When was the last time you were grateful for your body?
Not because of how it looks.
Not because you hit a new personal record at the gym.
Not because the scale showed you a number you liked.
Just because of everything it does for you every single day.
November is a month when we hear a lot about gratitude. We're thankful for our families, our friends, our homes, our careers, and hopefully a really good Thanksgiving dinner.
But there's something pretty important that tends to get left off the list:
Your health.
At Abundant Health Chiropractic, our November theme is Grateful for Your Health, and we're starting with something we could probably all do a little more often—appreciating our bodies before they give us a reason to pay attention.
Think About What Your Body Has Already Done Today
Before you even got out of bed this morning, your body was busy.
Your heart was beating.
Your lungs were breathing.
Your brain was processing information.
Your digestive system was working.
Your nervous system was constantly sending and receiving information throughout your body.
Then you woke up.
You stood.
You walked.
You reached for your phone.
You probably bent, twisted, carried something, drove somewhere, worked, exercised, chased a kid around, or did a hundred other little movements without giving them a second thought.
When everything is working the way we expect it to, it's incredibly easy to take it for granted.
We usually don't think:
“Wow, I'm really grateful I can turn my head to check my blind spot.”
Until turning your head becomes uncomfortable.
We Tend to Notice Our Bodies When Something Goes Wrong
It's funny how quickly one uncomfortable area can suddenly become the center of your universe.
When your back feels good, you probably don't spend much time thinking about your back.
When you wake up with a stiff neck?
Suddenly you're thinking about it while driving, working, exercising, sleeping, and trying to find one position on the couch that doesn't annoy you.
The same can happen with our overall health.
We often become interested in sleep when we can't sleep.
We think about mobility when movement becomes difficult.
We think about nutrition when we don't feel our best.
We start paying attention to stress after we've already become overwhelmed.
What if we didn't always wait for something to go wrong before taking care of ourselves?
Your Nervous System Is Working 24/7
One thing we're especially grateful for around here is the nervous system.
Your brain, spinal cord, and nerves form an incredibly complex communication network involved in virtually everything your body does.
Movement.
Sensation.
Balance.
Coordination.
Automatic processes such as breathing and digestion.
Even while you're sleeping, your nervous system is still working.
That's one reason chiropractors spend so much time talking about the relationship between the spine, movement, and nervous system.
Your spine isn't simply a stack of bones holding you upright. It surrounds and protects your spinal cord while also allowing your body to bend, rotate, and move through everyday life.
Pretty impressive for something most of us barely think about.
Movement Is Something to Be Grateful For
Here's a challenge:
The next time you go for a walk, exercise, pick up your child, get down on the floor, carry groceries, or simply get out of bed without thinking twice about it…
Notice it.
Movement is easy to overlook when it comes naturally.
And taking care of your body doesn't have to mean chasing perfect posture or becoming the healthiest person on the planet.
Sometimes it's simply recognizing:
“I want to keep being able to do the things I love.”
That's a much more meaningful reason to exercise, move, stretch, sleep well, eat nourishing foods, manage stress, and stay proactive with your healthcare.
Gratitude Doesn't Mean Ignoring Problems
Being grateful for your health doesn't mean pretending everything feels amazing.
You can appreciate your body while still wanting to improve something.
You can be grateful for how far you've come while recognizing that you have more work to do.
You can appreciate what your body is capable of while asking for help with something that's bothering you.
In fact, taking action can be one way of showing gratitude.
Instead of:
“My body is failing me.”
Try asking:
“What does my body need from me right now?”
Maybe it needs more movement.
Maybe it needs more sleep.
Maybe it needs better nutrition.
Maybe it needs less screen time.
Maybe you've been putting off an appointment or ignoring a symptom that deserves a conversation with an appropriate healthcare professional.
Or maybe things are going really well—and you simply need to keep doing what you're doing.
Take Care of the Body That Carries You Through Life
This November, we want to change the way we think about gratitude.
Of course, be thankful for the people around your Thanksgiving table.
But take a moment to appreciate the person sitting in your chair, too.
You.
Your body has carried you through stressful days, long workweeks, workouts, vacations, illnesses, celebrations, sleepless nights, major life changes, and everything in between.
It doesn't need to be perfect to deserve your attention.
And you don't have to wait until something hurts to start taking better care of it.
Our Challenge for You This Week
Think of three things your body allows you to do that you're grateful for.
Maybe you can pick up your kids.
Maybe you can golf.
Maybe you can hike.
Maybe you can work in the garden.
Maybe you can get on the floor and play with your grandkids.
Maybe you're simply grateful that you're moving better today than you were six months ago.
Whatever your answer is, use it as a reminder:
Taking care of your health isn't only about fixing what's wrong. It's also about protecting and supporting everything your body allows you to do right now.
That's something worth being grateful for.
Grateful for Your Health? Take Care of It.
At Abundant Health Chiropractic, we want our patients to understand their bodies, ask questions, stay active, and take a proactive role in their health.
Whether you're currently under chiropractic care or simply trying to make healthier choices, don't underestimate the little things you do consistently.
Move your body. Get some sleep. Drink your water. Eat foods that nourish you. Manage your stress. Ask questions when something doesn't feel right.
And maybe today, take a second to tell your body:
Thanks for everything you do.
