Freak Accidents, Illnesses, And Events

Dave Goldberg, the CEO of Survey Monkey (and the husband of Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook), died suddenly in a freakish accident falling off a treadmill and hitting his head. 

Poof…dead at age 47!

Unfortunately, we hear all the time about these type of tragic occurrences to people.

And of course tragedy knows no bounds–so while sh*t happens everyday to people from all walks of life, we tend to pay more attention when it’s someone we know and love or when it’s splashed wildly in the news about fabulously successful people we admire and follow. 

– Entertainer, Michael Jackson (50) dead from drug intoxication after suffering cardiac arrest.

– Actor, Robin Williams (63) dead by hanging suicide. 

– Singer, John Lennon (40) shot in the back by someone he had autographed an album for.

– Martial Artist, Bruce Lee (33) died on a movie set from a cerebral edema.

– Model, Marilyn Monroe (33) dead by drug overdose.

– President, John F. Kennedy (46) dead by assassination.

Whether by a plane crash or car accident, drowning or fire, poison or electrocution, a criminal or animal attack, terrorism, war, or natural disaster, a heart attack, stroke, or cancer, through suicide, punishment, or mercy killing…regardless of the probabilities and statistics, many people never make it all the way to “a ripe old age.” 

We feel bad, shake our heads, say a few words of sympathy perhaps, when we hear of these lives cut short.

But like the TV shows, Six Feet Under (HBO) or 1000 Ways To Die (Spike)–there are a near endless number of horrible ways to go–and they can take you at literally any time.

While we can’t stop living and just sit around worrying all the time about all the bad things that can happen, we do need to remember that anything can happen at any time (and these things are not so freakish after all)–no one is beyond the Angel of Death, no one should be arrogant, and we should make the most of every single moment that G-d lovingly grants to us.  😉

(Source Photo: here with attribution to Military Health)

Weighing the Odds

This was a very effective ad that I saw in the doctor’s office for weight loss.

Look at all the problems that excess weight causes.

And see how unattractive that big gut can be–no offense.

While this week, research studies on monkeys were reported not to extend life span, I think we all know intuitively well that staying “trim and fit” is the way to go from a health perspective.

There is a good saying that I plastered up a couple of years back that said “nothing tastes as good as thin feels!”

Many years ago, my cousin David was diagnosed with brain cancer. He tried all sorts of traditional medical treatments, and nothing much was working. After consulting some nutrition experts, his wife supported him in going on a macrobiotic diet, and this seemed to help him for some time.  Finally though David succumbed to the brain tumor after struggling about 10 years.

This past week, a friend of mine, who has had some health problems recently, told me he was trying the vegan diet too for a couple of weeks, but already after a few days was touting how much better he was feeling.

From my experience, the carbs and processed foods are the worst for us–and on top of it, completely addictive.

When I am strong enough mentally, I really believe in Dr. Atkins high protein diet–although after a few days, you lose your appetite for good reason–it tastes, horrible.

With the odds against those carrying around a lot of extra pounds, we all need to keep fighting the good fight here–against the battle of the bulge.

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)