Do You Really Want to Be Healthy?
By Joe Strauss,
D.C., F.C.S.C.
There is an old saying, "Everybody wants
to go
to heaven but nobody wants to die to get there." A similar
statement could be made concerning health. In almost any survey taken
asking people what they wanted most out of life, good health
is one of the top three things on the list. The only things that ever
top it are happiness and good family relations. Yet how many of us
allow other less important things to keep us from attaining maximum
health. Like happiness, health does not come by luck. It is true
that hereditary factors are important to good health but most people
can be healthy in spite of hereditary weakness. Conversely,
hereditary strengths will not overcome a failure to take care of
yourself.
Most people come into a chiropractic office
indicate a desire to be healthy. Unfortunately, they often do not
realize that it will take some effort on their part. The average
person's experience with medicine has led them to believe that they
will be made healthy by what the doctor does to them or gives them.
They can just sit back, do nothing or at most, remember to take their
medication every four hours. While this approach may be relatively
effective in the treatment of disease, it has virtually nothing to do
with health.
For the most part, disease treatment is a passive activity.
Health maintenance or health improvement is largely
an active endeavor. Therein lies the problem.
Sitting back and doing nothing will not promote or maintain health.
Hoping and wishing for it will not make it happen, it must be
actively pursued. A choice must be made.
Good, nutritious, health-promoting food, is available, but then so is
junk food. You must make the decision as to what
kind you are going to eat and then make the extra effort to get it.
Exercise is not a passive activity. You cannot get it by just
watching a Tae Bo video.
Chiropractic
is not a passive activity either. While it is true the person lies on
the table and relaxes, it is the body that makes the adjustment. The
chiropractor introduces a force to the spine and the body's muscles
actively move the bone to exactly where it belongs. Further, the
benefits of chiropractic care occur after the
adjustment, like exercise and eating, they are far reaching and unlike
treatments, they are not designed for short-term, immediate effects.
It is true you may feel good right after a chiropractic adjustment,
but the real benefits are the long term ones. When the body is
working better it can actively promote health and well being and add
years to life.
Do you really want to be healthy?
Sadly, too many people do not want to pay the price which is time,
money and effort. Happiness does not come by accident. Fame and
fortune are not a matter of luck. Similarly, you cannot expect to
have good health unless you do those things necessary to attain it.
Every individual has to establish his or her
priorities. Is watching television more important than
exercising for good health? Is saving money by eating poor quality
food more important to you than spending a few dollars for the
nutrients your body needs? Is doing whatever you do that interferes
with regular adjustments more important than your health? Only
you can answer these questions and how you
decide on these and other relative questions could very well
determine your health, your happiness and your life.
Do you really want to be healthy?
