I was in a situation today where a group of people were sadly discussing the unexpected passing of a fellow employee over the weekend. Preliminarily, it looks as if he may have had a fatal heart attack. He was late 50-ish, early 60's from all accounts, and this loss was TOTALLY unexpected. He was well loved, had a family, and brought joy to his colleagues. And he was obese.

I then proceeded to watch all those same individuals having the conversation load their plates with potato salad, corned beef, bacon, fatty ham, artery clogging cheeses, and enough ounces of other assorted lunch meats on each sandwich to feed several people.

I couldn't help thinking about all the nitrates, the high sodium, the sugars added in processing, the high fat content and all the other concerns that I had as each obese person at this event continued to pile their plates. Interestingly, not ONE of them added the lettuce garnish or tomato to their sandwiches.

It was an ironic moment watching each of these individuals contribute to their own poor health with the decisions they were making at just one meal,...with an audience. It was as if they were oblivious to the consequences of putting those kinds of foods in your body on a regular basis. Taking their own health and longevity in their own hands...and mouth, over lunch.

Wow. I can't help but deduce that as a rule, people just don't connect actions with consequences!

I thought back to a moment this very morning (the same day) that had me taken aback and reflecting on the image I present. One of my co-workers came in this morning with a bag of bagels and offered both myself and a colleague of mine (also health conscious) her bagels should we ever have the urge or have forgotten our lunches. She added, "...not that you guys eat a whole one, but you can always split one and each eat half."

I am happy today that I can at least model for others the behaviors I hope the people of this country can all someday adopt. I am sad for obesity in America today as it has apparently claimed one more life.