Okay, I have said this before. You have to put yourself first. Oh, and I know that many of my readers will think, “Right. Easier said than done!” But it is a fact. You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself. So, working on you is not selfish. It is the best thing you can do for others. A healthy you is the best you.
We all have people who depend on us and we need to be there for them. If we are sick and run-down, we can’t be available for the ones we love. So, let’s take a little time, every day, to put ourselves first. And, if it means spending a little money on ourselves, that is okay too.
One concern I always hear about is finances. And yes, money matters. We can’t and should not spend money we don’t have. No one is asking you to spend all you have or go into financial debt for yourself. But some finances have to be spent on you. You deserve some self-care.
As a matter of fact, at Forty Plus and Fit, we encourage fiscal responsibility, but don’t cheat yourself out of happiness. Don’t cheat yourself out of good health. You are your best investment.
The benefits of being healthy are numerous. And, as you enter into your 40s, 50s, and 60s, it even becomes more important. Healthline lists these ten benefits of regular exercise:
- It Can Make You Feel Happier
- It Can Help With Weight Loss
- It Is Good for Your Muscles and Bones
- It Can Increase Your Energy Levels
- It Can Reduce Your Risk of Chronic Disease
- It Can Help Skin Health
- It Can Help Your Brain Health and Memory
- It Can Help With Relaxation and Sleep Quality
- It Can Reduce Pain
- It Can Promote a Better Sex Life
A proper diet can also help you achieve these important goals. Exercise and diet are extremely important. Fact. Eating healthy can cost more than eating junk. Fact. Working out a quality gym is more expensive than a Netflix membership. Fact. Eating junk and binge-watching TV can make you fat and unhappy. Fact.
Now, we are going to drop the science and get down to the facts. It is okay to want to look good! It. Is. Okay. To. Want. To. Look. Good! Read it again and say it again. And don’t be ashamed. Be proud!!
We live in a society where people can be embarrassed to admit that they want to look their best. That is insane. There is nothing wrong with dressing nicely. There is nothing wrong with taking care of yourself and, yes, there is nothing wrong with wanting to look great, or, for that matter, looking sexy. Why not? We lived long enough to deserve it.
Now, some will say, “Hey, isn’t this about your health?” and I say, “YEP.” And, if while we are working on our health and fitness, we also take the time to look great, that is a double-bonus. I will not apologize.
Take the time and invest in yourself. You are worth it. Get that gym membership. Work with a trainer who cares about you. Buy food that is good for you. Eat to live and don’t live to eat. Every day get up and be the best you can be.
There is nothing wrong with LOVING YOURSELF! Period. Read it! Say it! Live it!! You deserve the best you can offer yourself. The beginning of loving others is loving yourself.
Forgive yourself if you’ve done wrong. Forgot the hurts that have been done to you. Live as if you never lived before. Enjoy every day and every minute. You are the only you, you will ever have. Live well!
Peace and Good Vibes,
Joseph St. John