This week’s blog is a little different in that we won’t talk just about money, but about investing in your physical and spiritual health.
A long-term friend of mine, Christopher Roberts*, passed away on Tuesday at the tender age of 31. He was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer two years ago and had aggressively fought it the entire time. He was engaged to our mutual college friend and their wedding was scheduled for 2018.
*You can read Chris’ story here and donate to The Colon Club in his memory if you would like.
His words in the article and all that he went through has really gotten me to thinking long and hard about my own health. Have I truly invested in my own health financially, physically and spiritually? When I think about all of these areas, these thoughts come to mind.
Financial Health Investment
Financially, I strongly advise that you consider a Health Savings Account (HSA), which allows you to set aside money to care for medical expenses. The funds are pre-taxed, meaning the money is deducted before taxes, thus lowering your taxable income (i.e. paying less taxes). Also, the funds roll over year after year and can be used on an ongoing basis for you and anyone else on your medical plan.
There are many more considerations to review before hopping on an HSA plan such as high deductibles, so I encourage you to find out more about an HSA here.
The alternative is the traditional healthcare plans (e.g. POS, PPO), which have higher premiums (what you pay each month) but lower deductibles (your out of pocket cost for the year) and mostly don’t allow you to put aside money for future use.
Physical Health Investment
Take the time out of your schedule to exercise. I know, that’s one of my struggles, too. We have to make time, not excuses. We have more time than we allow ourselves to admit. Thankfully, our apartment complex provides free classes. Jason and I need accountability outside of each other and these group classes are that for us. Find what works for you: walking, martial arts, gymnastics, Pilates, running, live streamed workouts, etc. Mix it up if that’s what it takes to keep you going.
Also, if something feels off, go get it checked out. Even if all feels right, go get yourself checked out. Go to the annual appointments that your medical insurance company provides for free (you pay for it through your premiums). These include physical, dental and eye exams, and an OBGYN visit for the ladies. There are medical conditions that are genetic and others that are lifestyle-related. Some symptoms are so subtle. Medical studies come out every year indicating changes in the medical field, so your previous year’s conditions may be different than your current condition.
Another area in which I struggle is eating right. Many people believe that since Jason and I are skinny that we are either healthy or malnourished. I love dessert and carbs and hate drinking water. Jason loves candy. We both dine out most of the weekend (shout out to Wendy’s 4 for $4!). I know these are “little” things, but they can take a toll on our bodies if not eaten in moderation. We can definitely eat better than we are now. We will be incorporating more fruits, veggies and water into our diet. Consider connecting with a nutritionist offered through your job’s Employee Assistance Program, medical insurance plan or an independent company.
Don’t be stubborn. Calculate the cost, but also calculate the total cost – to you, your family and your friends. Those costs are priceless.
Spiritual Health Investment
Our physical body is a temple – one that God truly cherishes, just like our Eternal Life. He wants us to be eternally invested all of the days of our lives. Are you taking time to read the Bible, God’s words spoken to us to guide us? Are you participating in worship inside and outside of the church? Do your words reflect God’s? These are all things I ponder and challenge all of us to really think about.
I strongly encourage you to ask The Great Physician if you are truly spiritually invested; if your spiritual vitals are stable.
If you’ve never devoted your life to Christ, are tired of putting your life in your own hands, and want to surrender your whole mind, body and soul to Jesus the Christ, I invite you to say this prayer out loud:
Father, I know that I’m your child. I long to live for you. I acknowledge that in the past I have sinned. I am sorry for them all. I ask that you forgive me for all of my sins. I believe that you are the only Son of God, who came and walked this earth that I might have life and life more abundantly. I believe Jesus was crucified and died for my sins so that I can have eternal life, and that he was resurrected from the dead, signifying death to sin and life to believers. I believe that he is sitting at Your right hand praying for me and making intercession for me. I thank you for your Son, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, who will guide me all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
At the end of the day, our life is in God’s hands. However, this does not mean we allow ourselves to be inactive in our financial, physical and spiritual lives. The choice is yours.
Tiffany