As I am aging, I see things more clearly. Not that it means that its easier to make decisions, but that I have more choices. I want to make a difference in my lifetime, and choosing what I need to invest the time in is a consistent battle. My primary responsibility is as a wife and mother, and then to pursue my cause(s).
Over the past year, I've read about and watched several documentaries on cancer treatment and prevention using a holistic method. Thankfully, no one in my family has suffered or is suffering from cancer*, and healthy eating, exercise and preventative measures have kept us healthy. But as a mother and wife, I want to keep the cancer at bay, through not only my immediate family, but also my siblings, parents and in-laws.
My sister Jennifer has been on the healthy eating/vegetarian lifestyle for over 20 years. My youngest daughter, Kristin, jumped on the pescetarian (veggies, nuts, eggs, dairy and fish)diet recently, but the draw of a P.Terry's burger or a Chick-fil-A was too strong one day when we were rushed for time the other day. A veggie sub sandwich (which she did have early in the process) or some tasty, greasy chicken or beef?
A cancer-surviving friend, Katelyn, put it well the other day when she said that people who eat chips, candy, meat, much restaurant food and other unhealthy items need to consider it a treat when they consume items that are unhealthy. This is the way I prefer to live, and have not only the fried foods, but also the beef and chicken occasionally instead of on a regular basis.
My input is merely that if we want to be old and wise, we need to eat healthy, and research has shown that healthy living and eating (broccoli, fish, grapes, greens, blueberries and other high anti-oxidant foods) is good for the brain. Old is defined in different ways for different people, but I hope to be movin' and shakin' when I'm in my 80's, yet peacefully being waited on when I'm in my 90's.
*my grandfather, a chain-smoker for at least 50 years who worked in/owned an auto paint shop for at least 30 years died of lung cancer that had metastasized to most of his major organs in a short period of time.
