I'd like to think we all take our health seriously.

...but the older I get the more I see it's WAYYY down the list of priorities for a lot of people.

that is... until you get sick, and then it's the NUMBER ONE priority.

So last week I was away on holiday with the family.

We went to Turkey as it would be perfect for our situation.

Warm and sunny and about 80oC every day.

Not too expensive as it's in term time for schools.

Lovely clean beach and hotel.

Plenty of activities for the kids.

During the trip I went for a massage at the Spa.

I was led into a room with nice chilled music, and told to get on the bed face down.

I fucking love massage and would happily have one every single day of my life.

Mid way through there was a change in pressure to what the woman was applying.

I realised she'd climbed on the massage table and was sitting astride me.

I could make all sorts of jokes here about her being on top, and dripping oil on me...

...but I'm far too mature for that.

In short, it felt great.

She proceeded to work through the knots in my shoulders, and after a few elbows in various muscles, I was good to go.

I felt fantastic afterwards, and for the rest of the holiday.

I swam a lot, enjoyed the sun, slept well, and rarely looked at my phone.

So I came back ready to fire on all cylinders.

Especially as being away for a week meant a shitload of stuff to get cracking with.

But my body had other ideas.

The clue was on the plane flying home when I realised I was wearing a hoody...

...and even had the hood up, feeling cold...

...but everyone else was in shorts and t-shirt.

The next morning and for 48 hours after I felt absolutely shit.

At some points I had to lay down as had zero energy.

And that's where my point comes full circle.

During that time I was generally unable to function.

The light hurt my eyes, everything ached, and I just wanted to sleep in a dark room.

But we have kids, chickens, work, family stuff, and a household to run... so I still had to do the best I could whilst feeling shite.

But it was painful and it's a good reminder... if you suddenly become sick, for a day, a week, or longer... everything goes to shit.

I'm lucky that I have an expert health nutritionist as my partner.

She gives me exactly what I need when I need it, so very quickly I was back fighting fit.

But for most, they don't have that luxury.

And this is always a good time to have an evaluation of priorities.

People will spend money on beers, Sky TV, Netflix, dinners out, expensive concerts, luxury car payments, designer suits, and £100 bottles of wine...

But they forget to invest properly in their health.

When in fact, when health goes, everything else is worthless.

As men, as dads, as sons or husbands or colleagues or whatever..

we have people depending on us, and it's our job to be as optimal and energised as we can be.

...because you miss it when it can be gone in the blink of an eye.

That's why I talk about Strength as one of the 4 Pillars of the Whole Man.

Mental strength is important.. but physical strength is too.

And that doesn't have to mean bench pressing a shit load of weight.

Physical strength is a level of robustness and resilience that means you can fight back from any set backs to your health.

Catch you Friday to talk about something that we did on holiday that pisses me off and I think triggers me from a childhood memory.

Catch you then.

Anthony