What Do You Take For Granted?

“To take for granted” means to underestimate the value of someone or something.  I think we can all relate to this….whether it is the relationships in our lives (our parents, spouse, significant other, children, friends) or whether it’s a job, a possession (a car for transportation, a house for shelter) or our health.   Most of the time we don’t realize it has happened until that person or thing is gone. I would bet most of us take our health for granted, especially when we are young. As long as nothing appears to be wrong with us physically, we don’t dwell on what could happen. Rarely do we take a proactive approach to our health until we actually get sick.

In my years as a corporate jet and helicopter pilot, I have had the privilege to fly very wealthy entrepreneurs, CEO’s, and even celebrities. In my observations, a lot of these individuals are not in good health. Their lifestyle affords them the best of everything, including the food they eat; but somehow their diet suffers in the big picture of their health.  One gentleman I flew was in a wheelchair because of a stroke he had years earlier, and he wasn’t even that old. His assistant told me that he would give up everything he had if he could get his health back.

I do not take my health for granted. I know that I can’t do the things I love…climb mountains, build a business, have a great family life, travel or pursue my dreams if I cannot get out of bed in the morning. I am proactive in what I feed my body, what I feed my mind, and the physical activity I do every day.

I am 58 years old, and I don’t have time to be sick. In fact, I plan to live to be 123!