Thursday Thoughts: No Guarantees

I sold my vehicle last week. It was eight years old but only had 70000 km (~43000 miles) on it. The fuel economy was decent for a 6-cylinder engine, but with the rising prices for gas (they kinda started coming down a bit), it was a factor in deciding to sell. The other factor was selling while it still had value and to avoid more repair bills. It was a reliable vehicle for the most part. In the last year thought, a few major repairs needed to be made. So I bought a newer one (4 years old) that was better on gas.

Any vehicle (or product for that matter) can break down at any time. Things break. Even new things. Anything with moving parts is susceptible to breakdowns.

Take the human body. I think I’m healthy. I eat well (usually), I exercise regularly (or am active), I don’t smoke (a cigar maybe once or twice a year), and I drink moderately.

What is considered moderate?

According to Health Canada:

Women:

• limit alcohol to no more than:
  • 2 standard drinks per day
  • 10 standard drinks per week
  • 3 standard drinks on special occasions
• avoid drinking alcohol on some days

Men:

• limit alcohol to no more than:
  • 3 standard drinks per day
  • 15 standard drinks per week
  • 4 standard drinks on special occasions

So, I’m good. I usually don’t drink more than one drink/occasion. I enjoy the taste of of most alcohol, but I do have my favorites. But, more than one becomes less enjoyable, just like one chocolate chip cookie is yummy, two is tasty, three is, well, not as good as the first.

Health Canada is currently working to change the guidelines (yeah, they’re going down). Will it change the consumption habits? Maybe. If the driving speed limit is 50, people will go 60, so if you want people to go 50, lower it to 40, most people will go 50.

What’s my point, you ask?
I didn’t, but go ahead.

The human body is a machine with moving parts, lots of them. All working together to keep us alive, but no matter how well you take care of it, things go wrong. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to take care of it to prolong its life.

Because you can’t sell it to get a better one.

Yet.

-Leon (going out for a run)

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Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/

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