Health Is Wealth: In my peer group, wealth can be measured in terms of vanity/victory (athletes) or consumption/conquest (materialists).

Since putting athletic competition to one side, I’ve done better with my physical health. I was fooling myself with a belief that extreme exercise was a requirement for personal satisfaction. Even moderate exercise leaves me as a 1-in-10,000 exerciser.

With improving physical health, it’s clear that my inner experience is what’s next.

With a young family, there are moments when I feel trapped.

Well, despite my tendency to blame others, there’s only one person who can free me!

1. Freedom to take actions to support my physical, mental and spiritual health
2. Freedom to control my schedule
3. Freedom from thought patterns that aren’t useful

With the above in mind, I ask: Who should allocate my capital and my time?

In my case, the answer is “me.”

The last year has been driven by “volunteer” work, mainly with my family.

As I’m prone to over-doing-it… there have been times when I’ve driven myself into the ground.

The symptoms are concerning.

I lose my ability to concentrate, which shows via impaired hearing, sight and memory. I even got a little delusional after the 55-hour week with the kids.

Not fun, and a strain on my marriage, but I do a reasonable job of getting myself back on track.

Knowing my family history, and taking personal responsibility, I’ve decided:

• to share experiences with the people that are close to me
• to reduce noise in my daily life
• to free myself for daily exercise in nature

This requires doing less “for money” and spending money “for time”.

This requires saying “no” or “not yet,” depending on the circumstance.

This requires facing unfounded, but deeply held, fears:

• letting people down
• sliding into ill-health
• financial ruin
• failed marriage

Do my facts fit my fears?

Usually not.

But when they do, change slowly.