Once upon a time, Billy was hanging out on his couch in his apartment on the third floor, watching TV, as he often did. Typically, this is where Billy was, on his couch, watching TV, and usually eating his favorite chips. Or any chips. Or anything that was around. Billy wasn’t the most proactive guy and didn’t make his health a high priority. He thought about it and planned that sometime soon he would start to think about making better choices. For now, he told himself he was too busy, or too tired, or that now just wasn’t a good time and maybe he would get to it after he finished binge-watching the entire 10 seasons of Friends… again.
Billy’s lifestyle had caused him to put on quite a bit of weight. He became easily winded with any activity. It has been forever since he used the stairs any more to get to his apartment and now, he always used the elevator.
At Billy’s last annual checkup, which was now over 3 years ago, the doctor reviewed Billy’s blood work and suggested Billy make some significant dietary and lifestyle changes. The doctor also prescribed Billy several pharmaceuticals.
Billy filled the prescriptions but wasn’t always compliant with actually taking them. He never got around to making the changes he knew he should make. Yes, he was aware his health was sliding, but he was okay… enough. Yes, sure, he gained weight, was fatigued often, easily winded, had regular headaches, and had several digestive issues, but these symptoms weren’t THAT bad. Besides, Billy planned to make some of the needed changes if any of his symptoms got any worse.
One afternoon, as Billy sat on his couch, watching TV and eating a doughnut, his show was disrupted by someone yelling from outside. Billy heard the voice shouting…
“Fire! Fire! Everyone must get out of their apartments now!”
From his comfortable couch, Billy looked around. He didn’t see any fire.
Billy turned the volume up on his TV.
The yelling persisted, “Fire! Fire! You must get out now!”
Billy again looked around his apartment. He saw no fire. He even turned his head around and looked out the window. He didn’t see any fire there either. He continued watching his show. His favorite part was coming up.
Even more yelling. “Fire! There is a fire on the first floor directly below you!”
Billy looked down and still saw no fire. All he saw was potato chip crumbs on the carpet.
This screaming person started to irritate Billy. All this yelling was distracting him from his binge-watching.
“Fire!!! Fire!! You must take action now!! The fire has consumed the second floor!!! Go!!! Go!!! Go!!!”
Billy still saw no fire in his apartment. He even looked out the window again. This time he may have seen some smoke. It was probably nothing, besides… his favorite part of his show was coming up. Maybe he will get off the couch and take a look outside in a minute or two… or maybe as soon as the current episode ends.
Well, needless to say, Billy died that day in the fire. It was a horrific, painful, and agonizing death.
...Like, really bad.
He didn’t even get to see his favorite part of his TV show again before he passed.
Poor Billy. If only there was a way his tragic death could have been avoided.
Article by Quinn Akira Takei, Doctor of Oriental Medicine(NM), Licensed Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist, Functional Medicine Practitioner, and Holistic Health & Wellness Coach.
The Center: Natural Health Specialists, 8404 Six Forks Road, Suite 201, Raleigh, NC 27615. (919) 848-0200. www.TheCenterNHS.com