We invest in our futures every day.

We attend school, put money into savings accounts, purchase life insurance, buy stocks and/or bonds, save for trips, cars, houses or for any number of activities we want to participate in or things we want to own.

We spend 5, 10, 15 or 20 years in jobs that will hopefully move us ahead in life to a place and time where we are able to afford all those things I just mentioned.

These are all things that we seem to do at times without question or hesitation. Then why do we struggle to put that same dedication and commitment into ourselves physically?

When we take the time to work on what makes us happy, whole and healthy we become so much more present in the moment and able to take part in the lives of those around us.

If you are a parent and you are putting time and effort into your health and well-being your children are most definitely watching you. This is only going to serve to create a generation of kids who understand that self-care is a right, that it is positive and that they too have the ability to be healthy and strong. By doing this you are not only investing in your future, you are investing in theirs.

So what is holding you back from investing in yourself?

Is it money? I know for a lot of us we are living simply paycheck to paycheck and there isn’t a whole lot of extra to go around. That doesn’t need to stop you. Instead start by moving EVERY DAY. Make better choices with food EVERY DAY. Consider manageable and sustainable changes to your lifestyle. You don’t have to walk out that door and run a marathon but do SOMETHING.

Choose to bike to work (cheaper than a car). Walk at your lunch hour. Go for a hike with a friend. Run with your four-legged canine family member. None of these things cost more than a pair of runners, a bike or your time however the gains you achieve from making these things priority are immeasurable.

I ignored investing in myself for a long time. I put everyone else and their needs ahead of mine and then I was told one day that I was at severe risk of death due to my weight. It took me another four years of living with that in the back of my mind to put on my own oxygen mask. The plane of my life was plummeting to the ground quickly and the people I cared about most were about to be victims of my crash. In order to not just be a memory in their lives I had to change my path and do everything I could to continue to be there for them.

Four years later and I finally understand that this is not a one time deposit. This is a life-long, annual review kind of situation. What can I do this year to try to make sure I’m here next year? What can I do now that will keep me on this path? How can I live my life in a way that will inspire  and motivate others to make the changes that they need to?

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing I hope that you’re able to find ways to invest in you, your health and your future today and that life provides you the opportunities to enjoy the returns!

Love D.

Photo Credit: Armando Tura