“We don’t die of a heart attack, we die of a dead end.”
He remembered Norway: he turned on the television and there was a session with a real psychotherapist. Calm, honest, respectful. No charlatans, no slogans. Just someone who helps.
“And with us, it’s the opposite. Television personalities can treat like doctors, but they do the opposite.”
“The goal is what protects the heart.”
His generation was born into war. They weren’t pampered. No one gave them “mindfulness coaching.” They were told:
“Be a hero. Build a country. Be better than yesterday.”
And it was the goal, Chazov said, that saved the day: it mobilizes the body, maintains the inner pivot, and prevents collapse. Without a goal, we lose support and sink into discouragement, which is extremely dangerous for the heart.
To live a long life, you must first strengthen your nervous system. Optimism and determination are the most important remedies.
He saw how discouragement destroys people, even the young, even the strongest. And this is not a metaphor, but a reality of medicine and life.
“It’s worth fighting for. Even when it seems too late.”
Today, Chazov’s name is heard less often. He’s no longer mentioned on every blog. And perhaps that’s a good thing. He was one of those who healed, not one of those who dispensed empty advice. One of those who worked, not one of those who built an image.
Yet there is one piece of advice he gives us that bears repeating:
Remove one item from your home: the television. Instead, go outside, get some fresh air, and chat with a friend. Your heart will thank you.
The human heart is an extraordinary organ. It doesn’t just pump blood. It remembers those who have hurt, comforted, and saved. And, strange as it may seem, it forgives everything. The most important thing is to never stop listening to it.
Amid the noise of the news, the whirlwind of business, and the relentless pursuit of success, it’s easy to forget a simple truth: life isn’t a sprint. It’s a journey. And if we travel it with love, with quiet perseverance, and with care for ourselves and those around us, then our hearts will remain strong.
Your life is not a clock that needs to be speeded up. It’s a garden that needs to be watered. And the heart is its roots.
