Our Body's Language Has Been Speaking to Us for Years. Here's How To Interpret What It's Saying

I was making my way around the machines at the gym the other morning when one T-shirt stopped me in my tracks. Across the back, in big white letters, it read: "SHUT UP LIVER... YOU'RE FINE."

I couldn't help but laugh. Then it hit me. That shirt may be funny, but it also describes how many of us have treated our bodies over the years.

Our knees start complaining? "You'll be fine." 

Our back reminds us we're not 30 anymore? "Just sleep on it." 

We run out of breath walking up a hill? "Must be the humidity." 

Our gut says, "If you want to get up and go, give me more fiber." 😁

Our doctor gently suggests losing a few pounds? "I've got plenty of time."

The truth is, our bodies have been talking to us for decades. The real question isn't whether they're speaking. It's whether we're listening.

When I was growing up, our house sat next to a railroad track. The trains were loud enough to rattle the windows. But after living there for a while, something interesting happened. I stopped hearing them. The trains were still there. They were just as loud. I'd simply become so accustomed to the noise that I tuned it out.

I wonder if we've done the same thing with our bodies. Maybe your body has been saying things like a sore knee, a tighter waistband, less energy, higher blood pressure, or poor sleep, and you have become so accustomed to symptoms that you have tuned them out.

I’ll admit something: there was a time when I thought that waking up stiff every morning and getting out of breath just from taking the stairs was simply a part of aging. I assumed that sore muscles and aching joints were just inevitable consequences of collecting birthdays. After all, what else could I expect?

However, after ignoring what that small still voice (1 Kings 19:11-13) was saying, my body began to demand my attention. My knees would swell just from walking around the house. Mowing the lawn drained all my energy for the entire day. I found myself having more of those blah days where I simply didn’t feel like doing much.

It became apparent that I needed to take better care of the body that God entrusted to me. I began exercising regularly, paying more attention to my diet, prioritizing sleep, and starting a supplement routine. (Stay tuned for an upcoming post about the supplements you might want to consider adding to your diet!)

Nothing extreme. Just small, intentional choices. Imagine my surprise when my body started talking back. Not with words—but with more energy. More strength. Less stiffness. More enthusiasm for life.

The older I get, the more I realize that after 60, exercise isn't about trying to look like we're 25 again. It's about staying healthy enough to enjoy the life we've been blessed with. It's about hiking with friends. Playing on the floor with your grandchildren—and getting back up without needing a crane. Traveling with your spouse. Serving others. Working in the yard. Carrying your own groceries. Living independently.

In other words... It's about protecting the life you love (Mathew 22:39).

I've met people in their seventies who have more energy than some folks in their fifties. I've also seen the opposite. The difference usually isn't age. It's the daily decisions they've made over time.

I have a feeling your body has been trying to get your attention for a long time. And after reading this today, don't be surprised if that small, still voice begins speaking a little louder. At this stage of our lives, we really don't have the luxury of ignoring it forever.

So listen today...When your body says, "Let's take a twenty-minute walk with your spouse or a friend instead of another hour on the couch."

Listen tonight... When it whispers, "Let's go to bed a little earlier." (And yes...after you've finished reading Last Best Bite!)

Listen tomorrow... When you're sitting in a restaurant, and your body nudges you toward water instead of a soft drink.

Listen this week... When it reminds you to make that doctor's appointment you've been putting off.

So don't settle for simply getting older. Keep growing. Keep moving. Keep laughing. Keep trusting God. Because the goal isn't just to add years to your life... It's to add life to your years.

At Last Best Bite, I believe life isn't measured by the number of candles on your birthday cake, but by the joy, purpose, faith, and health we bring to each new day.

So keep listening to your body...because it's trying to help you enjoy the years God has given you.