The Good Feeling of Self-Care

Do you remember when you took your body for granted? Perhaps it was many years ago, when – as they say – you had your whole life ahead of you and it seemed like a never-ending highway. Then, one day, you feel a crack. It was a bit like having a sports car always at its peak, taken for granted, and then realizing it needs a service, a little extra attention. Maybe after a slightly longer run than usual or after a sleepless night that feels doubly heavy, something changes. You realize that this companion in your adventures needs care. Thus begins a new awareness, a desire to care for yourself.

Selfishness changes form

Perhaps, when young, our “selfishness” was all projected onto the present, onto immediate pleasure. We wanted everything right away, and the body was just a tool to achieve our desires, a loyal ally always ready for action. With age, this perspective shifts. You begin to look a little further ahead, to imagine the person you will be in ten, twenty, thirty years. And you understand that to feel good then, you must start taking care of yourself now. It is no longer the selfishness of “I want to have fun now,” but a more far-sighted selfishness, of the type “I want to feel good tomorrow too.”

It is nature

It’s not just a vague feeling. Science tells us that with advancing age, our body undergoes physiological changes. Muscle mass tends to decrease, metabolism slows down, joints can become less flexible. Regular physical activity, such as running, counteracts these processes, keeping the body efficient and healthy. And not only that: exercise improves bone density, cardiovascular function, and even mood, releasing those endorphins that make you feel a bit like a hero at the end of a long battle won.

The realization

The surprising thing is that this self-care does not remain an isolated activity. It begins to bear fruit, often in unexpected ways. You notice it when the climb that once seemed like a wall you now face with more ease. You notice it when you look in the mirror and see a different energy, a more vibrant complexion. It is the satisfaction of knowing that those small daily efforts are really making a difference, slowing down that hand of time that sometimes seems to run too fast. You understand that, if you cannot turn back or even stop the hands of time, you can certainly slow them down, or at least not accelerate them. How? Let’s see.

A virtuous cycle

Taking care of yourself is not just a matter of duty, but can – fortunately – also become a real pleasure. It starts with a light jog, then maybe you add a healthy eating habit, or choose to face city traffic on foot or by bike. These are small choices that, added together, lead to widespread well-being. And the most beautiful thing is that this attention self-fuels. Seeing progress, feeling better, naturally pushes you to continue on this virtuous path. It’s a bit like when you listen to a song that puts you in a good mood: you would listen to it endlessly!

The gratification

The real driving force that pushes you to persist in these good habits is the gratification you derive from them, a satisfaction you feel inside. It is not just the number on the scale that goes down or the shortness of breath that decreases. It is that feeling of inner well-being, that pleasant harmony with your body. Choosing to read a good book instead of spending hours on social media, taking a walk in nature instead of taking the car for a few meters: these are all actions that give you back much more than they “cost” you in terms of effort. They make you feel alive, active, in control of your well-being.

Cultivate your good habits, sow well-being

So, the next time you lace up your running shoes, remember that you are not just training your body. You are investing in yourself, you are cultivating a habit that will bring you benefits far beyond the finish line. You are triggering a virtuous cycle that will make you increasingly aware and eager to take care of that wonderful machine that accompanies you every day. And the satisfaction you will derive from it will be your greatest motivation. Come on, the road is there waiting for you.