While there are many diseases out there that we can’t control, there are others that we can try to prevent. For example, AIDS is a terrible disease, but there are things we can do to minimize our risk. Most of people do the best they can to keep themselves from contracting it. On the other hand, there are some conditions we end up with that we end up settling for, when in truth, we can often prevent them. Granted, some individuals are genetically predisposed to having certain conditions, and if that is the case, we must deal with them. But for others, we can prevent some or all of these by taking care of ourselves. How many times have you heard of the person who has diabetes then loses weight? They go back to the doctor only to find that they no longer have it. 

Life is hard enough, don’t you agree? Why give yourself another thing to worry about? More often than you may think, taking good care of yourself is way easier than taking prescription pills all day long, going to the doctor all the time and fighting with insurance companies – if you’re lucky. Stopping smoking now is easier than hearing you have lung cancer years from now. Cutting back on the alcohol now is easier than finding out you have a liver problem later. Why continue the habits that are making you sick and expect not to be sick? If you want fewer ailments, take better care. I know too many people who take pills they wouldn’t need to take if they would just take better care of themselves. 

Eat right. Doctors have been saying it for years, yet we still look for the quick fix so we can eat all the crap we want and lose weight. You can’t trick your body. If you’re not treating it right, it will know. And it often knows before you do. Many people have heart attacks with no previous symptoms - you could be a ticking time bomb and not even know it. Eating right doesn’t mean you have to go on a strict bodybuilder diet. It means give your body what it needs and don’t overload it with things that burden it. It means don’t stuff yourself with fried foods all the time. It means you don’t need chocolate candy all day every day. This is not to say you can never eat it, but take inventory of yourself. Are you overdoing it? 

Make time for exercise. Everyone says “I don’t have time to exercise.” Guess what? The rules don’t change because of lack of time. You still need to do it. When we say we don’t have time, we simply need to make time. You may need to rearrange priorities or get up earlier. It may require a change in your life. It may be difficult at first. But so what? Does difficulty mean that you should not do it? Slot yourself some time three days a week to get some exercise. Whether it’s a fitness class, swimming, a walk, a bike ride, just do something. Your body needs it. 

We can’t prevent everything, but most of us can do better. We are not promised tomorrow, so don’t take your time, your life, or your body for granted. Do the best you can with the body you have. Don’t do it for the New Year. Don’t do it for looks. Do it because it’s your body and you only get one.

Romans 12:1

 Copyright © 2007 by A.M. Birmingham, ISSA CFT