This Labor Day weekend our family came down to Key West to celebrate the engagement of my oldest son, Hudson, to his fiancée, Cassidy. Both families are here together, soaking up the sunshine, enjoying our conversations and making memories.

And of course, we couldn’t resist stopping at Robbie’s to feed the tarpon.

If you’ve been there, you know what I mean. These aren’t little aquarium fish, they’re massive, five-foot missiles that rocket out of the water with jaws wide open.

It’s quite a rush to have a giant tarpon latch onto you and swallow not only the baitfish but your hand. The only downside is the wreckage they leave behind. Last time, my hand was sore a few days so I told myself, “That was fun, but once is enough.”

But before long, there I was again, fish in hand, arm stretched out, waiting for the thrill.

And yes, history repeated itself. Another lunge. Another bloodied hand. Another reminder of why I said I wouldn’t do it again.

So why do we repeat the same mistakes?

Because in the moment, something motivates us, the thrill, the taste, the convenience, or just the path of least resistance.

I see the same pattern in health every week. Patients know what hurts them. They say, “Never again.” Yet they drift back into the same habits and get “bitten” all over again.

Here are the top five “tarpons” I see people feeding again and again and how to stop getting bitten:

1. Slouching through the day: Hunched over the laptop, craning your neck at the phone, or sinking into the couch… it always ends in tightness and pain.
   • The fix: Build posture checkpoints. Every time you stand or check your phone, roll your shoulders back and reset your spine.
2. Brushing off warning signs: That “little” twinge in your back or the nagging headache that keeps showing up.
   • The fix: Don’t ignore it. Small issues are easiest to correct when caught early.
3. Skipping movement: Promising yourself you’ll exercise, but collapsing into the chair after work and saying, “Next Monday I’ll start.”
   • The fix: Start small today, a 10-minute walk after dinner or a few stretches before bed. Consistency matters more than intensity.
4. Fueling inflammation: Reaching for that late-night bowl of ice cream or the extra slice of pizza you know you’ll regret later.
   • The fix: Trade the trigger for a smarter swap. Keep quick, anti-inflammatory options ready, like fresh fruit, a handful of nuts, or even a scoop of healthy chocolate protein powder in water.
5. Living stressed out: Carrying tension in your shoulders, clenching your jaw in traffic, or rushing nonstop, until your body forces you to slow down.
   • The fix: Build recovery into your day. Deep breathing, prayer, quiet walks, or a few minutes of quiet time can reset your system before stress piles up.

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to keep feeding the same tarpons. Pain isn’t there to punish you, it’s a signal, a teacher, a wake-up call. If you listen and make small course corrections, you can break the cycle and move toward lasting health.

This Labor Day, as you enjoy time with family and friends, remember, health is a gift. It’s what allows you to fully enter into these moments. Fall is a season of fresh starts, a perfect time to reset your routines, make wise choices, and care for the body God’s given you.

Enjoy your Labor Day,

Dr. Derek “Tarpon-Bitten but Lesson-Learned” Taylor
www.drderektaylor.com
(561) 867-1020