health and I am so glad to know that you are in good health from all points of view. Most of the people neglect dental health and I too am one of them but I never needed a dentist…my teeth have always been so good, only recently I felt I must visit a dentist as one tooth seemed to give me slight pain. Guess what? It was healthy, I was told, just a bit of filling was required.
I have been quite conscious about my weight and so walking has been a part of my life ever since I realised how beneficial it is for keeping healthy. Thanks for all the reminders! Stay blessed!
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hi balroop; thanks for the kind thoughts. I’m glad to hear you walk as it is good for both the mind and the body. and i wish you good health too my friend. take care, max
Hi, Max,
This topic is so very relevant, and I really just started realizing how relevant good health is to business success – this year actually…
I now make sure to stand while working each and every day, so sitting and standing intermittently is the key for me to avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
Sorry to hear about the cataracts in your eyes, and it’s a good thing you got a professional opinion so as to be able to take care of them before they cause you horrible pain.
Okay, I admit it. I cannot stand going to the dentist. When I was a young adult I had all four wisdom teeth, which were impacted, surgically removed, and I spent a long time recovering, and it was worse than I imagined it would be.
It’s absolutely true that our dental health very much affects our overall health. That’s why I am not in favor of crowns or implants, because anything that’s left inside our head that is dead, cannot be a good thing, in my opinion.
I am so glad that you’re dear pet, Penny, is doing well after her treatment, and that it cost less than originally quoted. That’s a real blessing.
I’m making improvements to my health by drinking more water, standing while working, and using my elliptical machine.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Max, I appreciate it.
Will share with friends,
– Carol
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hi carol; glad to hear you are looking after your health. i feel these two posts are some of the most important I have written. and how are you finding your elliptical? i’m in the market for another machine to go with my stationary bike or as i call it the bike that doesn’t go anywhere. been thinking rower but the point is it needs to be something that works my arms shoulders chest and stomach. and working while standing is a good example for all of us. harleena is giving away a desk that you can use sitting or standing on her site this month. and i did see where you have already been sharing. thanks so much and wishing you continued good health, max
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Thanks, Max,
I like my elliptical but not sure it would provide a strong enough arm/chest/stomach work out for you. It does help me in my core, but sometimes I feel the need to hold my arms straight up – if I can balance myself as I trot… LOL
Thanks and talk soon,
– Carol
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hi carol; thanks for sharing that. it doesn’t really sound like what i am after. and yes will talk soon. hoping to have my first evook live by november 1st. will be making copies of it available free for reviews. thanks so much, max
maxwell ivey recently posted…Making progress towards publishing my first ebook
Just a smiling visitor here to share the love (:
, btw outstanding style . “Audacity, much more audacity and always audacity.”
by Georges Jacques Danton.
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