I recently had conversations with two of my older brothers, and both times we discussed health, happiness, and money. I always enjoy discussing health and happiness, and it's even better when others bring up the topics in casual conversations.
One brother called to share that he had received a sizable amount of money and was checking to see if I needed anything. We chatted and laughed about his "windfall" for a while. However, the conversation took a serious turn when he mentioned that, given his age, the money didn't mean much to him.
"Don't get me wrong now, Myrtle," he said, "I'm glad to get it, but it just doesn't excite me. He has struggled with insomnia for a few years and said he would gladly return every dime of the money just to be able to sleep at night like most folks do. "But naw, this money can't buy me that. You know, now that I'm older, I understand what our grandparents meant when they said money won't buy you happiness. I thought they said it because they didn't have much money. But they knew exactly what they were talking about."
The second conversation ended on a similar note. This brother called to catch up with what was happening with the family and mentioned the possibility of visiting this month if he could fit it into his softball games. "I play two days a week, so I'll see if I can arrange a quick trip; you know I can't miss my games," he said. Now, this is a 74-year-old who gets as excited about playing baseball today as he did over forty years ago when he began playing. Staying active has always been a top priority for him.
We joked about our brother's big windfall and speculated about what he might have done with it when he was younger. "You know," he said, "You don't think this way when you're young, but you need a certain amount of money to live comfortably, but if you are healthy, you are rich. These kids need to know that." "And so do adults," I added.
It's great that we brothers share the same perspective on money, happiness, and health. However, the sad truth is that many people are willing to spend thousands of dollars on cars and hundreds of thousands on houses, but when it comes to investing in nutritious food and items that contribute to take care of their bodied, the first words out of their mouth is, "It cost too much."
There are at least four types of wealth: Financial (money), Social (status), Time (freedom), and Physical (health). If your financial and social wealth take away from your time and physical wealth, you're in serious trouble when your health fails. At that point, you are no better off than the pauper on the streets.
When you're grateful for your body, you won't hesitate to invest time and money in things that keep it functioning at optimal level. Why? It's simple: you know that your health is all you need to keep moving forward and enjoying the good life!
We're quick to take stock of our finances, but when did you last take a health inventory?
When was the last time you counted your blessings? Do you know it's an excellent starting point for appreciating your true wealth? Need help getting started? Contact me at smallchange@myrtlerussell.com
Want more wellness tips? Read my small change blog at https://www.myrtlerussell.com/blog
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