Life From Two Perspectives

There are many different factors involved determining whether you are more likely to follow the people in the top row of pictures or the bottom row of pictures throughout life. Both lifestyles offer challenges and difficulties. Both lifestyles require sacrifice and compromise. Why then, has almost 75% of the U.S. population followed the path of the top row?

• IT’S EASIER– but is it? Is it easier to have less energy? Is it easier to live with more health problems (ex. high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, fibromyalgia, cardiac disease, etc…)

• COMFORT FOODS FEEL GOOD– but do they? Does it feel good to have indigestion, colon spasm or constipation, joint pain from chronic inflammation or poor circulation from atherosclerosis (thickening of the inner lining of the blood vessels compromising blood flow.)

• LIMITED TIME–  but doesn’t everyone have the same 24 hour day? Doesn’t disease, degeneration and depression diminish our limited time to an even greater extent than a healthy lifestyle?

• FINANCIAL COST– but doesn’t sedentary living cost even more? If we eat out of boredom, anger and frustration in addition to our regular meals, is our money not wasted on unnecessary foods? If our dietary habits make us prone to disease, will it not cost more to restore health? Will we not require recurring costly prescription medications year after year?

• LIMITED RESOURCES– but don’t libraries offer free sources of information? Don’t youth centers, religious organizations and volunteer groups offer their services to help overcome these challenges?

WHAT ABOUT THE SECOND ROW OF PICTURES?

• IT’S HARDER– but is it? Our bodies are designed for motion. Motion is necessary to maintain function. Maintaining a healthy body is EASIER than “fixing” (or more accurately treating FOREVER) recurring health problems.

• HEALTHY FOODS ARE BORING AND BLAND– but are they? Pinterest is just one site that offers countless healthy meals that are quick to prepare offering satisfying flavor and taste. They accommodate all types of budgets as well.

• EXERCISE REQUIRES TIME– but does it require substantially more time (over a lifetime) than sedentary living? Sick days, injury days, doctor office visits, rehabilitation, emergency room visits and hospital stays require a great deal of time. Exercise can increase your productive time by improving BOTH physical ability and mental clarity. Accomplishing tasks more efficiently while staying healthy produces greater free time.

• TOO MANY FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES– but couldn’t we make children part of the solution? Couldn’t we take them shopping and let them help by choosing a few healthy food options to purchase? Couldn’t we take them for walks to reduce their sedentary computer time and help satisfy their exercise needs as well as ours? Couldn’t we create family time to share articles among family members that discuss healthy lifestyle choices?

It all comes down to PERSPECTIVE. We can continue to make excuses or we can become creative and discover solutions. Is it worth joining the majority and following the aging process of those in the top row of pictures or joining the minority and following the aging process of those in the bottom row of pictures? It doesn’t matter what stage of life you currently find yourself, answers can be found to improve your outcome and your families outcome.

 This might not be your goal as a senior citizen, but wouldn’t it be nice to have the choice?

Consider improving your choices in life today so you can dictate the available choices in the future.

Tags: food, health, lifestyle, nutrition, preventative health, Quality of living, success