One of the worst robbers of health in the universe is procrastination. Health in every aspect of life suffers because someday somehow never seems to arrive until too much water has passed under the proverbial bridge. This past two weeks have brought me people who are searching for chiropractic help after they have put off seeking help for years in some cases hoping for their pain to go away. One valuable piece of information that my chiropractic mentor taught me is that the five most dangerous words in the English language are, “Maybe it will go away.”
Pain is a signal for you to pay attention to your body. If something hurts there is an underlying cause for the pain. Pain sometimes shows up immediately following an obvious injury, but very often is the last thing to come following a long process of a chronic situation’s unfolding. Often I am told, “Doc, I don’t know what happened. I felt fine but after I reached down to pick up my shoe, I couldn’t get back up again.” This problem didn’t happen as the result of picking up a shoe. Something had been going on for a long time and the motion of leaning over was the one thing that put him over the edge. If pain is present, do something about it. The sooner it is rectified the better it will be for you. If something is amiss and is ignored, degeneration almost always ensues and sets up a chronic course of pain management and possibly loss of function. Sometimes people procrastinate so long that surgery is the only alternative for them. This is why it is important to be seen by your chiropractor regularly – to make sure that these hidden problems that will eventually develop into chronic degenerative ones are handled before they grow too large. Maintain your body at least as well as you maintain your car. We all know by now how important regular oil changes are. Isn’t your body’s proper alignment at least as important?
In this fresh start of the beginning of 2003, new exercise programs are begun all over the world. Neglected bodies everywhere are getting cram courses in Pilates, body sculpting, elliptical training, weight lifting, and treadmill treading. That means also that muscles are being torn, ankles are being turned, bones are being shifted out of place, and pain is being felt. The well-meaning people who begin these programs sometimes quickly stop them because the pain is much worse than the guilt from being out of shape. If a program of exercise is in your plan for the new year, be sure to get expert advice on how to do whatever it is you are doing so that permanent injury won’t plague you. Some exercises can be very beneficial in keeping you pain-free, but incorrectly undertaken programs can be just as detrimental to your health. Most gyms have available to their members personal trainers who can assist in instruction and the design of a program specifically for you. Make sure that there are no physical barriers to exercising and that your cardiovascular system is capable of handling the new load you are about to put on it. Check with your health care providers to get the go-ahead to embark on a physical workout program.
It is essential to all of us to make proactive steps to improve our lives and to maintain our health. It is also important to make sure that we don’t overdo it and hurt ourselves in the process. The most important aspect of health and happiness is a sense of balance in everything. Procrastinating delays our good and in some cases accelerates negative effects of otherwise manageable problems as they snowball. Being overzealous can make us arrive at the same negative place. Seeking the internal wisdom that is present in all of us will help us to achieve balance in life which will enable all of us to reach our goals and maintain our health in the process. Treat your body and your spirit well.