Zen

"You see, a man becomes older and feebler day by day. Take good care of yourself." -Ryokan

We can learn much from this Zen master. In this story of Ryokan, he went to set his nephew straight with some life lessons that the young man seemed he was immune to, as if time and laziness would not affect him ever. Too often do we slack off when involving our health. Generally, we wait until things get bad to "try" and make changes. But if you were to try and fix something that is broken, rather than maintaining it, the chances that it gets back to 100% are slim to none. Don't let your health go before it is too late.

Sit down, have a heart to heart with your inner being. Figure out who's the stronger one. Is it the one who always craves sugar, alcohol, or bad food in general? The one who wants to sit down and watch television and browse the internet throughout most of the day? Or is it the one who wants to be in charge of their life and enjoy every moment we have? The one who wants to shed 20 pounds and look and feel healthy and most of all BE healthy?

You do not know when your clock will stop ticking, so what are you waiting for? Do you need someone to tell you that you are "this close" to cancer or diabetes and if you don't make a change NOW you're in trouble? Do you need someone close to pass away due to an unhealthy life style in order to take charge of your own? Wouldn't you have liked to have been the example for that friend or family member who in turn died serving as your reminder?

We take things for granted on a daily basis. The ability to walk, the ability to see and hear, the ability run with your kids, the ability to even BE with your kids. We take for granted relative peace in our area, the beautiful outdoors EVEN when it is raining, the fact that we can breathe clean air and drink clean water. What is it going to take to finally say, "Time to take charge and be healthy."? Living healthy isn't boring, like many force themselves to believe. When you can rid the body of the addiction to sugar, rid the body of its need to sit in front of the television or internet, rid the body of consistent lethargy, then YOU finally get to see just how pleasant life can be. Step up and say enough.

You don't need junk food, or processed food for that matter. You don't need sugar, or coffee & energy drinks (get sleep), or alcohol, or cigarettes, or drugs, or anything else we find addicting. You don't need the television or the internet. The world wont go anywhere if you cut back your brain dead moments to a few minutes per day. You have time to go take a walk, or exercise, or see something insightful, or try something new. DO NOT convince yourself you don't, because then the laziness has already won!

Go out there and live your life, because there isn't any evidence that suggests you get another one. There are millions who'd give almost anything to be in most of our shoes. Don't take that for granted!!!

Stay Happy, Healthy, and Ready for Anything!