Being Thankful: through injury, sickness, and other speed bumps...

I have been thinking a lot lately about how life doesn't always go as planned.

Sometimes it is good, like meeting the guy of your dreams in a random bar and finding yourself happily married to him 17 years later, or falling out of a career path that wasn't meant to be and into one that inspires and brings purpose to your life.

Often it isn't so good, like getting sick on vacation, getting hurt while training for a race, or getting really sick... like cancer, or a terrible car accident, during the prime of your life.

One of my favorite quotes is "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" but I also think that building a stronger you can be done during good times too.
How do we set ourselves up to prepare for those times when life is made harder?
The answer is taking care of your health, sleeping well, exercising at least moderately and eating moderately.  I am not talking perfection either. Just eating what you need to fuel yourself and treating your body well so it is fit to do the job it needs to do. 

The truth is, cancer doesn't care what you look like, a broken leg looks the same on everyone, a cold attacks a body without prejudice. But, if you are strong, fit and healthy.... you have a better chance of  coming out of illness and challenge with the strength to carry on another day.

When we or our loved ones are sick, we realize how much we can miss out on life. Every day becomes a precious blessing, something that is often fleeting. But by the time we are sick or injured it is often too late to appreciate our health. 

So I urge you, make the most of your healthy times and take care of your body for the bad times that might come down the road one day. Don't waste the strength you have today on wishing, use it to improve your strength for tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Caryn Moxey is the owner of PURENERGY Fitness and has been a personal trainer since 1999. She enjoys doing anything outdoors with family and friends. She also raises 18 crazy chickens and loves to garden and grow apples.