Hi @stevenwood, absolutely brilliant piece of writing! A wordsmith through and through!
Just about everything resonates. I've entered my...ummm...eighth ouch decade, and when you speak of the stacked losses, my head bobbed up and down - I've not heard a more apt description!
And...your goals are NOT vacuous. Why should we not strive to be the best version of ourselves?
But honestly, in my opinion, it should be all about balance. We need not go to the extremes that some do, if that is out of our comfort zone, and not sustainable.
Life is about living after all!
We can strive to live a healthier lifestyle, but not at the cost of "no coffee", for example. I have a shot of Cayenne Pepper & Turmeric before the coffee - no reflux!
There are ways and means to enjoy little indulgences still.
I am so sorry to hear about your pancreas, and that you're also having to deal with glucose fluctuations! My late hubby was a diabetic from the age of 8, was injecting 4-5 times per day, kept active (the secret), and lived a healthy life, without going to extremes.
I hope you reach goal number three, very good one!
A tip for those hypoglycemic episodes - carry a small pack of jelly sweets in your pocket for when out and about. I know juice or a fruit is preferable, but not always practical. First check with your doctor!
Thank you for sharing this here with our Silver Bloggers, and good luck with your journey towards good health and reaching those goals!