Life Choices

Have you ever heard the saying “Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as the result of hard work” by Booker T. Washington, the famous educator, author and advisor to U.S. Presidents Roosevelt and Taft? Essentially it means that it requires discipline and willpower to have the better things in life. You might ask what those better things are. Well, let’s look at good health and fitness. Individuals that are in great shape have invested the time and effort into themselves to be that way. It meant sacrificing a snooze on the couch for a workout, skipping that late night snack of a bowl of ice cream and eating instead a handful of almonds, or taking the stairs at work versus the elevator every day.

There was an interesting picture on Facebook the other day. It showed two images of women that were the same age, in their 70s. One image, the woman pictured was in fantastic shape. In fact, she was actually wearing a bikini! In the other picture, the same aged woman was in a wheel chair. She looked tired, out of shape, and not particularly happy. The caption at the bottom asked “Which one would you like to be?” I would venture to guess that every single one of us would pick the younger looking version of the two, the one in the bikini. But what created the difference between the two women? Hard work. One made a series of life choices that added up to a healthy lifestyle and a higher quality of life. The other? Well, other life circumstances may have led to the wheelchair, but the fundamental message is the same. It takes a daily commitment to oneself to achieve more in life.

Wellness is a state of mind, but also a lifestyle as well. And while it may be difficult at times to sustain, the end result will definitely be worth it.