On Purpose

When I was younger, I didn’t have to think about much. 
I could eat whatever I wanted, stay up late, never stretch, and somehow wake up ready to go again.

Now? 

My food can’t be too spicy. 
No caffeine after noon. 
Bed around 10 PM (for those who know, my day used to start at 10 PM)
Stretching every morning…  just to feel normal. 

I pay attention to water, sleep, and recovery.
Nothing happens automatically anymore. 

In the 4th Quarter, you have to do things on purpose.
At first, that bothered me - it felt like a loss of freedom. 
But I’ve learned it’s the opposite. 

Doing things on purpose is what gives you freedom. 
It’s what keeps you in the game.

Earlier this year, I got a wake-up call. Bell’s Palsy hit me out of nowhere. 
Half my face stopped working. 
Talking, smiling, and even blinking were affected. 
Although it was temporary, it was enough to shake me awake. 
I realized that my health, my energy, my abilities - they aren’t guaranteed. 
They’re earned. Now, I’m thankful for them.
Every day.
And I protect them, and my overall health.

A Harvard Healthy Aging Study shows that consistent sleep, hydration, and activity don’t just improve health; they improve happiness.
And another study found that people with a clear sense of purpose live longer and function better as they age.

So, I started setting daily goals for myself:

• Stretch for ten minutes.

• Move. Try for 10,000 steps. 

• Drink 4L of water (including 1L within 30 mins of waking).

• Limit screen time after 9 PM.

• Don’t wait to tell people how important they are.

Am I reaching my goals every day? 
No.  
But I’ll take progress over perfection.

These might sound small, but they build momentum. 
You eat better because you want to feel good, not just look good. 
You make the call you’ve been putting off because you know it matters. 
You keep showing up, even when you don’t feel like it.

That’s the difference between living by chance and living on purpose.

And here’s the truth: the 4th Quarter doesn’t reward talent or luck. 
It rewards intention. 
The pace slows. 
The details matter. 
Experience only helps if you apply it.

So, play the rest of your game on purpose.
Decide what matters.
Try to do it consistently.

Let’s play to win.