Work Hard - Play Hard

During the Spring, Summer and Fall, he was out on the water sailing all over the Bahamas. Sailing, fishing, swimming with dolphins (and the occasional barracuda), and giving his guests the trip of a lifetime. His passengers enjoyed it so much that many made this once-in-a-lifetime experience a lifestyle! They returned again and again.

I’m talking about a dear friend of mine. He’s now retired, but for years that was his business. What was the secret to his success? Was he a dolphin whisperer or did he have some secret connections to the best places on remote islands in the Bahamas? Possibly. But actually, much of his success was due to his diligence during the off-season. Yes, when the boat was not in the water and no guests were enjoying maritime sunsets. It was during the off-season, when he was taking care of the boat, “Easy Goin’”, as it was called. His secret was taking care of what took care of him (and them).

It is a lesson he still lives by today, and a discipline we would all benefit from: take care of what takes care of you.

Taking Care

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right? Sort of. Many times, the man thinks it is trash simply because he does not know how (or can afford) to fix it. So, he throws it away. The next man comes along, scoops it up, tinkers with it a bit and suddenly has it running again. Not only does he get a $300 vacuum for free, but a very happy wife as well (that actually happened to another friend of mine)!

But what about before things break? What if, instead of “riding it until the wheels fall off” we took care of it so the wheels didn’t fall off? What if we took the time to be thoughtful and disciplined enough to perform preventative maintenance? It is painfully boring to even think about, I get it. We’d rather relax or have fun. It is not as exciting as watching blazing sunsets and feeling like the stars are so close you could touch them. It’s the opposite of fun and “enjoying life.” But if you take care of “it” (whatever it is), it will take care of you and produce the fun and contentment you want from it. It will continue to do the job you expect it to do.

How many things in our life would last longer if we followed the recommended maintenance (instead of tossing it to the side as soon as we’re done)?

How many relationships in our life would be healthier and more enjoyable if we gave them regular, thoughtful and appropriate attention (instead of only when we need something)?

Imagine if the Captain never took time to clean his boat, repair his boat, or upgrade features on the boat; never gave it a break; never performed any preventative maintenance; never replaced broken and worn-out parts. If he just used it and used it and used it. The Easy Goin’ would’ve become the Not Goin’.

Neglect or Abuse?

Many of us neglect or downright abuse our brains. We expect it to operate like a machine. We forget even machines break down sometimes. And the fact that our brain is not a machine. It is an organ. It's a very delicate and amazing organ that has the consistency of soft butter.

Your brain is one of the most important organs in your body. It controls your thoughts, emotions, memory, learning, and behavior. It also regulates many vital functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Your brain health affects your mental health and your overall well-being.

But how often do we think about taking care of our brain? Many of us neglect our brain health until we face problems like stress, anxiety, depression, or cognitive decline. However, we can prevent or delay these issues by adopting some simple and effective habits. But to keep it very simple, I'll just mention one: get enough sleep. 

Sleep is essential for your brain health because it allows your brain to consolidate your memories, process information, and clear out toxins. Lack of sleep can impair your cognitive function, mood, and mental health. It can also increase your risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. So, try to get at least six to eight hours of quality sleep every night and maintain a regular sleep schedule.

The average American goes to sleep out of boredom, not sleepiness or fatigue. Don’t be average.

And one more tip (for free): reduce and/or avoid caffeine, alcohol, marijuana, nicotine, a sedentary lifestyle, and being overweight. 

Your brain will take care of you if you take care of it.

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