by Bill Haggard, All About Health

Originally published in the January/February 2015 issue of Truly Alive magazine

It is a New Year – a Great “New Year”. The past is past. Mistakes have been made and successes experienced…both were our teachers. Mistakes are never failures but only stepping stones to success and wisdom. Books, lectures and teaching can give us knowledge. Knowledge can puff us up, but experience brings wisdom. It is knowledge applied or challenged that causes us to stand strong!

So the first step is to REFLECT. Reflect on the experiences of the past…the recent past, the distant past (like childhood) or on generational past; from stories handed down, or from reading about those heroes of days gone by that have made a difference for us today.

Without reflection, we are prone to make the same mistakes. We live in a fast-paced world. Many don’t even have time to think or reflect. Therefore, life carries them along like a roller coaster ride, swept along to react to various circumstances that present themselves along the way instead of selecting and directing your course by knowing what it is that you are about and making choices that will keep you headed in that direction with consistency and discipline.

The first half of my life I didn’t have to worry about much. My parents took care of it all: go to school, go to church, play, eat, sleep and do it all again [day after day and year after year]. Then I became old enough to have a job, buy a car, and go away to school…always reflecting back on what I had learned along the way. I met a girl in Chicago while working to put myself through school, got engaged, got drafted, got married, went to Vietnam, and came back changed man.

As I was in my mid to late 20’s, my health started failing. I looked healthy and strong but something was going on inside that I could not explain. I had been exposed to “agent orange” and other toxic chemicals during my stay in Viet Nam that would eventually take me out. It was subtle and slow but 10 years later, at age 33, I came to a complete collapse, unable to work for about 4 years. During this time, I looked for help from the VA. They could find nothing wrong. I persisted. I looked healthy, good color, 195 lb., 6 foot tall, but near lifeless inside. So eventually, they gave me a ticket to go see a psychiatrist! I quit!!! It was like adding insult to injury. I was looking for help but got a slap instead. I understand now that they meant well, but had NO solution so it must be all in my head!

Luckily, I lived in Tucson at the time and I found a wholistic community where they did chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, colonics, kinesiology, herbology and other natural therapies.

My life began to change for the better! In just three days, there was a major (marked) change in my vitality. I had hope once again. I began to learn the basic principles of health. I continue to learn and apply healthy lifestyle changes and as I learn them, I teach them. I am healthier and stronger now and smarter at age 66 than I was at 33. Fortunately, this all happened when I was young and I couldn’t blame it on getting older; thinking I just had to live with it. I was not willing to give up, but was willing to persevere.

The healing process was not always easy – going from 195 lb. down to 90 lb. scared many people but I knew at that time all was well. My God and my body knew what they were doing in the renewing of my body, mind, soul and spirit. I was along for the ride…reclaiming health naturally without drugs or medicine of any kind.

I know the body is capable of healing to the utter most. Early on I prayed that God would give me health the way he had designed it to be and I knew that is what was (and still is) taking place. I could have been done in a day with a miracle and I would have learned NOTHING and probably would become very proud. After 30 years of being exposed to natural healing approaches, there is no end to the learning. I do know that drugs do NOT cure, only postpone. Cure only comes from following consistently the basic principles of health.

So REFLECT. Are the things you are doing or have done serving you? Are you feeling young, full of energy (without stimulants), sleeping well, awaking refreshed? If not – RENEW. Make all things new that are not serving you. New thinking – New choices. Break from tradition or culture that is undermining your health, vitality and longevity.

Then RESPOND by taking action. Do not make New Year’s resolutions, do something! Good health is your birthright. You are in control of it – NOT your Doctor.

My journey started with a book Fit For Life, by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, then Colon Health, by Norman Walker, which lead me to many, many more…

Be well…live forever. Love, Bill

Bill Haggard owns All About Health where colon hydrotherapy is a specialty. With more than 23 years of experience in colon hygiene and natural therapeutics, colon health and natural health education is a passion for Bill; a passion shared by his team of caring and dedicated colon hydrotherapists. Get educated. Get started and get your life and vitality back. You don’t have to be sick, tired or in pain. Schedule your next cleansing today! Call 505-888-5858, www.allabouthealthinc.com.