by Carol L. Rickard

Last week I went to my primary care doctor for a regular office visit
and got a BIG surprise…

A prescription for blood pressure medication!

Once or twice over the past couple years, I would go in to her office & when
the tech took my blood pressure, it would seem a little high.

Then my doctor would check it again & it would be 124/76 – which is good!

This time when the tech took it, it was 130/90. However, when my doctor
took it again: 130/90.

She said, “Let’s check the other arm.” WORSE yet – 132/96!

Now, the surprise is that all my life I have worked hard at living healthy.
My mother had heart disease, so my deck was already loaded.

I exercise, watch my diet, manage my weight, and DON’T smoke!

So I was a little shocked at first…

But then I realized that sometimes we could be doing EVERYTHING we need
to do to be healthy & our genes might be stronger.

As I picked up my medication & the pharmacist was explaining it to me, he
asked if I had a blood pressure machine. NO!

So guess what I had to buy? A blood pressure machine!

As I write this post – the machine is still sitting here on my table…

I still HAVE NOT used it.

Change can be hard to get started!

So I am resorting to an oldie but goodie LifeTOOL I’ve used in the past to
help me get started:

The Checklist!

The idea is to make the change or the new habit VISIBLE.

It’s easier to NOT do something we keep in our head. By putting the
change or habit on paper – we are forced to pay attention to it!

I have attached a copy of one here for you to use.

Write down the change or habit you are working on & then every day you
make it happen – check it off!

Be sure to put this someplace you will see it a couple times a day. Mine is
on my refrigerator.

Don’t worry if you start out missing a day or so – try to check off as many
days as you can. The goal here is progress not perfection.

I promise to keep you updated on how mine is going!

~ To Living Well TODAY! ~

 

 

 

 

via Esperanza – Hope To Cope
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