Contributed photo Keisha Lockhart, assistant director of health and wellness at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA, talks with Y member Kirk Jones.

I watched a TV show a few months ago where some pensioners were talking. They talked about how many of their peers were in poor health because they had spent their entire lives chasing success in their careers at the expense of their own bodies.

That really hit me and reinforced some of the things I did.

Hey, I’m all for following your dreams in your chosen career field, but at some point you step back and say, “What does all this mean if I don’t have my health?”

That’s where the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA comes in.

Taking the time to visit a health and wellness facility like ours pays dividends far more than money can buy. We are changing lives for the better here and I witness these stories every day. And in many ways, I am one of those stories.

Making a conscious effort to exercise has made a difference in my life, especially since I came out of college with a lot of bad habits and not in the best of health.

I try to jog on the Y track, outside, or on one of the Y’s treadmills daily, OR if I don’t feel like jogging, I go to the Y and use one of the ellipticals and the weight train. The Y gives me those various options to keep my training fresh. It’s already in my daily schedule and they don’t give me the option to remove it.

I’ve been saying for years that exercise benefits me as much mentally as it does physically.

Nothing clears up a clogged mind like a good workout. I also see the benefits of socializing at the Y, even if it’s just a short conversation, I feel better after those connections.

I don’t claim to be in perfect shape, but I do my part to keep moving and moving forward every day.

When I moved to Marshalltown in the fall 17 years ago, it was just a few weeks before my wedding. I was excited that the YMCA-YWCA of Marshalltown was going to be a part of our lives. I still feel that way when I see our kids swimming, playing basketball, participating in sports teams, and even lifeguarding at the Y.

We still have a top-notch facility here at the Y, and thanks to the efforts of our annual Campaign, we are open to our entire community.

Take the time to visit the Y and you will feel our sense of community and a place where everyone is welcome. This is what has brought me back to this Y thousands of times over nearly two decades.

If I can do it, I know you can too.

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Andrew Potter is the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA.