Short-Term Costs, Long-Term Dividends

A few years ago, I had some routine blood work done.  When the results came back, my doctor told me my cholesterol was too high and that I needed to start taking statins.  I told her, “I’d like to see if I can take care of this myself first.”  That wasn’t the response she was expecting.   The conversation became a little uncomfortable after that. I’ll paraphrase, but she essentially said, “You don’t really want to have a stroke or something worse and have your partner changing your diapers, do you?”  To say I was mortified would be an understatement.  I understand she was trying to make a point, but hearing that certainly got my attention.

Still, I wasn’t ready to give up on myself.  I asked for three months to see what would happen if I became more intentional about my health.  So that’s what I did.  I started eating better and moving more.  Nothing heroic; I simply made better choices more consistently.

Over those three months, I lost 17 pounds and a couple of inches from my waist.  More importantly, I felt better.  I had more energy. I moved better. I could bend over and tie my shoes without huffing and puffing, I felt like I was finally cooperating with my body instead of working against it.

When it came time for my follow-up appointment, I had another round of blood work done.  The results came back and indicated that my cholesterol had dropped considerably.  My doctor looked at the numbers and then looked at me.  She said, “In my twenty-two years of practicing medicine, I’ve only had one other patient do what you just did.”  That statement has stayed with me ever since. Not because I felt special but because it made me realize how often we underestimate our ability to improve our own lives.

We live in a world that loves quick fixes and instant results. Most of us know what we should be doing but knowing and doing are two very different things.

Recently I came across a quote from James DiNicolantonio that perfectly captures what I’ve been thinking about:

“If you think nutritious food is expensive, try illness once.”

“If you think lifting weights is dangerous, try being weak.”

“If you think fitness is time consuming, try waiting in a doctor’s office.”

“Short-term costs pay long-term dividends.”

The older I get, the more wisdom I see in those words.

These days, I think a lot about growing older; not with fear but with intention.

I think about my weight, my flexibility, my mobility, and my mental sharpness. I think about being able to enjoy long walks with Sam and Cooper. I think about continuing to serve my clients, travel, enjoy life, and stay active for as many years as possible.  None of us gets to stop aging but we do get some influence over how we travel that road.

The future version of ourselves is being built by the choices we’re making right now.  I’m not sharing this because I’ve figured everything out-far from it.  I’m sharing it because I’m still working on it every day.  I’ve spent plenty of years making choices that didn’t serve me very well. These days, I’m trying to make a few more choices that do.  Not perfectly of course but consistently.

And maybe that’s the lesson.

We don’t have to become a completely different person overnight.  Sometimes all it takes is making one better choice today than we made yesterday.  Over time, those choices add up and the dividends can be remarkable.

If this inspires you to take a walk, make a healthier choice, or simply check in with yourself, then it was worth writing. And if you happen to be thinking about buying or selling a home along the way, I’d be happy to help with that too.