This past week was my daughter’s recital.

There were about a dozen performers ranging from little kids to college age and one brand-new student in her 50s.

My wife and I were probably the most inspired by her, not because she was the most dazzling, but because she showed up.

Most people her age are saying, “I wish I would’ve learned that.” She’s saying, “I’m not done yet…I’m signing up.”

That alone deserves a standing ovation.

But here’s what really stood out to us, they had all performed a few months ago…

Same pressure. Same nerves. Same Disney songs. But this time… nobody looked like they wanted to run away and join the cast of Frozen.

We witnessed stronger voices, more confidence and less of the “please don’t make eye contact with the audience” look.

And afterward I thought to myself: “Nobody got better by accident.”

No one improved because they thought about singing more. No one woke up and said,
“Wow… I must’ve accidentally picked up a ‘better singing’ software update while I was asleep last night.”

They improved because they showed up and did the work. Consistently.

And here’s the encouraging part…They’re probably not practicing two hours a day.

Most go to voice lessons once a week… some maybe once a month. That’s it.

But they show up, they get corrected, they apply it, and they keep coming back again.

And over time something magical begins to happen…they improve!

Now let’s talk about how this relates to your health (certainly you knew this was coming.) because this is where things go sideways and logic quietly exits the building.

People are very interested in being healthy.

They read articles, they watch their favorite YouTube channels, or they follow 17 different “experts” on Instagram, in fact, they’ve got more tabs open than a college student during finals week.

But if you ask them what they’re actually doing?

Crickets.

Here’s the truth:

You don’t get healthy by thinking about it.
You don’t get healthy by “starting Monday,” which is just code for “not starting.”
You don’t get healthy by buying supplements that end up as countertop décor.

You get healthy because you do the work. Repeatedly.

I had a patient yesterday tell me she was thinking about starting pickleball. I told her that’s a great idea, especially if she’s trying to stay ahead of osteoporosis.

But I told her the same thing I’ll tell you:

“Don’t go from the couch… to the court… to my treatment table.”, because that’s the usual progression.

Pickleball is easy to learn, but your body doesn’t get the memo automatically.

And when that happens, you’re not really starting a new hobby…

You’re auditioning for a strain, sprain, or “I think I pulled something I didn’t know I had.”

I gave a talk last week at my office on preventing sports injuries and I reminded them, “You don’t warm up for pickleball AFTER you get injured.”

Yet most people’s “warm-up” looks like this:

Walk onto the court…
Dink a few times while talking about vacation plans like the match is optional…
Take one casual swing like you’re verifying the paddle still works…
Say, “I think I’m good”…
Then immediately play like you’re being televised at Wimbledon, and your mom is watching from the front row.

That’s not a warm-up. That’s optimism with consequences.

So, if you actually want to stay healthy, play longer, and avoid setbacks…

Start here:

• Hydrate like an adult (not like a cactus)
• Move before you play (5–10 minutes, earn the right to go full speed)
• Fix small problems early (tightness is a warning, not a personality trait)
• Be consistent (your body loves routine more than intensity)
• Fuel your body well (gas station snacks don’t count as recovery)

Because here’s the deal:

Your body keeps score...every shortcut, every skipped warm-up, every “I’ll be fine.”

It all adds up.

Same principle as the recital: You get out of it what you put into it.

No reps? No results. No prep? Pay the price.

So, if you’re serious about staying active…Don’t just play harder. Play smarter.

Dr. Derek “I Know That Song Too Well” Taylor

P.S. Thinking about starting pickleball? Already playing & want to avoid being sidelined?

Whether you’ve never picked up a paddle or you’re a 5.0 player who’s been competing for over a decade, this workshop was built for you.

Join us for a small-group dinner workshop:

“The Pickleball Longevity Workshop: Play Better, Hurt Less, Last Longer”

Tuesday, May 12th at 6:00pm
Taylor Chiropractic & Laser Center

You’ll learn simple, practical ways to prepare your body, reduce injury risk, and keep playing the game you love for years to come.

Space is intentionally limited. To reserve your seat (must RSVP to attend), simply reply to this email or call 561-867-1020. Once capacity is reached, additional requests will be placed on a waiting list for the next workshop.