So much has changed with health insurance in Missouri (and every other state) over the past few years. Premiums have increased. Business owners are rethinking their benefits package. Hospitals are taking a hard look at their expenses and overall performance. There isn’t much you can do, but adapt.
Or maybe there is something you can do…
What if you changed your lifestyle?
True Health Insurance
Several years ago I had the chance to hear the late Robert Sweetgall speak. Sweetgall created walking and wellness programs for individuals and businesses. Prior to helping people live healthier lives he had worked as an engineer for Dupont Chemical. Over time he noticed his family had a poor history of heart disease. He knew he needed to make a change. One day he decided to quit his job and set out to walk all 50 states in one year. Robert made the following statement in the Journal Sentinel:
“You may think you have health insurance because you have a policy, but health insurance is wealth insurance. It protects you from going bankrupt if you have cancer or a chronic disease, but true health insurance is your lifestyle, how you eat, how you handle stress, how you move your body.”
An Ounce of Prevention
A study from 2010 by J. Michael McGinnis, Institute of Medicine, reveals that almost half of all deaths were preventable. Those leading the way were poor diet, tobacco, and obesity. You can read the full article here.
If you could look into your crystal ball and avoid any and all accidents or catastrophes, wouldn’t you steer clear?
Why don’t we take better care of ourselves?
The Time Is Now
I don’t expect you to quit your day job, but you control how you spend your time. There are 24 hours in a day. What if you went for a walk one hour each day?
That’s one hour out of 24 hours each day. Seven hours each week out of a total of 168 hours. You DON’T have to run a marathon or become a body builder. You DO owe it to yourself and your family to invest in your health.
But work is demanding.
But the kids have practice.
But you are responsible for making dinner.
But you have meetings.
But…
If ands and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas.
Seriously, have you ever looked at how you spend your time? You never miss Dancing with the Stars…
The same goes for your diet. Tomorrow at lunch you will have the option to eat whatever you want. You have control over what you pick up at the grocery store (or you have a say in what groceries are purchased).
Change is never easy.
It will be hard.
It will take time.
My high school art teacher would say, “How do you eat an elephant?…One bite at a time.”
Start by putting one foot in front of the other.
Don’t sell yourself short. Dig deep.
Do you remember when you first learned to ride your bike? You fell down a lot, but you had that person there to help you. To teach you. If you need that nudge or help getting started, look up Austin Evans or Heather Hausman. Both are friends of mine – passionate about health, fitness, and helping people like you reach their goals. Get ahold of them.
You and only you have the ability to change your life. Your physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health.
You may only have so much control over your health insurance premiums, but you do have control over your health and lifestyle.
