What the Farm Has Taught Me About Health

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A few days ago, I found one of my hens stuck between the outside spare coop and the main coop.

Of course I did. 😂

I pulled her out, and for the next few hours she couldn't walk quite straight. So, naturally, she went to the chicken hospital.

Yes, we have a chicken hospital.

Farm life is like that. There is always something—or someone—that needs attention.

A chicken gets herself stuck somewhere she shouldn't be. A fence needs fixing because a horse ran through it! The grass gets too tall. Hay needs to be mowed, made, moved and stacked. Something breaks at exactly the wrong time. And somehow, there is always another job waiting when you finish the one in front of you.

If everything is going smoothly, wait five minutes. A horse will run through a fence, a chicken will get stuck somewhere impossible, or a bale of hay will develop a personal vendetta. 😂🐴🐓🌾

And I've realized that farm life has taught me quite a bit about health, too.

The first lesson is that your body will tell you when you've had enough.

The problem is, those of us who are used to taking care of everyone and everything aren't always very good at listening.

We tell ourselves we'll rest when the work is finished.

But on a farm, the work is never really finished.

There will always be another bale of hay, another fence post, another chicken that has managed to get herself into a situation she absolutely did not need to be in. 😂

And honestly, life isn't much different.

There is always another appointment, another errand, another load of laundry, another person who needs you, another thing that needs to get done.

If we wait until everything is finished before we take care of ourselves, we may never get around to it.

That's probably the biggest lesson the farm has taught me:

Taking care of yourself isn't selfish; it's what allows you to keep taking care of everything else.

Rest isn't laziness.

Moving your body isn't something you have to earn.

Eating well isn't something you should only do when you're trying to lose weight.

And taking care of an ache or a problem when it first starts is usually a whole lot easier than waiting until your body is screaming at you to pay attention.

I think sometimes we forget that our bodies are working for us every single day.

They carry us through long days. They allow us to work, play, care for our families, chase chickens, stack hay, mow fields, and do all of the things that make up our lives.

They deserve a little care in return.

Farm life has also reminded me that movement matters.

There is something different about working with your hands, walking outside, lifting, bending, stretching, and simply being connected to the world around you.

But movement and rest have to work together.

You can't keep asking your body for more and more without giving it a chance to recover.

That's true whether you're working on a farm, sitting at a desk, chasing toddlers, working in an office, or spending your days on your feet.

Your body doesn't really care what your job title is.

It just knows what you're asking it to do.

And maybe that's why I love farm life so much.

It keeps me connected to the simple things.

Fresh air.

Sunshine.

Movement.

Animals.

Hard work.

A little dirt under your fingernails.

And the occasional chicken emergency. 😂

It also reminds me that health isn't about doing everything perfectly.

It's about paying attention.

It's about noticing when your body is asking for a break.

It's about moving when you can, resting when you need to, and taking care of yourself so you can continue doing the things—and caring for the people—that matter most to you.

Because there will always be something that needs doing.

The trick is making sure you are still healthy enough to do it.

And if you happen to find yourself with a chicken stuck between two coops along the way...

Well, apparently, that's what the chicken hospital is for. 🐔❤️

Stay Healthy,

— Dr. Lara ❤️

🌾🐓