When I was a kid living in Southern California, for years the 4th of July felt like a done deal. Every year, we’d roll our motorhomes out to Dockweiler Beach, park right on the strand, and spend the weekend with family and friends. We had it all…body surfing, bonfires, beach volleyball, and a blazing fireworks show over the Pacific ocean.
The weather? Perfect. Every time. We never checked the forecast because we didn’t have to. Weather was as reliable as In-N-Out being open and the lines as long as the day.
Then we moved to Florida….
Our kids are experiencing something quite different. Instead of Dockweiler Beach we’ve started a new tradition: heading to Roger Dean Stadium to watch the Jupiter Hammerheads and (hopefully) enjoy a fireworks show after the game. We haven’t gone every year, but it’s becoming a pattern…baseball, hot dogs, and the sweet anticipation of a good fireworks finale. It doesn’t get much more American than that.
Surprisingly, especially since we are in Monsoon season, weather has been consistently sunny the past 4 years.
But this year? The forecast shows a 30% chance of rain.
Now, if you’re from Southern California, you’re thinking, “What’s the big deal?”
But in Florida? A 30% chance of rain could mean a refreshing mist... or the kind of sky-dump that turns your street into a lazy river and your minivan into a pontoon boat.
Planning anything outdoors comes with a side of suspense.
So this year we might not get a ballgame or fireworks show.
And you know what? That’s okay. Because it reminded me of something important…
We’re not in control. Not of the weather. Not of life. And not even of our health.
Life can flip in a moment, one minute you’re watching a ballgame, the next you’re running for shelter while holding a soggy hot dog in one hand and a kid in the other.
But here’s the good news:
We don’t have to stress about what we can’t control.
We just have to prepare.
That’s what good health is about. Not perfection. Preparation.
We take care of our bodies, not to avoid all problems, but so that we’re ready to respond well when the unpredictable happens.
So what can you do?
- Eat real food. Not perfect food, just real, whole food.
- Move daily. Stretch, walk, jump in the pool, chase your kids.
- Rest well. Your body repairs while you sleep.
- Unplug. Breathe. Laugh.
And when something unexpected comes up anyway? That’s where faith steps in. We do our part and trust God with the rest.
Because in the end, we care for our health not just to feel better, but to serve better… our Creator, our families, and our community.
So whether tonight ends in fireworks or a Florida-style downpour, I hope you take a moment to ‘soak it in’ (hopefully no pun intended) and give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy, the life we have been given and the people we love.
Have a safe, fun, and memorable 4th of July… rain or shine.
Dr. Derek “Red, White & Dry…for Now” Taylor
