Warning: Sometimes You Won’t Get a Warning

I’ve had my Jeep Wrangler for over 12 years now. She’s great. She’s been faithful to me all these years, only requiring minor “surgeries” and regular upkeep every now and then. We’ve been through so much in the couple hundred thousand miles we’ve traveled together, and I plan on keeping her for a long time.

Last week, however, something out of the ordinary happened. Without a warning of any kind, I found myself and my Jeep stopped at a red stoplight, something we’ve done countless times before, but this time something was wrong. Something was very wrong. I started to feel her lose power and before I could even believe what was happening, she completely stopped running. The traffic light turned green and I kept trying to start my Jeep, but nothing was happening.

I sat parked at the green light mystified while the cars behind me starting honking their horns. All I could think was how strange is was for her to just completely lose power without giving me any warning whatsoever.

My Jeep situation is not much different than how our bodies work. There are times when a warning sign comes on in your car, whether that be to check your engine or battery or when you’re running low on fuel. Similarly, our bodies also give us warning signals. Whenever we’re moody, stressed, tired, hungry, or cranky, for example, it’s our body’s way of telling us that we need sleep, water, a meal, or some relaxation.

Yet, if we wait until the warning signal comes on, we may get caught like a deer in the headlights when something does go wrong.

The main reason I’ve kept my Jeep running so well and kept her happy throughout her 12 long years is because I have maintained great upkeep on her. I rarely waited until something was wrong before I took her to the “doctor.” I have been proactive in keeping her “healthy” including remaining faithful to her regular check-ups, because I know that’s the best way to ensure that she upholds her optimal performance.

While we won’t always get a warning signal when our body needs our attention, it’s vital that we do the best we can to be proactive to keep her running as smoothly as possible. It’s easy to judge how our health is doing by looking on the outside, how much weight we’ve gained or lost, how tired we look, or how our clothes fit, but it’s important not to forget that what’s going on “under the hood” is where our attention should really lie. There are many things out of our control when it comes to how well our “vehicle” is working; however, remember that there are countless things you CAN control.

What part of your health needs a tune-up or some maintenance today to ensure that your body continues to serve you and uphold her optimal performance?

Your health and wellness coach in your 50’s,
Kim