Lessons and Lives

If told properly, everyone has a life story to rival those contained in the great literature of the world. In the context of the emotional and intellectual response to life there is drama and passion, victory and defeat. Life is complex and messy, and filled with confusion. The desires to control life or to withdraw from it weave in and out throughout every lifetime. Everyone has multiple lifetimes with most of them progressing simultaneously. A total lifetime contains lifetimes as a son or daughter, worker, spouse, parent and grandparent among others. Whatever the combination, each person is unique in ways far more significant and consequential than the political and social concept of the "individual". At every point in time and space, bolstered by the lessons of their life, each person is required to frame the possibilities for the future whether or not they are consciously aware of the fact.

The lessons of life are embedded in the conscious and the unconscious mind but it is not always possible to determine how they interact to influence decisions and actions. Daily life contains moments when a few words or passing thought project a vivid image and convey an instant meaning. The moment passes but the message lingers like an echo and recurs according to its value for living each day and providing direction to life. The basis for decisions, decision making and human behavior form an arena of intense interest to society. Governments are constantly attempting to explore the minds of those who threaten national security. Business wants to know and influence decisions and actions of consumers. The decisions of daily life and the subsequent behavior of individuals and the aggregate population are the most significant influence upon the status of life on earth that is potentially manageable.

If You Don't Do Life, It will Do You

If you don’t do life, it will do you. Aging is an experience, not an intellectual exercise or a disease, and not everyone has the same experience. Each person must define their understanding of passage through life. If not, the world will impose definition and rob experience. Experience is the real deal. It creates a basis in fact as it engages the senses and stimulates emotions. Instincts and habits are developed through experience, and instincts and habits direct much of human behavior.

Society most often chooses to define life temporally and many people live by default according to that definition. Any definition of life imposes expectations that inevitably become limitations and a temporal definition is no exception. Anticipation of the future generates optimism and the will to live, which relegates chronological age to a secondary consideration for determining such aspects of life as health status, well-being, and contributions to the benefit of others and progress of society.

Human Behavior and Public Policy

People are not comfortable with confusion and uncertain outcomes. They seek clarity and meaning. The need for clarity and meaning takes people on many and varied journeys throughout life. Compare and contrast the quest and pathways of Dean Moriarty and Sal Paradise (Jack Kerouac, “On the Road”, 1957) with those of Forrest Gump (Winston Groom, “Forrest Gump”, 1986). Or, consider the quests and pathways of Dr. Albert Schweitzer and Mother Teresa. Professor Michael Heller is a Roman Catholic priest, cosmologist, and philosopher who seeks meaning at the boundary of science, philosophy, and religion, especially where these boundaries are in juxtaposition. Professor Heller believes “science gives us knowledge, and religion gives us meaning. Both are prerequisites of the decent existence.” (Brenda Goodman, New York Times, March 13, 2008) Regardless of the differences in the quests and pathways through life, the need for meaning gives fuel to the restless spirit and accounts for human momentum even without certainty as to the destination or outcome.

Human behavior is shaped and directed by the meaning each person finds in life and the values derived from that meaning. The perspective that human behavior determines the status of life on earth is slowly dawning upon society. Certainly, the most significant impact upon health, the environment, and the climate is human behavior. Public policy must be more effective in addressing human behavior to be of benefit for better health, cleaner environment, and safer climate. People must understand public policy and it must be within their capability to comply. But, the most important factor for compliance with public policy is compatibility with the values and belief systems of society. Successful public policy accommodates the span from higher sense of purpose and meaning to self-interest without transgressing the values and belief systems of individuals and the whole of society. If it was easy, public policy would be more successful.

Field of Vision

Looking back can be hazardous, an observation to which Lot’s wife could attest. Too much consideration of the past and life doesn’t get off the ground. Too little and life is without balance and direction. Success in the past creates comfort in the present and elevates the danger of complacency in the future. A shift from pursuit of success to fear of failure can be subtle until momentum slows. Remember the past but experience the present, expect change, and anticipate the future. A change in process is always difficult and usually painful but it is easier than a change in assumption. There are many more decisions that change life than anyone is aware. The cumulative weight of decisions by an individual defines their life. The cumulative weight of decisions by all individuals defines society.

Who Knew At The Time

I cannot begin to comprehend the many lessons life has administered to me but all of them have some influence upon who I am and how I behave. Some lessons were anticipated, some came in unexpected ways, some occurred over and over in various forms, and some passed through without announcing their presence or intent. There were those I appreciated and those I would just as soon have avoided. I prepared as well as could be expected but it was nowhere near good enough. If I had it all to do over again, the only improvement I could hope for is a greater sense of humility but that is a tough one. My life could be done better but not by me; not under the circumstances I encountered. All those lucky breaks could just as easily go the other way. Sure, there were some bad breaks but my decisions contributed to every one of them. No excuses, some regrets, and apologies to everyone that I might have harmed or hindered.

Get A Grip

Is exercise at the center, and forms the core, of good health?

Well, when we finally arrive and look behind the curtain, there is the Wizard of Oz walking rapidly at an incline on the treadmill. He smiles and says that he has to do more than casual walking for a few minutes each day to stay in control of his life.

There is question whether "30 minutes of gentile exercise might not be just a bit too gentile." But, does one have to be a runner and a weight lifter to be in good health and manage body weight? Evidence indicates the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

It is a matter of common sense. Almost everyone is aware of physical conditioning. Start slow and low, and build up the speed and the intensity. Another principle of conditioning is that as conditioning is achieved the improvement levels off.

Try to walk as a dedicated activity at least 30 minutes each day. Don't let it drive you crazy if walking 30 minutes is impossible for that day but be realistic about impossibility. Increase the time to one hour whenever possible and be realistic about possibility. Three days weekly gradually increase the thirty minutes to involve walking briskly uphill or a treadmill at incline or hiking in the mountains. In other words, "break a sweat." Those three days should include some sessions of weight training to maintain muscle tone, strength and balance. As with everything of value in life, the challenge is focus and discipline.

Scientific data shows that brains can regenerate themselves and do not have to decline with age. Evidence is showing that the "human brain is not only capable of renewing itself but that (aerobic) exercise speeds the process."

It won't be easy but it is necessary. And, you will feel better.