Perusing the book Your Body Can Talk, the phrase “Health Is Your Birthright” stuck out to me.

In Genesis 25, Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew.

In the Old Testament, the birthright included a double portion of inheritance, becoming the head of the family and the spiritual leader upon the passing of the father.

In this particular case, the birthright also determined who would inherit the covenant God made with Abraham.

God created our bodies to heal. He gave us access to everything our bodies need for nourishment and health.

And what are we doing?

We are giving away our birthright of health! Exchanging it for convenience and material goods (which we often acquire through times stressful and/or sedentary work).

“Your lifestyle determines your quality of life. The robust state of health that you will enjoy for years to come depends on the choices you make today.”

~ Your Body Can Talk, Susan L. Levy, DC

Trust me when I say this adventure of being sick has been a huge learning process.

I’ve had to change my mindset about HOW I live in order to find healing – and that did not come overnight.

Before I became disabled, I had a big and busy life. I worked long hours, often amidst high stress.

I did a lot of things right – faith, family, community, movement. But I also took a lot of short cuts so I could do those things.

Those short cuts usually came in the form of food: fast food, pizza, cereal, pop tarts, quick and easy meals like boxed mac n cheese, sodas, etc.

I bought cheap products (cleaning, personal care, etc) just to save a buck.

Just like Esau, I wanted the quick and easy fix and was willing (or perhaps I just didn’t realize) to give up my health birthright to get it.

The more I learn about the toxic environment I created for my body, the more anger I have that our society (this country) doesn’t see what we are doing ourselves.

We have the choice to live healthier. It’s a choice we make in everything we do, every single day.

The Blue Zone (BZ) Project has identified 9 Lifestyle Habits of the worlds healthiest people:

• Natural Movement throughout the day (like gardening, house work, walking instead of intense workouts)
• Purpose (the reason for waking up)
• Downshift (routines to reduce stress)
• 80% Rule (stop eating when you are 80% full – eat smaller meals later in the day)
• Plant Slant (less meat, more plant based foods)
• Wine @ 5 (moderation, and good, clean wine, preferably Sardinian Cannonau)
• Faith Based Community
• Loved Ones First (care for parents & grandparents – invest in children)
• Right Tribe (social circles that support healthy habits)

What they don’t discuss much is the fact that the BZ communities do not have as much exposure to the toxins we have become accustomed to in most of the US.

And their lifestyles move at a much slower pace.

I’m learning to deliberately and intentionally choose a life that moves closer to better health, and prayerfully, toward longevity.

It’s up to each of us individually to make that commitment. And unfortunately, our society over the last 60+ years has not been supportive of that commitment. Maybe that’s changing now – a little. Maybe.

But it still comes down to individual responsibility.

No matter the decision – I own that. So do you. But as noted in the blue groups, we really can’t do it alone either.