Now that my friends and I are all solidly in our thirties, the topics of health and aging seem to come up more and more in conversation. We talk about the wrinkles and the rogue grey hairs that seemed to show up overnight. We talk about how our bodies look and feel — some us feeling the years more than others.
Everytime I have one of these conversations, I can’t help but feel wildly grateful for the decisions I made in my twenties.
I started strength training, running, and hired my first personal trainer more than ten years ago (in my early twenties) at a time when I was pretty unhappy with the direction my life was heading. It was something that I kept to myself for a long time. My close friends will tell you that I used to literally dump out cans of White Claw and fill them with water at parties — that I would sneak away from social events early to get a solid 7-8 hours of sleep before getting up early to hit the gym.
I took a lot of shit for all of those decisons (still do, really). But looking back, those decisions gifted me so much. More than just a fit physique—they’ve given me a pain-free body, a fiery metabolism, and the ability to move through life with a vigor and energy that, now, sets me apart from my peers.
Do I regret not having more “fun” in my twenties? Honestly, not at all. If anything, I am immensely grateful for those quiet commitments I made to myself when it wasn’t the popular thing to do. It is those decisions that allow me to do things like ski on the weekends, do gymnastics as an adult, and participate in things like Spartan and Tough Mudder races. I feel strong, capable and I’d be willing to bet I am having more “fun” in my thirties than most.
More seriously, though, when so many people are facing health crises—with obesity, mental health challenges, and chronic pain affecting a significant portion of the population, choosing wellness early on defies the norm and sets a powerful example. Whether you’re in your twenties, your fifties, or beyond, know that the choice to prioritize your health is one that will reverberate through the years. It’s a testament to resilience, a declaration of self-worth, and a choice that pays massive dividends.
“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can do what others can’t.” – Jerry Rice.