Self Defense in Today’s Society (Part 8)
Posted: March 27, 2016
In this last of eight articles about self defense, I’d like to finish by focusing on some other killers: High Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, and Diabetes. Many people are facing these diseases today, especially in connection with obesity.
Over the years, I’ve met hundreds of people who have let their weight get away from them. I’ve done it too. Now being overweight doesn’t guarantee you’ll have other health issues. But if you’re obese AND have a family history of heart disease, or diabetes, you’re much more likely to develop a problem yourself.
Once afflicted, it’s much harder to turn things around. It becomes more difficult to be active, so calorie burning gets harder. That creates a vicious cycle that’s hard to escape from. You end up fighting your own body. Like the old saying goes, “We have seen the enemy, and he is us!”
Look at it this way. You can have a concealed carry license, a great pistol, and even be well trained in tactics. But if you’re obese, the odds are much more likely that you’ll be facing heart disease or diabetes, than an actual opponent trying to kill you.
And really, heart disease can kill you just the same. Other serious conditions can rob you too. Diabetes can steal your joy, and in extreme cases, even take your feet. Even high blood pressure can signal the start of other problems.
Sure, some things happen that are just random and unexpected. You can’t do much to protect against them, short of having good insurance, an emergency fund, and a support system around you.
But the more predictable problems are really avoidable with some effort. You just have to do it. Face up to it, and get started. You’re not really serious about self defense until you start to work on yourself too.
You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to get it right more than you get it wrong. You need to have more days where you’re exercising than when you’re not. You need to have more meals where you’re watching what you eat, than meals where you don’t.
Start there. You’ll feel better, and you’ll feel better about yourself. That’s self defense too. Your reactions will be quicker, which is always a good thing. Besides, lose a few inches and you’ll have more room in your pants for that pistol that you’re packing!