Words of Wisdom with Waz : Life’s Too Short… Do It Now

Age is one of those strange concepts that constantly changes meaning depending on where

you stand in life.

When you are a child, “old” can mean almost anything older than your parents. At ten years

old, someone in their mid-30s can seem ancient. Grandparents in their 60s can feel like they

have lived an entire lifetime, possibly two.

Yet perspective shifts dramatically as we age. At 61, I can honestly say I don’t feel old. I still

have goals, plans, dreams, and a curiosity about what the next chapter of life might hold.

And that leads to an important truth… ageing isn’t simply about the number attached to your

birthday. It’s about how you feel, how you function, and how you care for yourself across the

decades.

Ageing Looks Different for Everyone

You’ve probably noticed how differently people age. Two individuals can be born in the same

year, grow up in similar environments, and yet arrive in later life looking and feeling worlds

apart.

Some people appear vibrant, active, and mentally sharp well into their later years. Others

may face significant health challenges earlier than expected.

What makes this difficult to accept is that life doesn’t always reward effort the way we think it

should. Many people follow the “rules” - eating well, exercising, doing what they believe is

right, yet still encounter serious health issues. Meanwhile, others take a less conventional

path and seem to defy expectations.

It can feel unfair. Because sometimes… it is.

But while we cannot control everything, there is growing evidence that many chronic

diseases begin developing long before symptoms ever appear.

The Mid-Life Reality Check

Recent research suggests dementia may actually begin as a mid-life condition rather than

simply an illness associated with old age. The symptoms often become noticeable later in

life, but the biological changes can begin decades earlier.

In Australia, dementia is now the leading cause of death overall and the leading cause of

death among women. For men, heart disease still holds that position.

These statistics are confronting. But beyond the numbers are the personal stories that truly

bring the message home.

This week, I’ve spent significant time in hospital supporting an elderly family member who is

navigating serious health challenges, including vascular dementia. Watching someone you

care about experience cognitive decline is incredibly difficult. It affects not only the individual,

but everyone around them.

Moments like this have a way of sharpening your perspective on life.

The Danger of “One Day”

If you grew up in Australia during the 1980s, you might remember the Dreamworld

advertising jingle that said:

“Don’t say one day… that day will never come.”

It was a catchy marketing slogan at the time. But as life unfolds, it reveals itself as a powerful

life lesson.

Many of us live with a mental list of things we plan to do “one day.”

One day I’ll take that trip.

One day I’ll repair that relationship.

One day I’ll focus on my health.

One day I’ll slow down and enjoy life more.

The problem with “one day” is that it often quietly turns into “too late.”

Health Is Built Across a Lifetime

The choices we make during mid-life, and even earlier, can have profound effects later on.

The small, consistent habits surrounding nutrition, movement, stress management, sleep,

and emotional wellbeing build the foundation for how we age.

This is a major reason why I focus on my Four Pillars of Health:

• Eat Well

• Move Well

• Think Well

• Sleep Well

Not because they guarantee a perfect outcome, but because they give us the best possible

chance of living with energy, clarity, and independence for as long as possible.

Relationships Matter Just as Much

Health is not only physical. Emotional health, connection, and relationships play enormous

roles in our wellbeing.

If there is someone you have drifted away from, or if there is something left unsaid, consider

reaching out. Time has a way of moving faster than we expect, and unresolved

conversations can become lifelong regrets.

The Real Message

This isn’t about fear. It isn’t about pressure or guilt.

It is about awareness.

Life is precious. It is unpredictable. And while we cannot control every outcome, we can

control how fully we choose to live the time we are given.

So, if there is something calling you…

Start the conversation.

Take the trip.

Make the change.

Prioritise your health.

Tell someone you love them.

Not one day.

Today.

Stay Well

Waz

Eat, Move, Think & Sleep Well