It’s time for a break from work, from school, and from the daily grind … but that much-needed time off can never be a vacation from reality, at least not without pretending that “being on vacation” means our lifestyle choices no longer matter.

The good news – there are some simple strategies that can help you have fun and, with little time and energy investment, keep up with many of your Life By Design action steps. You can turn your holiday into a health boost instead of a colossal setback!

The most important principle to understand is that Reality Exists. If something is important for the health of your body today, it will be important for your health tomorrow. It doesn’t matter whether you are carrying out your normal routine at home or lounging in a tropical paradise with the ocean at your feet.

Just as there are physiological needs like food, movement, sleep and nerve supply, there are also mental requirements like a philosophy, self-esteem, vision, purpose and strategy.

We know thought is required for an optimal life because, in order to thrive in this world, we must learn. Take, for example, our physiology: though much of the body runs automatically, we must ensure the required needs are met in order for the “autopilot” to optimize its expression – it’s thinking that delivers.  Food added into the body will be broken down and utilized as nutrients to the best of the body’s ability – but it is thought that brings it to the mouth.

In order to survive in the world you must learn, and to gain knowledge you must think. This makes thinking a primary human necessity for life and a fundamental By Design concept.

Pretend that you know absolutely nothing about Chiropractic. If I were to ask you how important your brain and nervous system are in running the day-to-day operations of your body, what would you say? My guess is you would say “Very important.” Some of you may even understand that their function is vital to both the quality and quantity of your life.

To appreciate the extent of the nervous system, just look at Christopher Reeves, the actor who played Superman. He fell from a horse and injured his spinal cord. The result? His brain could no longer talk to his body. The function of EVERYTHING diminished and he eventually lost his life to an infection that most would have resisted.

Please understand that life is our most precious value.  Every love and desire that we have is based upon the fact that we live.  When we die, our world — and everything in our world — ceases to exist.

If you love anything at all, you must by default, love to live first!  Everything else comes second.

Intertwined with this concept of life is the idea of health.  It is a pillar of life.  You cannot be fully alive if you are not fully healthy.  Your level of health is directly proportional to your level of life.  If your health begins to fail, your life begins to become difficult.  You cannot care as much for others, and you cannot accomplish all your own hopes and dreams.