In the last blog I shared about how I always hear “I don’t have time” from people who say they want to improve their health, start a new well being habit, change a self-defeating pattern, etc… So instead, they put it off for a tomorrow that never comes. Later they look in their rear-view mirror wondering what if I had made time??

Today, let’s explore the second comment I mentioned – “I can’t afford to!” My initial response to this statement is “you cannot afford not to” for your health and well being is what makes everything in your life possible. If you are ill, limited by body pain, and health conditions, then you are not able to engage in life to the fullest extent. Why would you want this?

Here is what fascinates me, people will spend $600.00 or more on the latest cell phone/technology without batting an eye, they will pay thousands and thousands of dollars for a new car, when their old one still works just fine, they will spend $300.00 on a new pair of boots that will sit among the others in their closet, thousands on new clothes when again their old clothes still fit and work just fine…this list could goes on and on! They will not however, go to the local health food store to spend that same $300.00 spent on boots to provide healthy food for their family. Hmmm… I personally find this a very curious choice.

Let’s go back to 300-400 BC to gather the infinite wisdom of Hippocrates a Greek physician who clearly stated – “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Study after study after study has proven that his words hold powerful truth, yet as a mass population we communicate that what we wear is more important, what we drive in, what we play in (rafts, skis, sporting equipment, hotels, etc…), and what we hold in our hands to “stay connected” is of more value than our health.

All of my adult life I have spent more on the food I put in my body than on my clothes or most material items. I am content to type on an old computer, keep my cell phone until it breaks, and drive my car for as long as it will get me from point A to B safely. Adding children who are now teenagers/young adults to the grocery needs certainly increases the budget demands for healthy, organic, local (when possible) food. Here is the glorious trade off, none of us take medications and I have not paid a doctor bill for myself in over twenty four years (except for one pink-eye treatment. I had midwives for both home births), and I can’t remember the last time I took either of my children to the doctor due to an illness. My son who is eighteen has been on antibiotics once and my daughter who is fourteen received antibiotics once when she had to have oral surgery due to a fall that damaged her teeth. Will this good fortune continue, who knows? While we do get our colds and occasional illnesses, we trust our body’s powerful immune systems to heal us.

Of course there are other ways to spend money on caring for ourselves, gym memberships, yoga/exercise classes, meditation retreats, massage, vacation, classes to enhance our lives, etc…. Again it is my experience to observe people putting these on the back burner, instead they buy the latest gadget, go to the mall every weekend, go out to eat several times a week, purchase a latte on the way to work every day, buy the latest camping equipment/outdoor gear, you get the idea.

Again I turn to Hippocrates – “A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses.” And “Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.” The present health situation in the United States is absolutely shocking to me, for we KNOW better, yet we make other choices, preferring to pay the cost in extreme ways – seeking and hoping for the quick fix so we do not have to be accountable for our own actions and decisions.

I dare you, keep an account of your expenditures for one month, even two weeks, where are you willing to spend your money. How much do your coffee drinks add up to? Your beer/wine? Material purchases that are not necessary? Cable? Medications? Doctor bills? If those dollars were directed to taking better care of you from the inside out, what might happen? How might you begin to feel? Would you be surprised when health issues started to heal? Hmmmm…I wonder??? Sadly most people do not take action towards healthier choices until they “get ill” or face a serious “health crisis”.

Here is a little example, my favorite latte typically cost a minimum of $4.20, if I were to purchase one every day during the work week I would spend $21.00 a week, by the end of the month $84.00, in a year $1008.00 – WOW. Instead of a latte I could have a gym membership and add money to my grocery budget for organic greens or fruit; an investment into my long term health and well being.

I must be extremely honest, having the money to feed my family high quality food has not been easy, at times it has been very challenging, however I joyfully know it is the right choice. I am daily grateful for this body that takes great care of me, that continues to thrive and live very fully with no limits!!

I can’t afford to!! Really?? I sincerely ask you – how can you NOT afford to? Your health is truly the most important treasure you have (but you already know that!!) and our bodies are miraculous at healing if we give them the fuel and energy to do so….

Of course I sincerely honor it is your choice – if how you spend your time and money is serving you presently to the utmost, in manifesting a life that is healthy, happy, full of passion, joy, and love, then don’t change a thing. If however you do not feel good, are not happy, feel dead inside, experience that again you are on the same self-defeating hamster wheel, I would humor that maybe it is time for a new choice.