This last weekend we had an opportunity to spend the weekend on Shaw Island, one of the San Juan Islands. Our friends are staying on a beautiful 17 acre parcel in an older home with a guest cabin, some outbuildings, 400 feet of waterfront, and even their own herd of “pet” deer.
The owners of the property are sweet, sweet people. As you look out over the water, the word that stands out in my mind is peaceful. What a wonderful place to spend your retirement years.
And I’m sure that was on the mind of the owners when they invested in the property. But unfortunately, as the story goes, no sooner than the husband reached his retirement years, he was struck with cancer and now resides in assisted living apartments in Seattle. Now he dwells in a 400 square foot, one bedroom, one bathroom apartment. He has had the property for sale for a number of years in hopes of affording a larger apartment unit.
Always remember this: your health is your greatest investment into your future. It is a common denominator to everything important to you in this life. If your work is important to you, your health allows you to do it. If your family is important to you, your health gives you time with them. If your relationships are important to you, your health gives you the energy to engage. If your home is important to you, your health gives you the perseverance to tend to its care. If your hobbies are important to you, your health lets you get the most out of your endeavors. The list goes on. Your health gives you time, energy, and perseverance to…live.
Yet so many people take their health for granted. They eat for entertainment only. They take exercise for granted. They take their posture and structure for granted. And then when something goes wrong, they wonder, How could this have happened? What did I do?
The question should be what did I not do?
Every morning you wake up, there is an opportunity to invest. Invest in your health. Invest in your future. To some, this may seem selfish. But the reality is that those who invest in their health are better prepared to accomplish their work with passion, see each of their children grow up to get married, participate in the lives of their grandchildren, grow in their friendships, keep their homes in good order, and take on their hobbies with intensity, usually for the benefit of others.
By investing in your health, you are investing in others.
Where are you investing your time and finances? Are you going to get the best return on your investment? Or are you running your life on default? Are you prepping yourself to hopefully sell everything so that you can have a larger apartment where you pay someone else to take care of you?
If you choose wisely, the choice should be clear. Your actions from here will shout your choice.
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