We’ve all heard the familiar adage - “health is wealth.” While most people have heard this phrase, they typically don’t truly understand the truth behind the saying or maybe have never stopped to truly ponder its meaning. Usually, this saying first becomes significant when a traumatic life event happens. Almost immediately, health is now valued more than wealth or material objects.
Over the last several months, I think we can all agree that COVID-19 has changed the way we look at our health. Pre-COVID, we didn’t think twice about leaving our homes to go to the grocery store or shaking a stranger’s hand the first time we meet them. In just a few short months, those two examples now seem like things of the past. Now, we are cautious about leaving the house, bringing a face mask and sometimes wearing gloves, and we awkwardly make conversation with strangers wondering if we are too close to that person possibly breaching the appropriate “social distance.”
If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that health TRULY is wealth.
One thing that has always been an important part of my life has been my health and being physically active. Over the past few years, I have been able to lead a training program for Myrtle Beach area kids and also start up a regional fitness event for South Carolina called Fittest of the Coast. Health and fitness are BIG parts of my family’s life.
I have been blessed with my good health and being able to pursue my passion for fitness but that wasn’t always the case for me. At a relatively young age, I realized the importance of my health. I played college football and during my collegiate career, I suffered two ACL tears and one meniscus tear. The second of the ACL tears re-shaped how I approached my personal health and fitness.
After suffering the injury for a second time, I was unable to perform simple tasks like putting on my socks. Just the twisting of my knee to place a sock on my foot caused my knee to buckle. I was unable to jump without worrying that my knee might collapse underneath me. At the age of 20, I was faced with the stark realization that without my health, my quality of life was not the same. Since then, I have had a second surgery and have been able to live my life again doing the things I want to do.
Although I have been part of the Berry Financial team for just a short period of time, I have already seen many instances where a retiree’s health is often times more important than how much retirement income/assets that client might have. What good is money if you can’t get off your couch or out of the hospital to enjoy it?
Did you know that living an active lifestyle and being healthy can also give you the opportunity to create financial wealth for you and your family in a way that people who aren’t active and live unhealthy lives can never achieve? It’s true! Being healthy can actually help you generate more retirement income and open retirement strategies that aren’t as accessible for people with poor health.
One of those strategies is Life Insurance Retirement Planning (LIRP). This strategy allows an individual to capitalize on their health and create TAX-FREE money that can be accessed at anytime. While the best part of LIRP strategy is definitely creating tax free money to the insured and to his or her family, this wealth building vehicle is only available to people in good health and favors those who are in excellent health! So, maybe there is a new reason for the saying “health is wealth” because your health can actually generate more money for you and your family!
Do you want to take control of your health? Here are three easy tips you can take today to better your health and your life!
1. Watch What You Eat
Now, I am not telling you to stop eating the peach cobbler, but what you can do is work on moderation. Rather than giving up sweets and high in sugar meals, limit those treats to weekly instead of each night.
In addition, when going to the grocery store, try doing most of your shopping on the outside walls where all the fresh food is located. Most of the foods located on the inner aisles are filled with preservatives and tons of other things I can’t even say or spell that you can do without.
2. Daily Exercise
Get up and get moving! You don’t have to go run a marathon or be one of those retirees who you see on the news doing some amazing feat of physical strength. What you do need to do is get moving each day.
Go for a walk. Do some sort of workout that is scaled for your fitness level. This could be as simple as standing up and down from your chair 10 times and repeating it for five sets.
The worst thing we can do as we age is to live a sedentary lifestyle. You’ll be amazed what just 15 minutes of moving a day will do for you!
3. Daily Stretching
The last habit to start is stretching. As we age, our muscles begin to shorten and tighten. As a result, our body starts to suffer aches and pains. Have a stiff neck? It might be because your upper back is tense and tight.
There are many stretching routines out there that are designed for retirees and if done daily can dramatically improve your quality of life.
At Berry Financial Group, we want you to live the best life possible! If we can do anything for you and your family during this unprecedented time in our world, please reach out to us. Know that we are so thankful for each and everyone of you and that you are loved and prayed for daily.