In Reflection: Could You Do Better?
Could you do better? Is there anyone out there who has the audacity to say that they can’t do better than they already have? Perhaps so, but for those of us who lack this god-complex of arrogance understand that our health and fitness is something we should treat more seriously. A balanced viewpoint understands that lifelong health is a never-ending journey, marked by consistent improvement, as I’ve already mentioned.
Last week I went out for dinner with some friends. Because I hate spending money, I bought the dinner special: a $10 burger and fries, instead of the $14 salad. But both meals had over 1000 calories. The burger, to my amazement, had over 1700 calories alone! Clearly our culture has dropped the ball when it comes to the importance of a balanced diet…
There’s a person I know who regularly posts on Instagram some of the best content I’ve ever seen. Without going on too much of a tangent, just the other day they posted a quote. It said, “Things that promote health are expensive. Things that drive disease are cheap”. Consider this for a moment.
We’ve discussed various aspects of health and fitness this week, but never once did I reflect on the cost. Gym memberships aren’t cheap. Eating healthy costs more than a quick jaunt through McDonald’s. Living an active and healthy life comes at a price. But so does the alternative.
I’ve heard it said multiple times over that life is full of pain, but you choose the pain which you would like to endure. Every day we are presented with a question: “Are you willing to pay the price?” No matter what, the choices we make come at a price. The houses we live in, the cars we drive, and the phones we use are all a reflection of the answer to this question.
Drinking a bottle of wine each day will shorten your lifespan by a decade. Similarly, a BMI of 40 will shorten your life expectancy by roughly two decades. Smoking can prevent you from living past 65. I could keep on going…
Something as simple, yet as complicated, as our health shouldn’t be taken lightly. Being cognizant of our decisions and the paths they will lead us down is probably one of the most valuable pieces of insight a person can have.
When I was in elementary school, I used to eat Boston Crème toaster strudels for breakfast, until one day around 10am, I felt nauseated. For about a week, this persisted. I realized that my breakfast of choice was causing the pain. So, there I am, probably ten years old, giving up toaster strudels, pursuing a healthier alternative: waffles!
If nothing else, just take a minute to reflect on your health. What could you do better? Why should you do better? Ask yourself questions like these, and perhaps you’ll be surprised at the answers you’ll find. Look in the mirror and imagine what the best version of yourself could look like. Then strive to be that person, not for yourself, but for those around you.