Font ResizeThe late George Carlin claimed that only little kids keep track of their age in halves.
With all due respect, it's not true.
I just turned 52½. So it's time for a midyear, life-health assessment. In eight areas, I measure my life health on a 1-to-10 scale. While I rate myself, join me and rate yourself.
1. Physicality. How's your body? Are you sick? Injured? How's your blood pressure? Heart rate? Body fat? Cholesterol?
Are you rested? Relaxed? What's your energy level? How are your workouts going?
Are you in shape? How do you feel when you look at yourself in the mirror?
As long as I don't compare the current me to the past me, I'm doing reasonably well: 8
2. Relationships. When they're good, life is good. When they're not, nothing seems right.
Our romantic relationship trumps all. But platonic relationships are vital, too.
The more tight relationships we have, the better our lives.
My relationships have never been better: 9
3. Education/career. If you're a student, how's school? If not, how's work?
Hopefully, you're either learning, preparing or working.
Because we spend a huge part of our lives either in school or on the job, when our academic or professional lives are not going well, it's hard to be happy.
And, as you know, this area is a roller coaster.
At the moment, I'm teaching summer school: 5
4.
Because of the economy, specifically the housing market, I think about it.
I'm trying to battle my way out of a deep, yucky hole: 3
5. Passion. Do you have one? Do you have at least one interest that electrifies you? An academic subject? An art? A sport? Dance? Drama? Music? If you don't, give yourself a zero. Go find one!
If you do have a passion, how's it going? "Passion" means "suffering," so struggle should be expected. Yet, when our passion is cresting, life is magical.
My writing is progressing adequately, but because I'm not reaching a large enough audience, I'm not satisfied: 7
6. "La Causa." That's what Cesar Chavez called it. "The cause." To feel happy and complete, we need a cause.
What's yours? What are you doing to improve the world?
I'm not doing enough — yet: 6
7. Hope. The leading cause of suicide is a lack of hope. When we look toward the future, we yearn for optimism.
What's out there that excites you? There better be something. When there isn't, life loses that indispensable thrill of anticipation.
I refuse to lose hope: 9
8. Spirit. Faith. Belief.
A trust in a power greater than ourselves provides peace: 9.9
Add them up.
If you score over 50, you're fine.
If you're under, at least you know what areas need fortifying.
Get to work.
Jaime Richards teaches in Fremont. Contact him at jrichards2517@hotmail.com or visit his Web site: www.what-it-takes.com.
