By Radley West
Let’s be honest.
Exercise is hard. Getting up early is hard.
Choosing a salad when everyone else ordered fries is hard.
Doing one more squat when your legs are already complaining is hard.
But here’s something I’ve learned after years of coaching:
Everything is hard. Life is Hard.
Being out of breath walking up the stairs is hard. Living with constant aches and pains is hard.
Not having the energy to play with your kids or grandkids is hard.
Taking medication for conditions that might have been prevented is hard.
Feeling like your body limits what you can do is hard.
Life doesn’t offer us a choice between hard and easy. It offers us a choice between different kinds of hard.
One kind of hard makes you stronger. The other slowly makes life more difficult.
That doesn’t mean you have to become a marathon runner or spend two hours a day in the gym. It simply means choosing today’s discomfort over tomorrow’s regret.
Take the walk. Lift the weights. Stretch a little. Choose the apple once in a while. Go to bed a little earlier.
Those aren’t punishments. They’re investments.
The beautiful thing about healthy habits is that they get easier over time. Ironically, the things we avoid because they’re “hard” often make the rest of life much easier.
So the next time you’re tempted to skip the workout or put off taking care of yourself, remember this:
You don’t get to choose whether life will be hard. You only get to choose which hard.
Choose the hard that helps you enjoy the rest of your life. Your future self will thank you.
Radley West is married to Dr. Andrew West, and together they own 33/18 Chiropractic & Wellness in Irmo. As a former gym owner for more than 18 years, West enjoys helping people achieve non-traditional health goals. She and Andrew teach clients that while a gym is not necessary, fitness and chiropractic care are part of a healthy lifestyle. Though she’s a competitive athlete, she’s the first to say that fitness should be fun, and she never takes herself too seriously. Her and Andrew’s passion lies in empowering clients to lead healthier, more active lives, whether that means easily climbing stairs or improving posture. You can also check out West’s front door wreath and decor company, Worth the Knock. She can be found on all social platforms and Etsy @worththeknock.
