Don’t Read This if You Think Life Won't Change

Earlier today I met two sailors checking into one of my squadrons. One had the same last name as a famous actress of my generation so I jokingly asked him how she was. He chuckled. Somewhat surprised, I asked him if he knew who she was. Affirmative. Then the generation gap emerged. I recalled her appearance in Laugh-In, the innovative 1970s television show, he from a movie she made 20 years later.

Some people thrive on chaos. But if you are like me, you need some stability in your life. Amidst ever changing jobs, technological development, and an uncertain world order:

It is crucial to establish a foundation.

So it will endure, build it in the Three Pillars of Fitness: physical, mental, and spiritual.

The elements of my foundation are:

Physical – Exercise. Unless I am too sick to move or the weather is too foul to be outside I run. I have run in snow, driving rain, Santa Ana wind conditions, and 100˚+ heat. I have run when all I could think about was getting outside and moving and when I had to drag myself virtually kicking and screaming to the sidewalk because I was so tired.

Mental – Reading. People inspire and energize me but they can also try my patience and disappoint me. Books rarely let me down. At once mentally stimulating and relaxing, they rejuvenate me.

Spiritual – Prayer. When my mind and body are exhausted, my spirit has to carry me through. Whether in the synagogue, at an airport frequent flyer club, or even the roadside, the meditative quality of prayer revives my soul.

Note the commonalities of these foundational elements: all are activities humans have pursued for millennia, they cost little or no money, and they do not require others to participate. Young and old pursue them the same way. I engage in them daily.

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To successfully tackle the change in life act from a position of strength. Your foundational building blocks may be different than mine. Perhaps your spiritual element is family, your physical element bicycling. No matter. The key is:

Be intentional in identifying and building the elements of your foundation.

Though he lived 2,500 years ago, Heraclitus words are more meaningful today than ever. Prepare yourself for change by undergirding your life with a stable structure that will endure and strengthen you.

What are your foundational elements?
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