Ever notice that little window that pops up periodically in the lower right hand corner of your computer screen? The one that reads:
“Updates are now ready for your computer…Click here to install these updates.”
How often do you actually follow these directions, click the “click here” button and get the recommended updates for your computer?
I confess: I don’t update my computer as often as recommended, and perhaps my overall computer experience suffers as a result. I don’t really know how much I may be suffering, though, because no updates I have installed to date have dramatically altered the way I experience working on my computer. The reason? I am usually in a hurry to get on to the other things I want to do, you know, like write another blog post or create something in Adobe Photoshop.
I am not proud to be announcing my carelessness here, but I do it to make a point.
And the point is, because these little reminders come at me regularly, eventually I get around to clicking the “click here” button and following the updating instructions. I also recognize that I need to get better about staying on top of these maintenance things because ultimately, my computer experience WILL be better if I do and I will prevent problems from happening instead of reacting to a crisis when it comes. Just because I don’t notice a “dramatic, whoop-upside-the-head” change in my computer experience as a result of updating programs is not reason enough to neglect doing it.
The same can be said about our health.
Just because we don’t experience a daily “WOW!” factor when we do something differently to improve our health, like add a supplement or exercise more regularly, does not mean the updates are not working. Over time, small disciplines add up to big results, to paraphrase Steven Covey.
The funny thing is, I am not like this in other areas of my life, least of all my health. When I turned my computer on this morning and saw that little click here button, I got to thinking, Wouldn’t it be terrific if there was a way to have an “Updates are now ready for your health” window pop-up regularly in our lives, too? Something that read: “This update contains simple fixes for your afternoon drowsiness…your 3:00 o’clock sugar cravings…those extra 15 pounds you really want to shed…” Just a simple daily reminder randomly generated to help us slow down long enough and take the time to focus on how we can make our own health the best it can possibly be?
So many of us are so good about changing the oil in our cars every 3000 miles, updating our computers when prompted, posting our latest thoughts on our Social Media sites…yet we fail miserably when it comes to regular maintenance of our health. (I won’t bore readers at this point with sobering statistics about the state of American health…really, all you have to do is go out in public and see…while remembering that even more illness stays behind closed doors and never sees the light of day…)
Like the computer updates, updating our health isn’t that hard. It just has to become a habit like anything else we do. Giving ourselves a regular update, as it were. Learning about the latest scientific breakthroughs that truly alter the way we experience life.
And no, I am not talking about the pharmaceuticals advertised on television for every new “disease” that has suddenly manifested in the last year when the drug companies realized they could bank billions because some people are naturally kinesthetic and thus move around a lot when sitting. But rather than promote a “get up and move around” program, which would make them no money, their answer is to create a new disease called “Restless Leg Syndrome” that requires sufferers to be on a medication for the rest of their lives that happens to have a pretty steep side effect profile which, oh looky here!~ Creates the need for more pills and thus, puts more money in the drug companies pockets.
And so the cycles continues. So no, this is NOT the kind of “health update” I am talking about here.
Like anything else in life, if great health is a priority, you will do the things necessary to stay in front of the learning curve. You will study the works of researchers who share their discoveries about how to slow the aging process so that quality of life is extended well beyond our “golden years.” You will practice simple disciplines over time. You will ask questions and seek out the knowledge you need to make wise and informed decisions. You will have an internal “Updates are now ready for your health” button built into your system because you value your body, your mind, and your spirit and will do what is important to take precious care of YOU.
Honestly, it’s not that hard to do. IF your health is a priority. IF you truly want to look, feel, and perform YOUR best regardless of how many candles are on your birthday cake this year. The “click here” button is there, and updates are indeed now ready for your health.
The question is, will you bother to click it? And if so, when?
How about a button I can click for a coffee and donut refill? :)) – Seriously, the operative phrase here is “IF your health is a priority”, which of course, it often is not until we’ve lost it.
Our society has become so information laden, that whether it be internet marketing or our health, we tend to think we’ve “done” enough just to learn about our online business or our health.
The vast majority of degenerative disease, for instance, is rooted in the breakdown of the gastrointestinal tract. This can be mechanical as in the case of peristalitic dysfunction, whereby solid matter cannot longer transit through the digestive system without assistance, usually pharmaceutical. Of course, this “assistance” eventually causes intestinal muscular atrophy further complicating your body’s natural peristalis. A chemical counterpart to this is found in irritable bowel and diverticulitis, where the associated lengthening of transit time causes a surge and saturation of caustic digestive fluids that actually rupture the intestinal walls and lead to toxic influx and nutrient malabsorption. So we can learn all this stuff and it can sound pretty complicated but the solution is simple. Eat large amounts of roughage, drink a lot of fluid, avoid dehydrants (like coffee) and basically, drastically cut back on any food that comes in a package. That means processed food.
The problem with all this is that once we “know” what to do, we tuck it away for another day. We don’t really want to change our lifestyles, and so we return to the premise “IF your health is a priority”…
Even knowing a lot about health and disease, I too am too often guilty of not putting that knowlege into practice. Thanks for the wake-up call Mary Lou. We can’t be reminded enough.
Hi Mary Lou, you mean my RLS is just a sham…..lol… J/K. I know what you mean though, it’s important that we take preventative measures and an active lifestyle and good nutrition is a major part of that. This is one reason why I’m going to make “The Metabolic Plan” a recommended read to all my new personal training clients because it is the “How To” of how the body works….Thanks for this post I enjoyed it.
Mary Lou it is SO true about good health and whether or not it’s a priority. My goal is to get to the gym first thing in the morning after my hour of study and education. Without doing so, my mind feels much more cluttered and not on top of things. Love that time in the morning! One thing we need to keep in mind is that what we do with our life our kids are watching and creating their own habits. Lets show them great ones rather than negative ones! Nice post!
Mary Lou,
What a wise food for thought! You can’t believe how many ideas it gave me. I don’t know if I will create a button for the health update but I will create the information about it since I am very passionate about educating people how to be perfectly healthy the simple way of Nature. Most people have no idea what it is to be really truly healthy.
Thank you very much!
Infinite love and gratitude to you,
Venus 🙂
Great Post Mary Lou! I train at my Jiu-Jitsu gym http://delawarejiujitsu.com 2 to 3 times a week and then do my Nextfit Keychain Trainer about twice a week! I really do feel better when I work out! Thanks for the great information!
I love my KCT too. 🙂 Our bodies are designed to move and exercise just makes everything better!
Thank you, Venus. The work you do with health and education is so important!
Kellie, You are so right about modeling great health habits for our children, with regular exercise being one of those habits. Your work with youth is so important as everything you do sets the pace for what they do…glad to know there are positive role models out there like you!
You got that right about TMP…it IS the handbook for the human body! Your passion for health and fitness will continue to inspire so many people as you teach them prevention rather than reaction. Thanks for your comment!
I love your sense of humor, David. I think the donut and coffee refill button is already well-programmed in this country! 🙂
As you so clearly point out, the bottom line about health in this country comes down to making the right choices. Knowing what to do isn’t enough — doing something with that information is the key. Many people know what they need to do, but their “why” for changing isn’t big enough. Often it isn’t until a crisis hits that people snap into action. The thing is, life can be so much better than it is now for the masses and to experience that change isn’t that hard…you just have to really want it and be willing to go through some growing pains to get it. The rewards are so worth the challenge, though!
Love this post.I wish I could shake people that have poor choices about their health.What are they thinking….Smoking,chewing,eating all the processed food AND believing their doctor when he says you can get all your nutrients by eating healthy! Physicians may be good at diagnosing diseases but most have no clue about nutrition. I would love to talk with you about guest blogging Mary Lou. We have many similar ideas.
Tweeting this post for sure!
Beverly
Hey Mary Lou!
Great post.
The “State of the Union” where health is concerned is indeed bleak. I am with you that you don’t need to quote a bunch of statistics to get your point across…all you have to do is look around you.
Will Tweet and Post on Facebook!
Thanks!
Tim
Tim, I appreciate your support of this post’s theme! Thanks for stopping by and passing on the message. Better health can happen only once every person wakes up to the power to take control of their own health!
Beverly, I am totally with you on this. Why don’t more people take control of their health? Why do so many surrender the one precious thing they have? It is so sad and so maddening…all we can do is continue with our teaching about options available and encourage others to make smarter choices!
I admire you for being the leader in this area which has fallen way behind technology and so on. I truly believe our health IS the most important aspect of our life. Health invovles all aspects of mind, body and spirit. It all starts with our perception and then it bleeds into all other areas. We must do our own research and commit to being healthy and not listening to the drug companies and some doctors. You are right on target!
Peace,
Teresa