Taking life for granted.

I’ve been listening to a lot of PRI radio these days. I go through phases of it. Eventually I get tired of listening to music radio, especially when none of the recent new releases grab my attention, and I’ll drift over to Terry Gross and Todd Mundt and Marty Moss-Coane. Then the time will come when I become bored with invisible talking heads, and I head back to my beloved WXPN and its eclectic mix of music again.

Monday I listened to Christopher Reeve being interviewed. He seems to be everywhere these days, promoting his new book, talking about the most recent advances in recovery he’s made (which qualify as nothing short of miraculous) and speaking out for stem cell research. He’s smart and articulate, and I enjoyed listening to the interview more than I expected I would. (If anyone cares, the interview is archived at Fresh Air’s site at Fresh Air Archived Shows. Towards the end of the interview, he trotted out an old chestnut that made me cringe though.

Terry Gross had asked him if he were ever jealous of those around him who weren’t confined to a wheelchair and breathing apparatus. Reeve mentioned that there were times he’d watch someone simply get up and stretch and feel envious. I could understand that, and the sentiment really hit home for me. Then he had to go and ruin it.

He went on to further say that he wished all people could appreciate what they have when they are healthy and have no disabilities. It’s a fine sounding sentiment: revel in your good fortune of being normal, step back and understand how lucky you are. But when I think about it, that’s really the last thing I’d wish on a healthy person.

Part of being healthy is the ability to take certain things for granted. While it is nice to take a step back from yourself once in a long while and think “Wow, it feels really good to move/see/hear/talk/smell/eat/breath/brusth my teeth, comb my hair/fart today”, it isn’t reasonable nor even desirable to live your life like that. Indeed, one runs the real danger of coming across rather sanctimonious if they are constantly praising the norm.

I’m housing a liver that is going about its business dying a slow, protracted death. It makes me appreciate what I once had. Having said that, I do not wish my readers to sit back and think “I’m so glad my liver is continuing to produce bile and break down toxins and process red blood cells”. That’s just plain ridiculous. It ruins the whole point of having a healthy liver. If I ever do say that I hope none of you take your livers for granted, it is my most fervent wish that you all take up a collection and hire Arnold Schwarzenegger to put me in my place. I’ll throw in the first ten bucks.

Take good health for granted. I whole-heartedly approve. It’s the best way to live life. It’s the best way to appreciate being healthy. That does not mean go out and abuse your body or take stupid risks. There’s a difference between preserving your good health and admiring your good health, after all. But if you live sensibly, you’ve probably got better things to do than sing the praises of how lucky you are to be healthy. So go out and do them.