Most often in life, when something has broken, you fix or replace it. But not everything can be fixed or is replaceable.
Cars
This is the simplest example. Sure, most cars are replaceable. Heck, if you have the money, get a new car every 6 months like Steve Jobs did. Feel free to google this — it is actually an interesting story.
But back to my point. Is it simpler to do an oil change or tear apart an engine, diagnose broken components, and repair/replace said components? Sure, oil changes require you to dedicate a couple of hours once in a while, but it sure as hell beats trying to fix an engine after it has blown up.
Fixing something once it has broken is a pain in the ass. But most importantly, some things in life can not be repaired once it has broken. Even in this simple car example, I guarantee you that the engine will not be the same after it has been rebuilt.
Health
Is it easier to maintain your weight or to gain/lose weight after months or even years of neglecting your nutrition and exercise? Is it easier to maintain your strength or to gain all your muscle back after a long period of being a couch potato? If any recognized athlete took a break from their sport for a prolonged period, will they be able to return and still be competitive?
Those are the easy ones. What if you get diabetes? How much time and effort will it take to fight that off? Will you even be able to fight it off, or will you be stuck with it? Not everything is within our control, but there is so much that is.
Relationships
This is a great example of something that cannot be fixed once it has broken. Or, at the very least, it will never be the same again.
Think of your personal relationships. The ones you have with you parents, siblings, boyfriend/girlfriend, exes, and even just friends. It takes time to build trust, rapport, understanding, a sense of belonging. Once a relationship is damaged, it may not be impossible to make up, but it sometimes may take traversing mountains.
Sometimes it may not even be worth it. Even if the relationship gets mended, it will never revert back to the way it once was. But for good reason. History is the best indicator of the future, and our bodies are wired to remember. This is why the saying goes “Forgive, but never forget.” At least, that’s what I think. Don’t aim to get the same relationship back. It broke because it wasn’t strong. If you want a relationship with that person still, aim to build a better one.
Character
This includes work ethic, mindsets, habits, etc.
Recently, I came out of a gap in-between jobs. Even though I’m working 8 hours a day which is very normal by most people’s standards, it feels tiring in comparison to working 0 hours a day, or even 4 hours a day. My body is just not used to staring at a computer screen that long in a day anymore. To be using my brain so much in a day. To try to remember all the hotkeys for doing stuff on spreadsheets.
Tying it all back together
Build strong habits for taking care of your life. Don’t be shortsighted. Plan for the future. Be proactive about anticipating challenges and try to prevent them from happening in the first place.