There is nothing sadder in professional sports than to see a player that had a great career try to continue to play when his (or her) skillsets start declining. I remember one of the best baseball players of all time, Willie Mays, finishing his playing career with the Mets and to watch him at the end was very sad indeed. He could not run fast, his bat speed was slow and it was clear that he should have retired earlier. As a fan, you want the lasting memories of your favorite players to be how they played in their “glory days” and not as washed-up older players.
Knowing when to “call it quits” extends way beyond the sporting world and we all need to confront this concept as this relates to the various aspects of our lives. For example, if someone’s job entails lots of physical work such as lifting heavy objects, back issues may not allow the person to perform well on the job and also may cause further damage. That person should definitely consider “calling it quits”.
As a doctor, I sometimes think how long I will be able to practice medicine and maintain the sharpness and mental acuity necessary to deliver the type of care my patients deserve. I know it will be difficult to do this, but if circumstances change, I must be willing to “call it quits” as opposed to jeopardizing patient care.
Now, let’s focus on behavioral aspects that may need to be “quit” when the situation dictates this from a health standpoint. For example, if a person is used to drinking 2-3 alcohol drinks per night, and are told by the doctor that liver enzymes are elevated and blood pressure is high, “calling it quits” on drinking alcohol can be a life saver. If night time snacking leads to weight gain and all of a sudden diabetes is diagnosed, “calling it quits” on the snacking is imperative.
Your body and perhaps your family and doctor can help YOU decide when to “call it quits” as this relates to your health situation. Know when to say when! Our “Glory Days” may be behind us but this does not mean that we cannot still enjoy a very happy life.
Enjoy “The Boss”
