Saw an ad a few days ago about some drug that deals with cholesterol, and it got me thinking what a big deal that used to be, but we rarely hear about anymore.  My mother was always having her cholesterol checked and sorting out the good cholesterol and the bad and trying to make sense of the numbers.

Back probably 30 years ago a test revealed a cholesterol number that concerned my doctor and he wanted to do all sorts of tests, but I put it off until he gave up. 

He wanted me to watch my diet and limit my intake of ice cream.  I couldn’t see how that was going to work for me.  Today, I have no idea what my cholesterol numbers are, and nobody has asked for 30 years, and I still enjoy ice cream.

Another issue was my teeth.  The first dentist that recommended braces did so about 30 years ago, too.  There was an issue with wearing the backs of my front teeth and unchecked, it could break one or both teeth.  That didn’t go anywhere either.  New dentist about 15 years ago and we had the same discussion.  Just couldn’t bring myself to invest that money.  Teeth are still whole.

Both these examples were very good, competent people looking out for my best interests, but they were incorrect.  It happens. Y2K.  Anyone remember that shenanigan?  Wish I had what the corporation I worked for spent just on the local sites to be prepared for nothing that happened.

Weather forecasts.  I’ve lived a normal life through more snowmageddons and rain events than I can count. Predictions are opinions based on certain facts. That’s all. They’re not truth.  I had my knee reconstructed just shy of 40 years ago and the doctor told me I would be good for 20 years and then would have to have it replaced.  I walk on it every day.

No, as much as you may want me to, I’m not going to go to current and future event topics and what I agree with and what I don’t. 

I do have to say that my approach to predictions has worked pretty well for quite a few years.  I just chill.  Sure, I take it all in, but I don’t make drastic changes in my life.  I try to use common sense, even though many readers will question the amount of that I have. 

I believe this approach has allowed me a happier lifestyle than if I had taken action on every prediction I was presented with. 

Sure, if I had stopped eating ice cream and continued being tested, I probably would have the most enviable cholesterol number around, but I would have missed all that ice cream. 

I could have forked over the big bucks and worn braces as an adult for a year or two and had the most amazing smile around.  My smile is subtle and only people who are special to me get to see it anyway, so suffering through all that for all that time and money wouldn’t have been worth it. 

As for the knee, the only thing left to do is replace it and while it’s an everyday occurrence today for many of my peers, if I had done it 20 years ago when my warranty was up, it would have been a much bigger deal with longer hospital stay and longer recovery.  I’ve made the doc visit and know that’s the solution today and that I’m on borrowed time, but I’m good with being on borrowed time. It only hurts once in a while, anyway.

Hate me if you wish, but I don’t get annual checkups.  I go see my doctor when I feel there’s a problem.

While they refer to me as “boringly healthy”, they don’t approve of my approach. 

On the rare occasions that I visit her, after we go over what is going on, she always says here are the things I need to tell you about that you likely won’t do.  She got a buy-in for one thing last visit and was almost giddy. I try to eat healthy, but not crazy healthy.  What that means is that I eat what I want, in moderation, and won’t criticize what you eat if we were to be out together in public, which is highly unlikely. In the unlikely event that this did happen, I would ask you to show the same courtesy to me.

Call me crazy, but I believe there is a strong connection between being stressed, angry, frustrated, and upset about everything, and one’s health. So, if you want to feel better and be healthier, I can help.  I have 70 years of experience and I’m scheduling counseling appointments, but I don’t work cheap. 

Contact me today as slots are filling fast.  Insurance doesn’t cover my service, and I only accept cash in advance of the appointment.  If you don’t feel you got your money’s worth, it’s your fault because you weren’t paying attention.  You’re paying for my time, not guaranteed results.

And I don’t predict the outcome.

Bill Packard lives in Union and is the founder of BPackard.com. He is a speaker, author, small business coach and consultant.