How is Bruce Weiss healthy?

The reward of helping others is immeasurable.  

But I often use that as an excuse to not focus on my health. 

This is a tough question.  I have been intending to respond to that question on this site for about two months and keep putting it off.  I have put it off because I am afraid I am not that healthy.

I don’t eat right (though chocolate cake has eggs, flower, milk… and didn’t I hear recently that chocolate is good for you now?).

I have a gym membership that I don’t use and I eat poorly.

So I am a bit of a workaholic.  I have a great job that I love, and have spent my entire career doing work that involves helping others, helping our communities.  My work and the people I work with inspires me.  The reward of helping others is immeasurable.  But I often use that as an excuse to not focus on my health.  With responsibility comes worry, something I do well. 

I realize I only get one body, and I am not getting any younger, and  I should know better, but there are hard changes I would have to make in my life to improve my health, and I struggle with making them.  Or making them last.

I try to go to the doctor regularly. I am not one of those people that is afraid of the doctor. I know a lot of people who try to stay away from the doctor, especially if they are not feeling well.  I am not one of those people.  So at least I feel like I do that to stay healthy.  I don’t generally let health problems get too out of control. 

I recently moved to a new city and left my closest friends back in Washington DC.  My emotional health depends on connecting with people, so I have been spending energy trying to build friendships here in Chicago.  This is one important way I am trying to be healthy.

Most importantly, I snuggle a lot with my dog and cat.  They make me very happy and help to keep me calm.  And I try to get eight hours of sleep every night.  Mainly because I don’t feel that I can function as well on less.  But also because I believe that is vital to staying healthy.

-- Bruce Weiss
Chicago

How are you healthy?
Join in the conversation.
Tell us HERE. Send a pic to the same place.
And we'll blog it, right here.
Read past posts.
Learn more about the campaign.