Pardon the philosophical rant...
Ever since I have heard someone exclaim "My body is my temple!" it has stuck with me. I have tried to seek out the best things to put into my body and tried to invest in the right forms of movement so as to facilitate a healthy body. As important as it is to have peace of mind and spiritual well being it is also crucial to find balance and symmetry in your musculoskeletal system.
We like to indulge in our favorite desserts and comfort foods. Some even feel healthy because they go and do 40 minutes a day on the elliptical 5 times a week. What is fitness? How do you define it?
We are too reactive as a people, not enough proactive behavior. I postulate that a large part of this is from a lack of clear and concise information as to "the right answer". The push towards an "evidence based approach" in medicine and PT helps keep me busy reading up on the latest and greatest to offer the best advice/coaching/instruction.
We only get one body. The sooner we can get it on the right track the easier it will be down the line to "fix" any pathologies or imbalances. Change takes time to create both ways (for the better or for the worse). If you think it is too late for you, you are most likely wrong, there is always something that can be done to improve your condition from a musculoskeletal standpoint. Happiness is the ultimate goal in life, or at least should be. Would adding 5 minutes a day to stretch out (correctly) be a good investment in avoiding having to get a major orthopaedic surgery in a few years? Are you living for the now or for the long term? Do you take better care of your car than you do your body?
Change has to be organic. "You gotta want it" - all the cliches of the world stick around because they hold much truth, will you listen?
---end of pep talk
Go be healthy! If you do not know how to get healthy, ask an expert? Not sure who an expert is... ask me :)
