Building stronger lives

You might be asking yourself why I chose an image of eggs as my leading picture. Good question! Eggs for me epitomize the duality (hang in here with me) of ourselves as human beings. You don't know, just by looking at an egg, whether it has been hard-boiled and therefore a little less fragile or if it is fresh and definitely likely to crack under minimal pressure.

And just like that, we as individuals sometimes forget to take time enough to care for our 'shells'. So much of what I am reading at the moment speaks to the way we care for ourselves as a way to reduce the future impact of disease - including dementia.

Just like the humble egg - we can protect ourselves better. Modifiable risk factors can change, prevent or delay up to 40% of dementias. I don't know about you but as I get older (and sometimes wiser), I seriously want more time. More time than I wanted when I was a fresh egg and put so little value on my well-being and health outcomes. More time with family and friends, more time for me to know more about who I am and more time to share stories that leave my legacy. As the daughter of parents who died way too young, and as I head into their age bracket the fragility of my shell reminds me to make better decisions.

So what am I doing? I took up boxing this year as a way to move my backside more (not combat boxing - just against the bag alongside some high-intensity training) and I can't explain the difference that made - I take the stairs whenever the option is there. I lost weight two years ago (with help) and have kept it off, reducing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension to null. And whilst I dallied with cigarettes over the years it is not even a question anymore. I worry about my hearing as I get older - the joys of youth (and middle age) love affair with heavy metal and loud music - but I also know there are great interventions for that. I am taking the 100-day alcohol-free challenge to change my relationship with booze (in a culture where this is incredibly difficult). And I am socially connected - to my friends, to my networks, and to my words. Depression is the word we speak and a modifiable factor that I know we can change by asking "Are you okay" not just once a year, and having a great GP I can reach out to makes such a difference when you hit the wall. A new modifiable factor is the impact of sleep - I am pleased to say that exercise also has an excellent outcome here!

So back to my little fragile shell. I am pleased to say, she is feeling like she is stronger. And with the risk reduction factors in play, I am hoping that I can be stronger - mentally and physically for longer. So, my eggy friends.....want to join me. It is never too late, or too early to start.