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Dead Lines

Last December I turned 59 and heaved a huge sigh of relief. My father had his first heart attack at 58. My grandfather died at 60 of a heart attack. It didn't seem to matter that they both smoked two or three packs of unfiltered cigarettes a day and ate all of the fat off their meat; the family story was one of heart attacks killing the men.

In talking with other people, I have found that many harbor a fear that they, just like their mother or father, will die of heart disease, cancer or whatever. Even our daughter's father-in-law, a cardiologist, was worried because his father and grandfather had died at 50 from a heart attack. When he turned 51 he seemed as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. That was almost 20 years ago. He's still going strong.

What's your dead line? Are you worried about dying like one of your parents or grandparents? Is there a family story that everyone keeps repeating about how men or women die? In my wife's family, the women seem to drop dead at 70. Hint: It's a story; stop repeating it. For those of you who are fans ofThe Secret, just a reminder: thinking fearfully about a dead line helps manifest it.

Consider evaluating the possibility in terms of your own lifestyle. Yes, there are genetically inheritable diseases, but many are just the product of living life. Healthcare statistics tell us that 80% of deadly medical conditions are preventable with diet and exercise.

Maybe it's time to stop living in fear of a possible future and start living in a way that optimizes your future.