The Choice to Be Healthy

Why is it such a hard choice?  I mean, there are so many examples of people making poor health choices and paying for it with disease and/or early death.  Is it simply too hard to exercise and not take up bad habits like smoking or drug/alcohol abuse?  And, could it possibly be too hard to avoid the temptation of foods that are hard on the body?

Usually good health habit choices come to us through our parents and family.  If we have a family that over eats or eats fatty foods and doesn’t eat fruits and vegetables, we will most likely prefer that method of eating as well.  And, if we have a family that doesn’t exercise or spends a great deal of time just sitting, watching TV or using the computer, we will probably pick up those habits as well.

What does it take to make the choice to be healthy if we haven’t learned it from our family?  Sometimes it is the death of a friend/family member or watching a loved one suffer a long illness caused by a preventable disease.  Sometimes it is more positive.  Family or friends can choose a healthy lifestyle and bring us along with them.  Sometimes it is because we have woken up and ‘smelled the coffee.’ 

Realizing that a healthy lifestyle can be pleasant and also promote good personal results causes a wonderful awakening.  It gives us an opportunity to improve our day to day life and also, perhaps, set an example for our children or other loved ones.  It can be done in baby steps or can be done full out over night. 

What ever way it is done and for what ever reason, it’s worth it!