Did you know there are houses built on swampland?
The uncertainty of life is much like a swamp: unstable ground will pull us under, while carefully laid pillars may keep us high and dry for decades to come.
We all know the dangers of building our trifecta of body/mind/spirit on unstable ground. If you’re like me, you may be staring down the next decade wondering how long we can keep neglecting health and wellbeing before it’s too late. At 40 years old, there’s a lot of metaphorical earthquakes and flooding heading my way in the near future. The way I figure it, If I don’t rebuild a solid foundation now, I’ll regret it soon enough.
We Always Think There’s Time, Don’t We?
For the last fifteen years, I’ve been pushing hard to figure out this “success” thing and ignoring self-care in general. There’s always an intention to exercise, to eat right, to meditate—but day after day those simple habits take a back seat to other things.
Things that seem more important at the time.
For years, I’ve tried halfheartedly to incorporate exercise, nutrition, and meditation into my life. Yet each day is ruled by the next task to finish, the next deadline to complete, the next appointment to satisfy. Surviving in today’s world is centered around money, resources, and keeping up with obligations to family. So many days, weeks, even months go by without breathing room to start something new for future well-being.
For a long time, I’ve relied on the idea that I was young and could handle a few neglected years—when I’ve succeeded, I’ll have more time and money to focus on it properly.
Fifteen years in, that success is elusive as ever. My health, on the other hand, has taken a noticeable hit.
How much further will my body bend before it breaks?
Sidenote
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Starting Off On The Right Step
The very first brick in a sturdy foundation has been a mystery to me: where does one begin? With so many habits to build, change, or destroy, how do we choose which one to focus on first? Years of countless attempts and hundreds of hours of research have brought me to a singular, most important habit that shines above the rest: