Why Share the Love?

Like attracts Like

I was talking to a friend the other day about our experiences at the cardiologist office. I said something along the lines of, “Isn’t it great being in your 40s?”

We realized that we had both had similar experiences of our fathers having a heart attack in their 40s which made us very tuned in to the state of our hearts.

Me and Dad Circa 1979

If I avoid the symptoms, they will go away, right?

We had the discussion about how we both had a irrational fear of ending up like our fathers.  It doesn’t make logical sense. We have healthier lifestyles: healthier diet, don’t smoke, more physically active and use more preventative care.  Reason only takes the edge off the fear. Fear is a feeling that doesn’t seem to respond to logic.  It was easier to put the scary stuff in the back of our minds and avoid it in the hope that it might go away. Which is sometimes does… about 0.3% of the time.

I procrastinated about 8 months, then I mustered enough gumption to schedule the test my Dr. recommended.

A funny thing happened. I noticed that when I finally started focusing on action instead of the big scary thoughts, I actually started feeling better, not necessarily in my symptoms, but just because I wasn’t avoiding.

And then I found out that my old ticker scored an A+!

The point is, having a heart attack in your 40s is a very rare thing. The fact that I came across this friend and we were having this similar experience was striking to me. It reinforced 2 universal truths that I know, but don’t always recognize in my life.

1) Like attracts like.

&

2) Action feels better than avoiding.

We are more likely to take actions when we have someone to do it with.

I actually see couples in the clinic often. The pairing can come in any form: mother/daughter, spouses, or even just neighbors. Not only do ailments seem to attract each other but also people will often want to share the experience of getting better.

We are more likely to take action when we have somebody to do it with.

Workout buddies are a real thing. Having someone to be accountable to, and share the experience with is helpful for consistency and a more pleasant experience.

Why not apply this to physical therapy?

I know from personal experience that treating an ailment is something that people avoid. I also know that like attracts like.

Which means there are plenty of people out there who are commiserating with each other.  

Commiserating with each other is NOT effective action.

Luckily for you we have something that is.

Check it out here.

 Me And Maggie

(Can you tell she’s my mama?)

These two are my favorite accountability partners. Who’s yours?