Invest in Yourself

If you were offered the opportunity to purchase a magic pill that would guarantee a long, healthy life, would you buy it? If so, how much would you pay? How much are you willing to invest in yourself? In an era in which the cost of healthcare is skyrocketing, Americans are seeking ways to reduce costs. Further, the value of illness/disease prevention is being recognized and rising in parallel. Unfortunately, as is the case with investments, there is no “magic pill” or guarantee for future outcomes, but there are many ways in which you can increase your likelihood of success.

Most of us generally know what’s required to stay healthy… diet… exercise… stress reduction… but it’s so hard to get started and/or stay on track. Ted and I are both hovering around significant birthday milestones and found ourselves refocusing on our health and wellness. It is our desire to live not only long, but active lives. We measure the joy in life not by years but rather by its joyful experiences.

We were fortunate to meet some healthcare professionals who focus on wellness rather than treating sickness. With their help, we added extra emphasis to our overall wellness—physical, mental, and emotional. For the past couple of years, we have benefited from customized nutritional supplements, physical recovery methods which optimize exercise, and programs centered on mental and emotional well-being. All of these efforts required investments of time and money—and it’s 100% worth it! The success can be measured in higher energy levels, improved mental acuity, reduced aches and pains, and even slimmer waist lines!

Now, just to be clear, we haven’t morphed into clean-eating, gym rats. Our pantry is still lined with pop-tarts and potato chips, and Ted recently put a moratorium on my famous, homemade pimento cheese (Seriously, it’s ridiculous! Contact me for the recipe.) because we were incapable of not finishing the entire batch in one sitting. The difference is that we approach life with a better balance of indulgence and discipline. Plus, we embrace this lifestyle together, and encourage one another to both enjoy the queso and run an extra mile the next day.

When we are working with clients, an important aspect of our engagement is to encourage proactive wellness measures. You will never see these benefits in the performance of your investment portfolio, but you can experience them in your relationships and personal well-being. This is not about the money, but it sounds like a richer life to me!