Last week I had an annual physical with my primary care physician, Doctor Ragucci. Doctor Ragucci hosts residents from Tufts University and the physical started with a nice couple of young doctors going over my medical history and examining me. After they went over me, Doctor Ragucci came in and repeated the exam.

By the end of the physical, the doctors were all complimenting me on how well I was taking care of myself. Towards the end of the physical, I told them that I was taking care of myself because I was afraid of what would happen if I didn’t. Doctor Ragucci said more people should be afraid.

Ten years ago I knew my body wasn’t handling my sedentary life and excess weight very well. I weighed about 70 more pounds than I do now. I could only jog about 100 yards before I’d have to slow down and walk. Since those days, I have worked out religiously, lost weight and improved my diet. So many physical things that were troubling me have become mere memories. A few weeks ago I jogged 9.4 miles first thing in the morning and then did the rest of normal work day routine.

As I was running past a neighbor a year or so ago, he said to me. “You are going to live forever.” I responded, “It’s not how long you live, but how well you live.”

It’s hard to live well, if you body isn’t in great shape. Or put another way, if you don’t have your health, nothing else matters.