Take a quick scan of you. What parts of you do you label as “bad” vs. “good?” Why is it bad? Is that truth? Do you think that needs to remain fact? Are you sure?

Your brain is a powerful force for good … or bad. Very powerful. Super power. To your health, please use it for good vs. evil. Your lovely live-well life deserves it. And needs it.

I absolutely refuse to define myself by disease. Even though I have an item or two that is considered to last a lifetime. Honestly, I rarely think about it. When someone asks me — surprised that I ever was seriously ill — what I have or have had, I truly have to stop and think. And I usually forget a few things. And, that, my dear friend, is a very good thing.

I’ve heard too many people refer to “my” arthritis or “my” fill-in-the-blank-health-thing. Don’t claim it. Kick its ass to the curb. You may need to navigate it; you still don’t have to claim it. Refer to it as little as possible, and, when you have to, don’t call it “my” anything. Use the cold, hard facts, m’am.

It’s a learning process. Catch yourself today; be glad you caught it; keep practicing. It doesn’t happen overnight, and that’s fine. You’re making progress.

I caught myself recently noting that my “good” ankle was hurting. Uh oh! That immediately brought me up short because I had overlooked my still-continued reference to my other ankle, my poor, “bad” ankle. (That earned its reference because of the metal it’s put together with along with a couple other injuries it’s been through. Poor ankle – it deserves love, not name-calling.)

It’s an ankle, pure and simple. The other ankle is still an ankle. It gets me around just the same as the other one. It even allowed me to build to 5K running — for the first time in my mid-50s. Fact is that it’s built somewhat of metal. Fact is that it needs regular stretching to keep functional. However, the fact is not that it’s “bad.”

Seem irrelevant? It isn’t, I promise you. Your terms influence both how your body reacts and how you feel about how well you are. It even plays a role in what you’re likely to do to get or remain well. Sure, there is science blah-blah-blah about the power of your brain and its thoughts. You probably know enough of it by now. So, don’t worry about that — what does it hurt to try? Stop talking so much about whatever ails you — currently, in the past, what might occur in the future. Talk about the beautiful blue sky, the flowers, the kind stranger who held a door for you. Talk about anything but negatives related to your health.

People often have claimed that it’s superficial when someone says, “Hey, how are you?” and we nearly always reply, “Fine, thanks!” Maybe not. Maybe it’s better to claim “fine” vs. a long, detailed list of ills.

Think up, not down. Enjoy life on an upswing, not down. Love your body and all its parts. It’s good for your well being on every level.