Invest In Your Health

by Dr. Brett L. Lukert, DC

In order to fully understand the magnitude of health, we have to first realize there are several components that contribute. There are physical, mental and spiritual factors involved, and these areas may be proportioned differently in each individual. Our ability to strike a balance in these three areas of health will go a long way in determining how productive, fruitful, and enjoyable life is. Our life expectancy is approximately 77 years. This is not a long time, but it does not mean that our life is insignificant. We have a great opportunity to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. Living life to the fullest is about striving to reach our potential in everything that we do, especially when it comes to our health.

The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete mental, physical and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Being healthy is not just about being pain-free, which is a difficult concept for us to grasp. We tend to think that as long as we are feeling good, we must be healthy. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Health requires having some vision and realizing that every action has a consequence. The choices we make every day affect our health in the short term and in the long term. At some point, enough unhealthy actions will eventually result in a breakdown of some sort. We may be able get away with cutting corners while we are young, but those short cuts will eventually catch up with us.

We shouldn’t be afraid to invest in our health. We can all come up with a million excuses why we don’t (too expensive, too much time, increased gas prices, etc.). But ultimately, besides our relationships with Christ and our family, what is more valuable than our health? What else would we rather invest in? Taking care of our bodies as we go greatly improves our chances of being healthy down the road. If we wait until we have problems, especially from a degenerative perspective, these changes are irreversible. In other words, it is much more efficient to focus on preventing symptoms rather than waiting until we have permanent problems.

Chiropractic is based on this principle. Keeping mobility in the spine on a regular basis not only increases the longevity in our joints, but allows the nervous system to flourish and function at its optimal capacity. This enables us to focus on what we call “staying young the first 100 years.” Our spines are designed to be functional for 100 years, but when we abuse them, neglect them, and don’t take care of them, they wear out much sooner than they should.

Anything we want to last requires maintenance, whether it’s our cars, farm equipment, teeth, or homes. Our bodies are no different. Choosing to invest now on healthier foods, exercise equipment, spinal adjustments, medical check-ups, massage, fitness classes, and quality beds are all examples of wise investments if it means we are healthier for it. They improve our chances of being much healthier later in life.

Being truly healthy is about reaching our potential. How many of us really do that? Health takes plenty of effort, commitment and dedication, but isn’t it worth it? Let’s do our best to make life count, and do what it takes to be healthy, live healthy and stay healthy!