Imagine that you were given a million-dollar racehorse as yours to keep. How well would you look after him?
You would make sure that he gets exercised regularly and fed the best quality foods that you could. You would also ensure that he got plenty of sleep, because we know how important that is for his health. Regular visits with various health professionals throughout the year would be scheduled in too. You would want to be absolutely certain that he is in tip-top condition, and a happy, healthy, pain-free racehorse.
You wouldn’t exhaust him to the limit, pushing him beyond his breaking point, to the point of injury and fatigue. No, you would treat him with respect and care because of his value and your commitment to him being a successful racehorse.
How about for yourself? Do we treat ourselves with this same level of care and attention, prioritising our own health and bodies as a form of maintenance? Are we more valuable or less valuable than a million-dollar racehorse?
How about a lesser-valued dog or a cat? Any sensible owner would probably aim to do much of the same for them too. Good quality foods, lots of movement and exercise – it would be viewed as almost “cruel” if you did anything otherwise, wouldn’t it?
I was recently reminded of this thought-provoking analogy of the million-dollar racehorse, which I believe was originally said by the brilliantly named American author Zig Ziglar, and found it rings so true. I, personally, have to remind myself of this on a regular basis, as it is all too-easy to push yourself and your health down the list of priorities when really, it should take the spot at #1.
“When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all.” – Augusten Burroughs.
What does your million-dollar racehorse plan look like?