Steve’s Blog
“Widow Maker”
My physician wrote those two words on my heart imaging scan results completed as part of a routine physical. Apparently, my left anterior descending artery has begun to calcify. If it ever closes completely or releases a blood clot, it’ll probably be fatal – hence the name widow maker.
The good news -- it’s in the early stages and doesn’t require surgery. I know the condition exists and can keep an eye on it. The bad news -- it’s not reversible, and it’s penalizing me for every bad decision I made in the past and will make from this day forward. Poor diet, stress, sedentary lifestyle are all contributors and are no longer an option for me. For now, I’ve been prescribed a statin to help slow its progression and encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The diagnosis sucks but that last bit of advice stung even more. Maintain a healthy lifestyle? I’ve been a runner my entire life and still run up the hills near my house 3-4 days/week. I’m a non-smoker. I only eat between the hours of noon and 6pm, have eliminated sugar and processed food from my diet, and never miss my daily regimen of vitamins, fish oil and other supplements that all middle-aged dudes are supposed to take. At age 54, I currently weigh 170 pounds – the same I weighed in high school. When I mentioned this to my physician, he said I’m making all the right lifestyle choices and to keep it up, but I’m paying a price for past transgressions (I used to eat cereal for breakfast and dessert after every meal) and some things are simply out of my control due to genetics.
“Some things are out of your control.”
I try to keep things in perspective and I’m grateful that we caught it early; however, this is the first time I’ve had to face my own mortality due to a diagnosed health condition. Despite eating clean, exercising, fasting, etc. there’s a hidden clock ticking within me, and I don’t know when the final alarm is going to go off. None of us do.
However, having awareness of my own impending mortality brings clarity. This diagnosis has served as a wakeup call to stop putting off all the things I’ve wanted to do with my life. Time is a non-renewable asset, and I’ll admit that I’m guilty of letting too much of it slip away. So, I’ve decided to embrace the moment. Carpe diem! I’m going to make this the greatest summer!
I have three amazing kids. My two daughters are now “adulting.” One is a certified financial planner and the other is a NICU nurse. I’m extremely proud of them and their professional lives are off to a great start. My son, Beau, just turned 21 and he is about to enter his senior year in college, and this is his last “free” summer before starting his career. I’m viewing this as a fantastic opportunity for us to solidify our father/son bond that we’ve been forging over the years. He’ll always be my son, but he’ll never be 21 again, so he’s joining me on this adventure.
How would you describe your perfect day? Would it be seeing your daughter get married? Sipping fine wine in Tuscany? Walking a pristine beach in Hawaii? Or something simpler, like spending quality time with your family while cooking ribs on the grill? We’re going to do all those things this summer and much, much more. Here’s an example of a typical week we have planned this summer:
Steak Sunday – It’s a tradition at our house to cook steaks every Sunday. I’ll walk you through the process of preparing and cooking the perfect steak!
Margarita Monday – I have a margarita recipe that has won every margarita competition it’s ever entered. I’ll share it with you!
Tattoo Tuesday – we’re inviting our followers to submit tattoo designs to commemorate our best summer ever, then Beau and I will get the winning tattoo! (It’ll be my first one)
Workout Wednesday – Beau is a fitness fanatic and he’ll share how he gained 25 pounds of pure muscle in the past year. I’m on the other end of the spectrum and trying to lose weight, so I’ll share the safe and easy way I lost 25 pounds in just four months.
Deep Thoughts Thursday – We’ll get into the nitty gritty of life and address how to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. We’ll include special guests to share their personal stories and advice.
Fishing Friday – We’re headed to the Gulf of Mexico to see who can catch the biggest fish! The loser must kiss the winner’s largest fish.
Supercar Saturday – we’re renting a supercar for the day and will put it through its paces. Will it be a Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ferrari? Tune in and find out!
The best part of all is that you’ll be joining us on our journeys! We’re going to document the entire thing on social media, interview amazing guests on our weekly podcasts and take suggestions from our followers as to what our next adventure ought to be. And I promise this won’t be one of those “look how fabulous my life is” influencer feeds. I certainly don’t have all the answers and the advice I will dispense is intended for my son’s benefit. I simply want to step off the hamster wheel for a while, embrace this moment in my life and hopefully pass along some wisdom that Beau can use as he wraps up his degree and plans his career. We’re going to tackle some hefty topics that all fathers and sons should discuss, including mental health, relationships, careers, etc. You’ll hear perspectives from both sides: me at the end of my career and him at the beginning of his. You’ll learn a lot along the way, and so will we. Each week, we’ll answer questions submitted by our followers during the podcasts – so please engage with us as we embark upon having the greatest summer ever!
