Stop Smoking (if you do!)

If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey, it’s that none of us arrive at perfect health with a perfect history. I certainly didn’t.

I started smoking as a teenager. At first it was occasional, but by my early twenties I had become a regular smoker. I continued smoking until I was about 35 years old. Looking back, it’s hard to believe. But it was a different era. Cigarette packages didn’t carry the stark warnings we see today, and many of us were blissfully unaware of the long-term damage we were doing to our bodies. Thankfully, I eventually quit with the help of Hynotherapy, and never looked back.

Alcohol Was A Different Story

I wasn’t much of a drinker in my younger years, but around age 40 I developed a taste for wine. At first it was an occasional indulgence. Over time, it became a daily ritual. By age 50, two glasses of red wine in the evening had become my way to unwind after a busy day running a business and managing life’s responsibilities.

Then I discovered I was APOE4/4.

One of the first things I purchased after learning my genetic status was an Oura Ring. I wanted data. I wanted to understand what was happening inside my body instead of relying on assumptions.

What I saw surprised me.

Even moderate alcohol consumption was affecting my sleep. The impact was obvious once I started paying attention to the numbers. Sleep quality declined, recovery suffered, and I could no longer convince myself that my evening wine was harmless.

I stopped drinking wine at home and reserved alcohol for occasional dinners out or special events. What happened next was unexpected: I realized I didn’t really miss it.

Today, I rarely drink. On occasion I may have a glass of wine or even a martini. But it’s infrequent, and it’s never more than one drink.

I share this not because I’m suggesting that occasional alcohol is harmless. It may not be. The science on alcohol and brain health continues to evolve, and each of us must make our own informed decisions.

I share it because prevention isn’t about perfection.

It’s about making better choices more often than not.

For me, giving up my daily wine habit was a meaningful step forward. I don’t feel deprived. I don’t spend my evenings wishing I had a glass in my hand. In fact, I feel better without it.

And that’s a big win.

As you move through your own prevention journey, take an honest look at the habits that may no longer serve you. You don’t have to change everything overnight. Start with one thing. Then another.

Small changes, sustained over time, can transform your health and your future.