Dear First name,
 

While driving home from Lake Powell this week, my three older boys and I discussed personal financial planning.  I advised them about living within a budget, creating a career to general income, insurance, investing in the future, and leaving a legacy.  I even quoted Warren Buffet, “The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself… the more you learn, the more you’ll earn!” 

As we discussed finding financial freedom, I thought about the patients we see who reach retirement but lack the health to enjoy it.  Any measure of financial freedom they have is negated by physical indebtedness and poor health.  In this letter, I would like to share with you a fitness and longevity plan that mirrors the financial plan I shared with my kids.   

1.  Live within a budget. There will always be more ways to spend money than money to spend. We must set limits for ourselves. We can spend our health too. For example, time spent scrolling on social media while looking down at your phone has an opportunity cost and taxes not only the ligaments in your neck but potentially your mental health as well.  Consuming yet another Crumbl cookie is like a credit card charge for our pancreas and liver. We all have things we enjoy that are potentially harmful for our health. Take the time to define what limits are right for you. 

 

2. Create a career to make money that you find joy in. I love my job.  I rarely if ever get up in the morning and don’t want to go to work. I need to work to provide for my family. Exercise and nutrition are the work horses for your health. Find things you like doing. Do things that you want to do. I love playing basketball, skiing, and hiking. Eat healthy foods that you like.  

3. Protect yourself from hardship. My boys and I discussed having disability and life insurance. We need health insurance as well. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. One important point—our health insurance and healthcare system are not designed to make us healthy. They are designed to treat problems as they arise. A treatment centric system is not designed with prevention, supporting our health span, or longevity in mind.

 

4. Save for the future. Small investments made regularly over time make the biggest difference. Regarding our health, we should strive to create good habits. James Clear said, “Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” The effect of your habits multiply as you repeat them. They seem to make little difference on any given day and yet the impact they deliver over the months and years can be enormous. Once example of this in my life is the habit of an evening walk with my wife Marie. We will be married 20 years this July. Ever since we met, we have walked together weather permitting every day. The dividends have been tremendous.  

 

5. Finally, leave a legacy. Ultimately, using financial resources to bless the lives of others is a worthwhile and wonderful pursuit. I have found some of the happiest and healthiest people spend their time and energy serving others. As I get older, I want to keep myself healthy and fit so that I can continue to provide neurosurgical care for patients. I also want to be there for my children and eventually grandchildren, including our baby girl that is coming anytime now! When she is 22, I’ll be 65 and hopefully still able to be there for her doing things we both love. 

 

All the best, 

Dr. John Edwards 

 

in the spirit of bulding a strategy of long term health. our theme for the conference is Longevity. We are bringing 300 providers together to talk about how we can create longer healthier lives. if you woul dlike to donate to the many minds appoartch use the link below.