Walking the Tightrope

Chapter 4. Health and Well-Being: Finding and Keeping Balance

It happens to all of us, sooner or later. We wake up at age 30 or 35, 45 or 50, and we hear . . . what is that noise? It's the tell-tale popping of joints as we climb out of bed. Health and general well-being are one of the areas in life that tend to suddenly surprise us as being out of balance. And the surprise is all too unpleasant.

Here are some “surprises” that happen to all or most of us at some point or another:

• The numbers game: We go for a physical and are astonished to find our total cholesterol hovers near the 250 mark. How did that happen?

• We are invited to our 10-year, 20-year, or fill-in-the-blank-year reunion . . . and suddenly we are aware of a veritable smorgasbord of problems ...