We are pretty lucky to have 3 healthy kids. I won’t lie, I take that granted. Not on purpose. Frankly, I forget the gift that they and their health are.
My wife and I are quite fortunate too. Sure we have some nicks and bruises and every now again our backs or shoulders feel a bit wonky. Another birthday year can do that to you. But we can certainly keep moving and if we are smart, those aches and pains do go away.
Disease was pretty strong on my dad’s side of the family. He lost his mom, dad, brother and sister all before they were 52 (mostly to cancer). Sometime around 23/24 (you know, that point when you realize a healthy diet of Wendy’s isn’t doing you any favors) I was doing a lot of reading of studies around nutrition and exercise and the impact both of those have on moving from disease to wellness to fitness. It’s not rocket science. I would even say it’s pretty obvious.
But around that point in my life I decided I was going to do everything in my power, through nutrition and exercise, to stay on the fitness side of the continuum because (and not to be dramatic) my (and your) life depends on it. I’ve talked about my dad who for 30+ years got up every morning before work and went for a run. I saw that. I watched him. And it impacted me.
Fast forward 15 years. Three kids (12, 10 and 7). My wife and I have tried hard to demonstrate to them a life of exercise and nutrition. That does not mean that chicken nuggets and french fries and ice cream are never consumed. But what we have come to see is that our kids watch us. Like it or not. We have a huge opportunity to show them wellness and fitness.
You may have kids. You may not. But we all can be the example – to our kids, our parents, our partner, our neighbors, our coworkers. Yeah they may call us the crazy people that get up at 4:30am to workout or the uptight ones that weigh their food. But they watch. And if they see a difference they will usually mask their admiration in comments like, “Well, you go to the gym… can you help move the couch?”
Be the example. Maybe your example will save a life – theirs or yours.