What I have to say here originated as a response (commentary) to someone's Facebook post. The post was a brief statement pointing out a correlation between poor heart health and hostility, patience, and holding grudges. Some thoughts immediately came to mind. The following paragraph is just a minor edit of my Facebook commentary.
I think it has to do something with being comfortable in your own skin - and your heart is like your life-force. It is your primary pump. If it ceases to function, you die. Also, activities that strengthen it also strengthen and improve the health of the rest of your body. You're with your body 24 hrs a day, and are especially aware of it during waking hours. If you have a malfunctioning and/or sluggish and inefficient body, this has got to be more frustrating than driving a put-put unreliable engine-stalls-on you kind of car. After all, you can easily remove yourself from the car and get back in. You can't do the same with your body. The frustration and misery must be compounded if the situation is such that you KNOW you could do better and that much or all of the blame points to yourself. This has to be a terrible feeling! People who have an unavoidable disease or unavoidable physical hardship are in a completely different category. I don't think they would become nearly as negatively affected (i.e. hostility, impatience, holding grudges) because they know they've done their part; there is no personal gnashing of teeth regarding "coulda's" and shoulda's." They can even look upon their hardship as a challenge to be fought valiantly - and in doing so can be an inspiration for others.
For most of us, we know we can do more. We know we can take better care of ourselves and honor our God-given gift of life. Far from being just a selfish pursuit or something that just affects you, taking care of yourself is a way to make things better for others - and in some way take care of them too.
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