Pay Now, Play Later

Most of us have heard of the Fable about the cricket (I think it was a cricket, could have been a grasshopper.  I am not very good at remembering the details of fables, just the lessons they taught) who never planted during the spring.  Never tended crops during the summer and then starved during the winter.  He was a Play Now, Pay Later insect.  Unfortunately, many of us are also choosing to Play Now and Pay for it later with our families, health and wealth.

This is another financial and personality concept that we can apply to health.  There are two types of people.  The first type wants to have their fun now (Vacation, eat ice cream, drugs and alcohol) and then pay for it later (Pay back the loan that allowed the vacation, gain the extra weight, hangover, addiction, etc.).  Then there are the people who would rather Pay now (save up and pay cash for a new gadget/vacation/car, go for a jog, pass on dessert in favor a cup of fruit, stay away from tobacco, alcohol and other drugs) so they can Play later (financial and physical health and well-being).

Almost all great athletes have been Pay Now, Play Later people.  As I write this NFL Training camps are underway.  These players and coaches are paying the price now (conditioning, meetings, practices, early bed times) so they can Play (Winning games, personal best seasons, lucrative contracts) Later.  High School and College athletes are beginning the same process as their seasons get ready to begin.

In my opinion, in every facet of life it is better to be a Pay Now person.  The ability to delay gratification is a sign of maturity.  Sadly, the self-discipline to Pay Now to Play Later is lacking in our culture.  We are a people group that is obsessed with having everything we want now.  Waiting is almost a swear word.

I believe that taking small steps in the direction of becoming a Pay Now person will pay huge dividends in each of our lives.  I got up earlier this morning so I could post this blog page.  Instead of Playing (laying in bed playing extra games on my IPOD) I got up and wrote.  This idea returns us to the concept of the swap.  We have to swap out unhealthy behaviors now for a much fuller and richer (Angry Birds this evening since my blog post is written) life later.

One thing that I read about and hear as a Health/PE Teacher is that it is more expensive to be a healthy person.  Quality, healthy foods like fresh fruit and veggies, whole grain breads and cereals, better quality meats and juices cost more money.  That is correct. They do.  I go grocery shopping almost every week.  My wife and I wrestle with those choices.  Should we spend more now, to be healthier later.  It is the Pay Now, Play Later concept each shopping trip.  Yes, our food bill is higher each month than it would have to be.  But we have decided to eat healthy, whenever we can (at least most of the time).  In the short term it may cost us more in food bills, but we also reap a savings in short term health care costs (less in insurance deductibles for healthcare visits for colds and illnesses that we are preventing).  Long term the effects of eating healthy is hopefully saving us literally thousands, or hundreds of thousands of dollars in helping us to avoid debilitating diseases in the future.

These are just a few examples to help illustrate the Pay Now, Play Later mentality.  Find some areas in your life where you could use a more forward, future aimed, thought pattern and apply a few swaps so that you can be healthier later.  Remember, the whole point of this blog is not to go crazy and make major life adjustments all at once.  Simply pick one or two areas, swap a healthy choice now, to enjoy better life later.  As that choice becomes more tolerable and comfortable, find another swap to make.  A few changes each month will provide major rewards down the road.