Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-01-11
Health the Result of Habit.

Health is really habit. The habit Of
living right. We are about nine-tenths
habit anyhow, and if we get into right
habits of living we shall have little trouble
in keeping ourselves in prime condition,
physically and mentally.
II may be little hard at first, requiring
some self-denial to break up old habits
and to get started right, but after the good
habits are once established the benefit
from them will be so delightful that there
will be no temptation TO fall back into
the old habits.
II you get into the habit OF going with
out breakfast, or eating just light, whole
some breakfast of cereals and fruit, or
soft-boiled eggs and whole wheat bread
and butter. you will find yourself feeling
so much better that you will no longer
crave horrid breakfast OF hot biscuit
and bacon, pancakes and syrup, or fried
potatoes and sausage. You will wonder
how you ever thought such breakfast
was nice at all. and you will really crave
the wholesome food instead of the former
indigestible breakfast. So you will find
ii for dinner and supper. After you form
the habit Of eating only clean, digestiole
food you will have no desire for the other,
and will feel so full Of vitality and good
nature that you will never want to go
back to the old, bad habits Of eating.
Bathing is habit, too. II you only
take bath once week you will not
think daily bath necessary because you
don't know any thing about it. You will
not miss it because you are not in the
habit of taking it. But just commence to
take bath every morning or every even
ing and you will soon find that it would
be great deprivation to 60 without it.
A cold bath in the morning followed by
quick towel rub will make you feel so
good, so wide awake and so full OF life,
that you will fino ii just as necessary to
your comfort as eating or sleeping. The
morning bath will soon become just as
much a habit as putting on your clothes,
combing your hair, or washing your face.
Get into the habit Of breathing proper
ly. II is just as easy to breathe deeply,
using the diaphragm, as it is to use only
the chest. Expand the lungs and fill
them full Of air every morning, and every
time through the day you think OF it.
You will like to do il after while, and
finally you will be breathing deeply all
the time without giving the matter very
much attention Your lungs will be so
much stronger and your blood so much
purer.
But good physical habits are not all.
The mental habits must also be regulated.
If you are in the habit Of talking about
every little i'll, pain or ache, stop it right
off, and talk health instead. Speak kindly
of your body, think that every organ is
in perfect order doing its work naturally.
Don't think that you have to tell some
body every time your head aches or your
heart palpitates, or your stomach refuses
to digest some horrid food you have
forced upon il. There are so many other
things TO talk about. Just leave your
little complaints and aches out OF the
conversation. II is just habit you have
fallen into of talking about yourself, and
you can form the habit of talking about
more interesting and cheerful things IT
you want to, and you will be a far more
delightful person to talk with.
1t ought not be necessary to tell any
one that they should not allow them
selves to become angry or envious or ieal-
GUS or bitter. Never entertain thoughts
Of hatred or revenge toward any one. II
will hurt you more than any one else.
The body cannot be healthy if the mind
is filled with fear and worry, anger or
malice, morbid or gloomy thoughts. Get
into the habit of looking on the sunshiny
side OF life. There is bright side to
everything if you are determined to find
it. But if you can't find any bright side
just make up your mind to enjoy the dark
side. Don't NOPE or whine or complain.
Life is too full Of good things to waste
even moment of it in being miserable.
Good physical and mental habits will
make a clean, healthy, happy man or
woman. Study ,tow TO be we'll and
cheerful. Make it your business to De
healthy and strong, to be full OF good
cheer and hope, and you will find after
while that you won't have to try but 1t
will lust be natural for you TO be so.