Full Court 2 on 2 Basketball at age 50

Friends, hope all is well!

Recently, during Chol Hamoed Sukkos, our family had our annual basketball tournament. It used to be three-on-three until one of our family members broke a bone in their foot last year, so we reduced it to two-on-two.

An amazing thing happened during this tournament. With a tremendous blessing from Above, I was able to play four games of two-on-two basketball without getting tired! Now, keep in mind, the first two games were half-court, and then we moved to two-on-two full-court basketball. This probably would have been exhausting, or at least a little exhausting, for many people, especially when playing against some kids who are a third of my age, but I was fine.

Now, how was I able to do this?

I certainly didn't just step onto the basketball court and say, "Hey, who wants to play basketball with me? Abba's going to run the court today!" (Larry Bird style) That's not exactly what happened.

What happened was that at age 39, I decided to start taking care of my health. I was already eating relatively healthy, but at 39, I decided to start exercising. And the result is what happened recently on that basketball court.

It's very easy for someone in their 20s or 30s to think, "Hey, I'm healthy, I'm thin, I feel good, and I don't need to exercise." But that's a very short-sighted approach.

Think about it. People invest their money for the future. They do maintenance on their cars and maintenance on their homes. Speaking of which, that reminds me that we need to have our gutters cleaned! Just a side note—if anyone has a recommendation, please let me know. But back to the main story. People often say, "I have a clean bill of health. Why do I need to worry about exercising?" But that's short-sighted because they're not thinking about how their bodies will naturally experience wear and tear as they age, and how muscle mass and strength naturally decline over time.

There may come a time when you're older and want to spend time with younger relatives. You may want to travel, go on long hikes, visit the zoo, walk through parks, or simply remain active and independent. And when you look around, you see people who aren't moving as quickly as they once did, or who need canes and other assistance to get around. There can be many reasons for this, but a lifetime without regular exercise certainly doesn't help.

That's why investing in your health today is so important for your future.

When I look back at our basketball tournament last week, I don't focus on the fact that we lost three out of four games. Although, let me be very clear, I'm already starting to practice for the rematch on Pesach. Instead, I look at the fact that G-d gave me the ability and foresight to begin exercising more than a decade ago. And because of that, I'm able to enjoy these wonderful moments with my family.

And that's what I want to encourage all of you to think about.

Close your eyes for 60 seconds and picture yourself at age 50, 60, or 70.

What do you want to be doing? Do you want to be physically active? Mentally sharp? Traveling? Hiking? Playing with your children and grandchildren? Enjoying life without unnecessary physical limitations?

And then ask yourself:

What do I need to do TODAY to make that future possible?

I give each of you a blessing that you find the right way to invest in your health, that G-d gives you the strength and motivation to stay consistent, and that you enjoy many healthy, active years ahead.

Invest in your health today. Your future self will thank you!

Many blessings,

Moshe