The Power Over Your Own Health
I got my first COVID vaccine yesterday!! I feel very blessed to have received this miracle of medicine, and I hope that everyone else will be able to get theirs soon as well. So far, after 24-hours, I have had some muscle soreness at the injection site, but no other significant side effects. I am offering my time to help as a vaccine administrator, so hopefully I can be part of the solution for others as well. I know we are all aching to see friends and family again, to hug, to socialize, to travel, and I hope that we can do all those things again, soon.
Vaccines are great. They can save lives. Medical technology has come a long way, and I certainly do not want to belittle the benefits of modern medicine. However, we must remember that the majority of what determines our health does not come from healthcare or the medical community. Most of our health is determined by the thousands of small actions we take, or do not take, every day. YOU have more power over your own health than anyone or anything else.
Whether it is COVID-19, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, or most other medical conditions, you have the power to prevent or minimize the effects of these conditions with your lifestyle choices. That is not to say that all disease can be prevented. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, disease strikes us or our loved ones. Many of us go through life with so many things on our plate that we end up neglecting our own health and well-being. It is not meant to create shame if you have a medical condition. Everyone struggles with different things, and we know that genetics and other factors outside of our control can impact our health. It is simply to say: We have more power within us to cultivate health and wellness than most of us realize.
Receiving the COVID vaccine is a big step in preventing severe illness or death from this nasty virus. But I know that making healthy food choices, choosing to be active every day (even when it’s freezing outside and all I want to do is curl up on the couch with a blanket), getting 8 hours of sleep, and consciously managing my stress also makes a massive difference in preventing not just complications from COVID, but also reducing my risk for 80% of chronic medical conditions.
It is never too late to turn your health around. You do not need to be perfect. We all have setbacks and struggles. We live in a world that makes it challenging at times to make healthy choices, and some of us face more challenges than others. Temptation is all around us, all the time.
Just commit to making the next healthy choice and take it one day, one minute, at a time. Whether that is choosing to go for a walk today, eating a healthy meal, throwing away the cookies that keep calling your name, or choosing to turn off the TV so you can get to bed on time. It is never too late to start eating and moving like your life depends on it, because the truth is, it does.