Hal was puffing pretty hard when he came through the back kitchen door. He walked over to the cupboards, grabbed a glass, and went to the fridge to grab the water pitcher. He poured a tall glass and drank it thristily. “A healthy habits app a day keeps the doctor away,” he muttered as he looked at his phone.

Sal, who was sitting at their small kitchen table looked up from his cereal bowl and asked, “Don’t you mean an apple a day? That’s what keeps the doctor away.”

“Well, yeah, that too,” replied Hal between breaths. “But, I was talking about my new app. It’s all about making me get better at healthy habits. Here…see?” Hal pressed a couple of buttons on his phone before turning it toward Sal.

Sal leaned across the table to look and partially tipped his bowl over letting out a small puddle of pink-colored milk onto the table. “Oops,” he said as he continued to lean and look at Hal’s phone app.

“Yeah, so? It looks like a lotta other apps I’ve seen. Does it have any guns or fast cars or zombies or anything?” questioned a doubtful Sal.

“No, but that’s not a bad idea…hmmm,” pondered Hal. He was pulled back from his mini-daydream when Sal yanked his phone away. “Hey!” said Hal.

“So, what do you use this for..telling you when to drink water? This looks really dumb.” Sal slid the phone back across the table to Hal.

“No, idjit,” Hal snorted. “I record what I do using the app. It helps me get clear on stuff that’ll keep me healthy and ways to make good ideas into good habits. Healthy habits. I’m wanna be in great shape come basketball season next year and instead of always just saying I’m gonna do stuff to get in shape, this app helps me actually get stuff done.”

Sal said, “So, who needs an app to get stuff done. Just do it. Ain’t that what Michael always said?”

“Well, we’re not all as motivated as Michael Jordan, ya know. Look at you. You been telling mom that you were gonna quit sneaking late night cookies, but you still do,” Hal chided as he pointed to Sal’s tummy which was pushing his tee shirt out more each day.

“Yeah…so…so…shut up. It’s hard to change,” Sal defended.

“Exactly, my little genius bro,” answered Hal. “Getting from unhealthy habits to healthy habits is all about change. And change is hard. Pretty much for anybody. But, little tools like this can help keep you focused and keep you on track help. That’s why they called this app, “Healthy Habits“, ’cause it’s all about making new, better, habits. Once something’s a habit, it’s easy to stick with. Getting from bad habits to good ones is the hard part. Not matter who you are.”

“You’re telling me, ” sighed Sal as he looked longingly at the beckoning cookie jar on the kitchen counter. “OK, lemme see that app again.
 

Dr. Gregg
Posted – May 15, 2012