Bob Mook is the editorial manager of the Colorado Health Foundation.
About three years ago, my oldest son asked me if I would watch Halley's Comet with him when it returns in 2061. "I don't think so, buddy," I replied.
"Why won't you?"
"Because I'll be dead by then."
His eyes abruptly flooded with tears. "Why did you say that?" he wailed. Almost immediately, I realized that while my four-year-old boy knew much about the solar system, I greatly over-estimated his grasp of mortality.
Rather than helping him better understand the "circle of life," I comforted him with some numbers. If I live until 2061, I will be 98 years old – a statistic which wasn't completely out of the range of possibility. Indeed, my great grandmother lived to 93 – suggesting that some kind of "longevity gene" is embedded in my DNA.
Taking advantage of my son's budding gullibility, I convinced him that yes, there's a decent likelihood I could stand beside him and his grandchildren and behold Halley's Comet next "world tour" together.
Unfortunately, my chances of living to 2061 were not very favorable in 2008. Back then, I was 45 years old and 258 pounds with blood pressure that our family doctor described as "a little high." I also was prone to episodic depression and anxiety – factors that contribute to a shortened lifespan.
So while my odds of living to 98 were less than stellar, they were not irreversible. But even if I wasn't destined to die tragically young, I already compromised my ability to bond with my kids because I was out of shape and unable to play with them at their pace. Improving my health represented one way I could work to prolong my longevity – even though life holds no guarantees.
As a result of my health "epiphany," I recommitted to the tried-and-true regime of diet and exercise. It took time and effort, but I began to see the results. Over the course of three years, I've lost about 80 pounds and restored my blood pressure to "normal." Last August, after much training, I completed my first "century" bicycle ride, traveling 105 miles in about 10 hours with a collective elevation climb of 12,725 feet.
More important than the "metrics," improving my health has made me a more productive, more resilient employee – not to mention a more engaged father and a better husband. I haven't given much thought about how my improved health has reduced health costs or prolonged my chances of living longer – I simply feel better than I've ever felt and that's reason enough for staying on the program.
However, changing my behavior would have been much more difficult in a different environment. For example, I am fortunate to live in an area with easy access to trails – meaning I can ride my bike 21 miles to work with relative ease. My employer promotes wellness by encouraging workers to engage in physical activity and consume fruits and vegetables, offering an annual "allowance" for fitness club memberships and exercise equipment. The Foundation also provides healthy snacks and a cubicle gym.
But not everybody is as lucky as me, which is why the Foundation's efforts to make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation are so helpful and necessary. In particular, the Foundation's work to promote health communities makes a big difference for many Coloradans. One of the Foundation's partners, LiveWell Colorado, is committed to reducing obesity by promoting healthy eating and active living. As one of its seven funding strategies, the Foundation promotes healthy communities by ensuring access to healthy food and safe options for exercise, as evidenced in its support in the Trust for Public Land's Westerly Creek Park and Garden Project and the GrowHaus indoor community farm.
While organizations like these can give people the upper hand in fighting obesity and getting healthy, revolution also begins at home – as in your home.
I'm hopeful that through healthy living, I can encourage my children to stay healthy from childhood, adulthood, middle age and beyond. That way, they can join me in watching Halley's Comet or any other unforeseen phenomenon – such as the Rockies winning the World Series or the Broncos going to the Super Bowl again.
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