Advice for President Obama on Staying on Course!

Max's advice for March 12, 2009

Dear President Obama,

Max grew up as the son of a man who knew 'ALL' the answers to the problems of the world. Max's father said so! Many times, his father let everyone know that anyone who didn't know that he had the answers was a turkey or a knucklehead.

The famous Ma Bell, the second most powerful force in the world (next to God of course), thought so much of Max's father's opinions that she made him 'Supervisor of Troubles'. This is true!

The advice Max promised you, President Obama.

Take care of yourself so that you can stay focused!

Max has had the personal experience of losing focus when his health and rest are not what they should be. If Max loses focus, all that happens is he might forget to put out the trash.

Mr. President, when you let yourself go, you risk starting a fight with Congress or worse.

You look pretty good these days, but looks can be deceptive. You need to make sure that you are doing everything you can to make sure your physical and mental condition stays top notch.

You probably know exactly what you need to do. That said, it is easy to start slipping off the tried and true when everyone is pressing you for a small piece of your time.

You need to make sure your Chief of Staff sets aside enough time in your day for at least a solid half hour of vigorous physical activity (more if possible). He also needs to set time for you to be alone with your wife and children (world emergencies excluded).

And you need to set some time aside for your wife and each of your children separately during the week. Keeping peace at home can go a long way to enabling you to keep peace in the world.

Make sure the meals that you are eating are nutritious and balanced. With a private staff to prepare your meals, you will run the risk of having every delicious food ever invented available. Your chef and cooks need to be concious of what foods will keep you in top shape while providing variety and sufficient nutrition.

Of course, the American people understand you are a recovering smoker. Some of the events on the world stage may seem to justify a smoke. You know better and you need to find something less unhealthy to distract you.

As president, you represent the American people on the world scene. You are reported to have a good sense of humor. This can help you keep your mental health, but be sure you know how your guests or hosts handle jokes before you practice on them.

Humor is supposed to take years off a person's life. You can always hold your jokes for the press (off the record of course).

Look for ways to make sure that you are not neglecting any of the important elements of your physical, emotional and mental health. Generally as people get into a job, like president, they begin to slowly get into ruts without seeing themselves slip.

Sometimes this leads to problems at home (bad behavior), other times it leads to losing moral ground (lying) and sometimes it creates problems everywhere (keeping secrets).

If you find some part of your life isn't working all that well (and I am not saying this is the case), you need to step back and re-access what is going on.

You need to remember Mr. President that you, not the people around you, are ultimately in charge. You decide how many hours you give to work, family, hobbies and community.

Max wishes you well in all your efforts to stay healthy in the middle of the madness.

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Link one is an article on emotional health by a doctors' organization.

Link two is on the U.S. Government on preventative services.

Link three is a site on health preservation through exercise.