401K Health
Every few months some financial firm will send you a statement telling you how much is in your 401K account. Now, if you are like many Americans, you put a portion of your paycheck towards a company sponsored fund that is suppose to "protect your future." So mindlessly, you just go along with an say to yourself "They are the experts, they know what they are doing, I will be fine." You kept spending money like it was going out of style because the 401k was going to take care of you. Completely hands off, never have to worry about it. And then, if you are like the millions affected in the past year, all of the sudden you are told you can't retire because someone did something to interest rates that affected home loans and consequently your 401K is half its value and you have been layed off. What happened?
Now lets look at you and your health. Everyday there are many factors that can affect your overall health encompassing exercise, diet, stress, pollutants in the air, genetics, and the list can go on forever. Like the 401K example, would you turn over your well being completely to someone else? Would you just assume because you look good on paper that you would never check you cholesterol, get annual exams, exercise 3-4 times a week, or eat a healthy diet? If someone just told you that "you are fine, you don't have to do anything" would you trust it?
I wouldn't because simply: there is no one invested more in your health than you. Picture what happened to those people who didn't watch their investments.....they can't retire and face a reality of working to the last day. Would you put yourself, your family, and your friends at risk because you don't want to take the time to learn more about how you can better your health? That would be crazy. Consider the following:
1. Its a marathon...not a race - Every January new resolutions are made and for the most part, over before Valentine's Day. Paying attention to your overall health is more like investing than your could ever imagine. Having a steady pace of exercise, check ups, good diet, lowering stress in your life, spending time with loved ones, and gaining self satisfaction from your endeavors will ensure that your IconoMe will stay strong. Always putting off the basic components of a healthy lifestyle is not different than buying a car with money you don't have. You convince yourself "I will pay it off eventually" but with your health there is no eventual...it is every day.
2. Its not rocket science - Honestly, I have no idea how the entire economic system works....it is too big! Japan sells some tuna to China and now my blue jeans cost $5 more. I will never understand that world but I do know a lot about myself because I am 100% invested in me. Taking the time to learn the basics is not hard and asking questions when you are talking to a health care professional will go a long way. Educate yourself on how to stay healthy and that power will last for years to come.
3. Its more than just about you - I have spent a lot of time talking about the "I" and "Me" but in reality we are not islands. We have families, friends, coworkers, and loved ones that depend on our efforts, time, and consideration to help them in their journey. Ignoring your own health affects everyone around you. Eating junk food for 30 years and sitting on the couch can result in Diabetes, costing considerable money, pain, and distress to you that ripples to everyone else around you. Being moody because your foot hurts may upset your spouse while not being able to play baseball with your children is an emotional connection that they will never develop with you. Furthermore, being sick all the time because of self-inflicted poor health can lead to many doctor visits, costing considerable amounts of money and time, even at times affecting your job which others may depend on. Your IconoMe reaches far and wide, no different that the world we are currently weathering.
We you sit down and think about your own health, ask yourself three questions:
"What do I want out of this life?"
"Who is going to be with me?"
"How am I going to be around to enjoy it?"
Start investing in your health....the dividends are limitless.
Now lets look at you and your health. Everyday there are many factors that can affect your overall health encompassing exercise, diet, stress, pollutants in the air, genetics, and the list can go on forever. Like the 401K example, would you turn over your well being completely to someone else? Would you just assume because you look good on paper that you would never check you cholesterol, get annual exams, exercise 3-4 times a week, or eat a healthy diet? If someone just told you that "you are fine, you don't have to do anything" would you trust it?
I wouldn't because simply: there is no one invested more in your health than you. Picture what happened to those people who didn't watch their investments.....they can't retire and face a reality of working to the last day. Would you put yourself, your family, and your friends at risk because you don't want to take the time to learn more about how you can better your health? That would be crazy. Consider the following:
1. Its a marathon...not a race - Every January new resolutions are made and for the most part, over before Valentine's Day. Paying attention to your overall health is more like investing than your could ever imagine. Having a steady pace of exercise, check ups, good diet, lowering stress in your life, spending time with loved ones, and gaining self satisfaction from your endeavors will ensure that your IconoMe will stay strong. Always putting off the basic components of a healthy lifestyle is not different than buying a car with money you don't have. You convince yourself "I will pay it off eventually" but with your health there is no eventual...it is every day.
2. Its not rocket science - Honestly, I have no idea how the entire economic system works....it is too big! Japan sells some tuna to China and now my blue jeans cost $5 more. I will never understand that world but I do know a lot about myself because I am 100% invested in me. Taking the time to learn the basics is not hard and asking questions when you are talking to a health care professional will go a long way. Educate yourself on how to stay healthy and that power will last for years to come.
3. Its more than just about you - I have spent a lot of time talking about the "I" and "Me" but in reality we are not islands. We have families, friends, coworkers, and loved ones that depend on our efforts, time, and consideration to help them in their journey. Ignoring your own health affects everyone around you. Eating junk food for 30 years and sitting on the couch can result in Diabetes, costing considerable money, pain, and distress to you that ripples to everyone else around you. Being moody because your foot hurts may upset your spouse while not being able to play baseball with your children is an emotional connection that they will never develop with you. Furthermore, being sick all the time because of self-inflicted poor health can lead to many doctor visits, costing considerable amounts of money and time, even at times affecting your job which others may depend on. Your IconoMe reaches far and wide, no different that the world we are currently weathering.
We you sit down and think about your own health, ask yourself three questions:
"What do I want out of this life?"
"Who is going to be with me?"
"How am I going to be around to enjoy it?"
Start investing in your health....the dividends are limitless.
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