The other day I had a crazy idea.

I said to Mike, “What if being in the best shape of our lives isn’t something in the past? What if it’s ahead of us?”

When I think of me at my strongest, my mind goes back. Always to the past.

Running and playing soccer in high school.

Installing a pull-up bar in my first apartment.

And honestly, some of the most intense physical training I ever did was waiting tables. Pulling a double shift and running the entire time will make you lean. (Also, please tip your server.)

I’m not obsessed with numbers on a scale or fitting into a smaller pair of jeans or something ridiculous like thigh gap. But I do recognize that my physical health impacts every other part of my life, not least of which is how I’m able to interact with my children.

Like a lot of people, my weight, strength, and overall level of fitness fluctuate. They are malleable and fluid aspects of me. That’s not something I feel I need to fight.

There are times when I let a project consume me.

For example, if it’s crunch time and I need to write for three weeks straight to meet a deadline, I’m okay with keeping my ass in the chair.

If I’m training for a physical event, on the other hand, I might spend half my day on various forms of exercise, but be far less productive in my professional life.

I don’t think either of these scenarios is bad, as long as the pendulum keeps moving between the two.

In the past seven years, I’ve written a lot of books. I’ve exceeded what I thought was possible in that realm. But that also necessitated a lot of hours with my ass in the chair.

So I’ve been thinking… if I’ve achieved more than I thought possible in one area, why not do so in another?

In the past week Mike and I have covered about 40 miles of territory in preparation for a half-marathon this coming Saturday.

Yes, our bodies are older and our joints are creakier and at the end of most days you’ll find us with ice packs on our knees and ankles. But we’re moving. A lot. (Cue Rocky theme-song).

Maybe getting in the best shape of our lives is a crazy idea.

Or maybe what’s really crazy is the idea of putting limits on what we think is possible.

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P.S. We just finished a 28 challenge called Story Athlete, it was epic, and it has our highest recommendation (if you want to do something that really makes an impact in your life).  You can learn more and sign up for the next one here: Story Athlete or reach out to us if you have questions about it:  Us@BusinessofUs.com