Prevention is better than cure

I love this quote from the Dali Lama – when asked what he found puzzling about man he responded –

Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present;
the result being that he does not live in the present or the future;
he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

Total truth.

Caught in the machine

It’s too easy to get caught up in the machine – of course you need shelter, food and things for your family. You need to look after yourself and those who rely on you. But once you cross the line and it becomes about a wanting ‘a better’ this or that – or it becomes ‘I am entitled to’ this or that: then you’re in the territory of getting caught up in sacrificing health.

Stress

Stress underlies many – if not most of our modern disease. Stress in its many forms, that is – from mental stress through physical and environmental stress. And often that stress is self-imposed as a result of us chasing ‘more’.

When you have your health you can chase as many dreams as you want – but you must ensure that along the way you pay attention to your more basic needs: nutrition, exercise, sleep, time with your loved ones. When you don’t have your health you have nothing – and only one wish (your health). – and so the money you have stressed over to hold onto may, in the end, be spent trying to recuperate your health.

Prevention is better than cure

Please don’t live like you are immune to stress – I have seen too many people succumb to the effects of stress: rapid ageing, auto-immune diseases and even cancer. The time to look after your health is when you have it. Prevention is better than cure. Rant over.