“Say to him: Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!” – 1 Samuel 25:6 

Seven years ago to the day, as a CARICOM citizen, I decided to relocate from Barbados to Trinidad. I was officially retired; it was a journey into the unknown without any specific endgame in mind.

Seven is a spiritual number and these last seven years, from the time we began our partnership in an apartment in the western suburbs of Port of Spain, to our move last week to another apartment, this time closer to the heart of Port of Spain, we have had many divinely inspired experiences. Not the least of these experiences is the sequence of events that led to this new apartment lease. A fortuitous meeting, a secure location, a compact but comfortable space on one level, beautiful surroundings and a congenial landlord and landlady. A beautiful foundation from which to begin the next seven years.

We are now motivated, in this new environment, to use it as a launching pad for a new lease on health.

My responsibility for business health is virtually over, except perhaps in an advisory capacity. We do not know how long we will remain on earth, but we want to enjoy as high a quality of life as possible. We must therefore focus on health issues related to spiritual upliftment, intellectual stimulation, emotional relationships, physical well-being and financial flexibility.

Spiritual upliftment can be nurtured by cloaking oneself in a spiritual blanket – a virtual creation which exudes a tranquil, serene and idyllic environment and allows one who is spiritually attuned to receive the whispers from God who has overcome the world and brings peace to all mankind.

Intellectual stimulation, provided we still have our wits about us, can be nurtured through our smart phone, tablet or computer which provide unlimited access to data, information, knowledge, understanding, insight and wisdom, in the comfort of your home.

Emotional relationships at all levels can be nurtured by creating friendships, exuding love, accentuating the positives and eliminating the negatives.

Physical well-being can be nurtured through good nutrition, appropriate exercise, sound sleep, peace of mind and hugs. One of the important things to guard against as you get older is slipping and falling with the consequence of broken or cracked bones. I had a scare last week getting out of the shower. I missed the mat and slipped. I was waiting for the pain. I was lucky, it did not come, and I was able to rise again and continue. In a split second, the next seven years could have been different.

Financial flexibility can be nurtured by good forward investment planning, including retirement plans and real estate, so as to avoid having to work too hard as a retiree and avoid dependence on your children for support.

There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures (Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3).

If we are fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue those golden years together, let us strive to unearth a new lease on health lest we find ourselves stranded in miserable shallows.

(Dr. Basil Springer GCM is a Change-Engine Consultant. His email address is basilgf57@gmail.com. His columns may be found at www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com and on www.facebook.com/basilgf).