I chose a physician I had never met. She somehow knew to go easy on the "You should"s. Perhaps somewhere in my chart it said "Skittish about intervention" because she did not embarrass me for a lifetime of negligence. On the contrary she affirmed that my body works remarkably well. She did ask about nutrition. 

"Five to eight helpings of fruits and vegetables a day?" I reviewed the last twenty four hours. 

"Usually five. Not eight." I responded. 

At dinner that night I cut up red peppers, cucumbers, kiwi and apples. I put a bowl of fresh berries and cooked peas beside the pasta and tomato sauce. 

"Seven," I muttered. There was a jar of carrot juice behind the rice in the pantry and I set it on the table with glasses. Eight. I felt complete. 

I am not sure how long the suggestion will spur me to action, but here it is five days later and I am still chopping veggies. That is a good thing. 

John and I encourage couples to shoot for five minutes of appreciations each day. I have no way of knowing if the nudge has any impact or not. Except occasionally, someone will tell me that they have kept it up while they stir soup or drive to grandma's. 

Here is a refresher on how they work. Try variety, like including something spiritual, physical and mental. Stretch for something current and other things from a long time ago. Appreciate gestures offered to other people as well as to yourself and your children. 

Last night at a mentoring meeting one man said that his wife runs with their son, to connect with him. Another husband told us that his wife moved her exercise schedule to accommodate the rest of the family. 

The sweet thing is, once you get started you are more likely to keep going.