This month marks the one year memorial of my very special grandmother. Mary Louise Hicks was one of the most amazing women I know. She wasn’t perfect, but she was a true example of living life to the fullest. Our health lesson this month is taking care of the one life we all have, because it’s the only life we all have. So here are Move Newz’s 7 secrets to taking care of the one life:

1. BE SPIRITUAL: keep God first in all things. The center to a balanced life, is centered around the Creator of the universe. I often wonder why people would keep out the smartest being from making decisions, altering lifestyles, dealing with tragedy, etc. The being that is responsible for your make-up knows you best, so why leave him out of your amazing life.

2. LIVE WORRY FREE: don’t allow worry to control you. This is probably the hardest secret to keep safe, because radio, television, magazines, newspapers, and all things “online” flood its avenues with doom and gloom and tragedy after tragedy. Don’t give in, be concerned when necessary, but don’t worry.

3. EAT HEALTHY, DON’T DIET: eat to live. A lot of times people get caught up in a short term diet, rather than a long-term lifestyle. You only have one body, so you need to make sure it gets the proper resources to function for the long haul. Drink the appropriate amount of water, take your vitamins, and eat 5 veggies or fruits a day.

4. EXERCISE REGULARLY: be consistent in your physical activity. You don’t necessarily need hours and hours of exercise to get the trick done. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, all you need is 20 minutes of medium to intense level of exercise to reduce any heart risk and maintain a healthier lifestyle. While more exercise would benefit you all the more, starting with 20 minutes a day is ok.

5. GIVE KINDNESS, GIVE LOVE: loving and being kind to others helps you. Based on ActsofKindness.org, kindness has obvious benefits to your health. “A rush of euphoria, followed by a longer period of calm, after performing a kind act is often referred to as a ‘helper’s high,’ involving physical sensations and the release of the body’s natural painkillers, the endorphins. This initial rush is then followed by a longer –lasting period of improved emotional well-being.”

6. LAUGH: laugh, laugh, and laugh some more. According to Helpguide.org, laughter can balance the body. “Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh.” So do spend sometime rubbing that funny bone and laugh at loud.

7. MAINTAIN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS: good relationships assist in a good and healthy life. We found numerous articles that encouraged people to keep the good relationships and disregard or fix the bad ones. If the relationship isn’t uplifting to your spirit or character sharpening for your weak areas, if it’s not challenging your ability to be the best, if it’s draining you day in and day out, and if the relationship doesn’t show growth and progression, then you should evaluate if this relationship is healthy enough for you to keep.