We Have One Shot at This

I've been away for awhile and, admittedly, it has been an odd and difficult last several weeks. In this time though, I've had the fortune (some at least) of a new realization. This new - yet so obvious - notion is that we really just have one chance to get ourselves right. 

What kind of pressure is that?

My grandmother very recently passed away after having lost a bout with pneumonia, a bout that largely occurred because of inactivity. For as amazing of a woman as she was (and she truly was), many of her health issues were self-imposed. Over time, each issues compounded the next issue, until there was no more overcoming the adversity.

I realized over the last couple of weeks that we have to be in charge of our bodies, and if we're not at least trying, we're failing ourselves and doing our bodies a great and potentially great injustice. In the wake of a personal tragedy, me and others close to me have found some newly added motivation to push ourselves to be in the best shape and best health that we can possibly achieve.

These sort of life events put into perspective the broader impacts of simply not taking the best care of yourself that you possibly can. I mean, just think about the ramifications and effects that would be had if you suddenly fell ill. What would happen to the people that depend on you? How would the people that are dear to us be impacted? It's a new and very personal motivation that is simply something that had never truly occurred to me in any meaningful way. 

I find that I've been working out harder, dieting better, and focusing more on those things that it takes to pursue the fitness levels needed to be at my best not just for me but for the people around me too. I urge you to take some time to think about the people close to you too and to harness them close to fuel your motivations. We only have one shot at a healthy and fit body and we might never know what kind of impact can be felt if we don't take the time to maintain and build upon what we have. 

This kind of thinking is truly brand new to me. Of course, I still have all of the same goals as I've already set, but there are certainly a completely new set of motivations that will hopefully allow me to be there for the family and friends I have now and new additions in the future.