A Whack to the Side of the Head

To all intents and purposes, Martin Meek, Managing Director of the Flannery Group, had a good life. A great family, the business plan on track, healthy food from the business he helps steer and time for fun like surfing, snow skiing and the yearly Byron Bay ocean swim. So it came as a surprise that his premise of … if my family is happy and the business is sound then, by default, I have to be good as well.

To all intents and purposes, Martin Meek, Managing Director of the Flannery Group, had a good life. A great family, the business plan on track, healthy food from the business he helps steer and time for fun like surfing, snow skiing and the yearly Byron Bay ocean swim. So it came as a surprise that his premise of ... if my family is happy and the business is sound then, by default, I have to be good as well.

"I have a book that I keep besides my bed called 'A Whack to the Side of the Head'. It's one of those business books that you find in the Self Help and Motivational section of book stores. The book itself is quite basic and easy to read. Its message is very simple - think differently, act differently and, if it takes a whack to the side of the head to get you to do it, then whack away.

I got my 'whack' earlier this month. I was feeling ill. Nothing terrible, but unwell enough to be admitted to hospital where I was subjected to all the trials, tribulations, tests and indignities that go along with a hospital stay. (What is with those open at the back gowns?)

Anyway, at the ripe old age of 41, I had some time to lie there and take stock of my situation. What I came up with was so simple and so obvious. It was also so empowering that, by the time I checked myself out later that day, I was literally a changed man. Okay, maybe not changed, but certainly 'adjusted'.

The thought that brought about this change was this: "I am responsible for my own health".

That was it. I am responsible. I am in charge. I am the one that makes the decisions that affect my life and I must be prepared to face the consequences of my actions ... or inactions. Taking this further, I realised that I also owe it to those I love to remain as fit and as healthy as possible; for as long as possible.

The thing is, I already knew this (as I'm sure most of you reading this already know).  What's more, I believe that a lot of people like myself know this, but don't acknowledge it. Alternatively, they choose to postpone or delay - indefinitely - any action that might cause them to actually confront the truth and the power of the statement: "I am responsible for my own health."

I'm sure it was Tolstoy who said, "Everyone thinks about changing the world, but nobody thinks of changing themselves." As humans, we are great at coming up with reasons why we can't do things. I'm somewhat of an expert myself.

However, while I was lying there in my hospital bed I wasn't looking for a why I can't. Instead, I was focusing on what I can do and what I can control. And I was doing it in an endeavour to retain some element of power in the situation I found myself.

I think the reason why I avoided that fundamental truth for so long is because it's impossible to acknowledge it - without stripping away all the excuses that have kept one safe from actually having to do something. For this reason, it is an uncomfortable truth.

Armed with this revelation and motivated by my desire to avoid another hospital stay, I made a list:

• Drink less
  
  
• Exercise more
  
  
• Eat better food.
  
  
• Eat less food.
  
  
• A business plan is not enough. Get a life plan ... and spiritual plan.
  
  
• Make yourself enjoy what you have today - instead of always striving and preparing for tomorrow.
  
  

It's been less than a month but, so far, I am exercising at least five times a week. I took two days off work so I could have a long weekend with my family before the kids went back to school. Yes, the business survived. I'm not drinking Monday to Thursday and, consequently, less on the weekend as well. I discovered that you start to lose the taste for it.

We always had a good diet, but now it's just a little better. I'm still planning for tomorrow, but I'm getting more enjoyment from today. I'll admit to not yet having a life plan, but I have revisited my business plan to try to make it more accommodating and flexible.

In short, even though I still have the condition that landed me in hospital in the first place, I am in much better shape than I was this time last month. In other words, my hospital stay was a blessing. I am more focused, more committed and in no doubt that the person who has the most control of my health is, quite simply, me.

If you will permit me one last quote, this time from Buckaroo Bonzai: "Where you are, is where you went." If anything, the bad grammar seems to make its inherent truth even stronger."