A small part of the brain influences the most complex functions of the body; much like a small health implementation influences the life quality of a human being. I’d like to take complete credit for this thoughtful sentence but the truth is that it was inspired by an advertisement I saw recently in the New York Times Style Magazine. I simply changed the analogy.

Here’s why I like this type of thinking when it comes to inspiring our own healthy lives. Twelve years ago, when I moved from Cleveland, Ohio to St. Augustine, Florida, I purchased an item for the bedroom which was supposed to make my life a little easier, more carefree, and provide more time saving opportunities so that I may enjoy my life more fully, more productively, and in a more meaningful manner. After all, I was going to be living in the sunshine state where people thoroughly enjoyed each second, each minute, and each hour of every day.

So what was the item I bought 12 years ago that was going help me live a healthier, happy, productive, and more meaningful life? A bed comforter. Hard to believe. I know. In Cleveland, Ohio I would wake up each morning, floss my teeth, brush my teeth, wash my face, then make the bed. It took me about 6 minutes to floss, brush, and wash my face, but about 7 or 8 minutes to make the bed. My thinking at the time of the comforter purchase was that I would fling out of bed, floss my teeth, brush my teeth, wash my face and finish my routine by tossing the comforter over the sheets in 2 seconds flat. Isn’t that how all healthy, happy, productive people in Florida wake up?

As the years went by I began to reflect, as I often do, on how I can make my life even better. I read a book called Flow – The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. In one of the opening chapters the author states the following,” The most important step in emancipating oneself from social controls is the ability to find rewards in the events of each moment.” You would have to read the book to fully understand the intent of the author, but simply taking his one statement I began to think about daily habits in my life that brought me great pleasure. Making the bed was one of them. I realized this simple daily act helped to center my day by allowing me to have pleasure in a simple task that required no real brain or physical prowess powers.

Somewhere along the way between Cleveland, Ohio and St. Augustine, Florida I started believing there is little value in the chores and rituals of daily living. How it happened I am not sure, but I can surmise that I allowed society’s value of “using time wisely by always being productive and living life to the fullest” to shape my life. It didn’t occur to me until a few years ago that there is much to be gained in simple rituals of daily living. Yes, it did take a few more minutes to make the bed instead of flinging a comforter on it, but I enjoyed the acts of making up the bed in an unhurried manner. In my mind there was much to be gained in the solace of making the perfect wrinkle free bed

I suspect there are many people who enjoy similar ritualistic acts. To those of you that enjoy the simple rituals of daily living, I say continue. You are doing well! Society at large may call us simplistic and unproductive, but it is only one part of our being. In fact, I find that I am more engaged, more energetic, more creative, healthier, happier and by far more satisfied when I am determining what is important to my health and well being. Here’s my question to you, what seemingly small health implementation can you begin, that will in turn, positively influence your life quality today? Think about it and if you get a chance, let me know. I’d love to hear.