Heart Leader

Did you ever see the TV show “Scared Straight”? It was about some hardened criminals who stood in front of a group of teenagers and told them about their lives of crime and what it is like to be in prison. It was designed to scare viewers into choosing a crime free lifestyle and thus avoiding going to prison.  Sometimes having a potentially deadly disease can also feel like prison.

For 21 years my mom had a boyfriend named Ralph Stein. Rotten Ralph to his friends and family. He lived with my mom, my twin brothers and I. Ralph was a Brooklyn boy who didn’t make it beyond a middle school education. He had a rough exterior but a warm and loving heart. He was also diagnosed with type I diabetes at age 40. Over a 10+ year period diabetes took Ralph’s eye sight, his teeth, one of his legs to the knee and eventually his life.

The reason I tell you about Rotten Ralph is because I learned a lot about diabetes in the years he lived with my mom, my two brothers and I.   Ralph’s life and his tragic death has served as a reminder about the need for good emotional and physical health. 

We are living in hard times.  There is a great need for us to take care of ourselves so we can be of service to others.  This includes taking some time to do the things we enjoy doing and it includes eating right and exercising.

As we enter the holiday season, I hope this blog serves as a reminder that we all have a lot to be thankful for but it always starts with us.  We must be mindful of taking care and protecting ourselves.  This includes our emotional health and our physical health.

Action Plan: Lower your stress through doing a little more for yourself during the holiday season.  In addition focus some effort on eating a healthy diet and exercising as often as you can.

Thank you for reading my blog.

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You can learn more about me on my web site at http://www.darylwizelman.com

My book, Heart Leader, can be purchased by clicking the link below.

http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/02877.htm

Daryl