We all want to be in good health.

Equally true is that we often put off what we need to do to achieve that objective, needing reminders of what really matters. Many times they are unpleasant. Some times, we’re just fortunate.

Ever since I was old enough to live on my own, my place of residence has always been at distance from the remainder of my family. I didn’t dislike them and we (mostly) got along well. It’s just that — I don’t know — I guess I’m the one from my clan who was most inclined to strike out for new horizons.

I’m actually not very adventurous. So it came as no small shock to my parents when, after graduating college, I threw what few possessions I could call my own into my 1973 Mazda RX2 and drove across the 115 degree Nevada desert — without air conditioning — to establish myself as the afternoon drive DJ for KEYY AM in Orem, Utah. I held no particular desire to live in the Beehive State; it just happened to be where I landed my first gig. Upon arrival, they immediately demoted me to the all-night slot and fired me six weeks later.

Welcome to radio.

After that, I “played the hits” and spun classic vinyl throughout the west, eventually lighting on the Northcoast of California 30 years ago. I guess that qualifies me as “a resident,” and short of our airport, I love almost everything about this area and call it “home.” My family however still resides elsewhere.

In the past, it was always me, who at the end of a too-short visit, hugged my mother farewell, loaded suitcases into the car, and resumed my far-flung life, never successfully suppressing the wetness in my eyes.

The baton passes.

Moments ago, my son, his love, and their overly excitable blond canine with invisible springs embedded in her feet, compacted themselves into an overstuffed sub-compact (adorned with political bumper sticker crookedly placed on the back end) and hit the road after a week visiting “Ol’ Pops.” Ironically, they’re heading back to the section of Los Angeles from which I could not wait to escape, which they call “home.”

We watched the blue Toyota blend into traffic, and I felt once again the identical emotional tug with which I have become so familiar over the decades. Yet these days, it’s me who remains in place while my son drives into the distance, in his eyes the same shimmer I tried to conceal when it was me who was parting.

They have decided they want to live up here.

The thought of future family celebrations without the need for a 13-hour road trip excites me. Going to dinner with my son — for no reason short of a good price — sounds beyond wonderful. Experiencing the day-to-day family moments I’ve never had is almost too good to be true. When you live in different towns, such times are fleeting.

As I said, I’ve never lived near family. I’m looking forward to it. However, as I said, I’ve never lived near family. I’m nervous about it. As sure as there will be great memories I know there will also be family drama.

Bring ‘em on.

Time passes amazingly fast and it is the knowledge that life is transitory that makes us appreciate it and cherish it so. This future event is a more pleasant reminder that without good health nothing else matters.

Suddenly, I have even more to look forward to and I plan to want to take advantage of every second, starting now by making sure I don’t skip today’s walk.

Scott “Q” Marcus is the CRP (Chief Recovering Perfectionist) of www.ThisTimeIMeanIt.com and a Motivational Weight Loss Speaker, productivity expert, and founder of 21DayHabitChange.com, guaranteed to help you change a habit in just 3 weeks.