Today, as I sat to write, I noticed how I like to begin with a question. The reason I like to begin my writing with a question is because I want to collaborate with you. I want to connect in such a way where both of us are given permission to insert our perspective. We are going to have a conversation and hopefully by the end of it we’ve gained more knowledge on the topic discussed.
What is a healthy life?
If you search the above question online you will find an endless resource of information. The truth is, we all desire to have a healthy life. And yet, I am guessing if you asked every single person alive right now if they are living a healthy life the majority would say “no.” It’s as if we’re all sitting around waiting for the perfect formula. The magic pill to unlocking one’s healthy life. I may not be the smartest person, and I am certainly not licensed as a health care professional, but what I do know is, what looks healthy for you will not be the same for everyone. Think about it, you were given a unique set of genes from your parents. The cocktail of information that makes up you is different from mine. If you want to begin a healthy lifestyle journey you must begin with you. Because without you there’s no life to look at. You are an amazing being. There is no one exactly like you!
Earlier this week, my son and I were talking about genes. I used the example of my family. “Look at my siblings. There’s me and nine other brothers and sisters. We all come from the same mom and dad, but we all look a little different. Isn’t that amazing?” Although we share parents there are differences that make-up who we are. As the fourth child in the family, I feel grateful I get to watch my older siblings navigate through life a few seasons ahead of me. I’ve watched their choices and how those choices have played out. My oldest sibling is six years older than me and although I know we are different, her health, as she continues to age, can provide me with a clue as to my potential future.
When I think about a healthy life, I think you have to take into consideration three key factors – your physical health, your mental health, and your environmental health. All influence one another and all have an impact on you. Not to mention, your needs change as you age. Your health needs are different in comparison to when you were in your twenties to when you are in your forties. Health is all about looking at the factors at play. What genetic health risks are in your family history? What resources do you have? What is your lifestyle like? Before you can improve your health, you need to know what you are working with. After that you can set goals.
Your physical health, you didn’t have a choice in who your parents would be. You didn’t choose the body you were given. But you do have a choice in how you will care for it. Your body is simply amazing! It is a powerhouse of potential. When I think of my body, I can’t help but think of its ability to carry human life. I’ve been blessed to carry two amazing children. I’ve written before on this, but I never really appreciated my body until I had kids. My view of myself prior was pretty terrible. I did not honor or respect my body growing up. Through my pregnancies I gradually learned to respect the process of physical change. My body’s sole purpose, like your own, is to care for you. It does not judge you. It is not concerned with how it looks in the mirror. It simply does what it was meant to do. It’s a machine and it needs fuel. Regardless of exercise, if you simply include more water, unprocessed fruits and veggies into your diet it will make a difference in how you feel. Ask yourself, am I getting enough nutrients in my diet? What areas can I improve on? For your nutrition, I would suggest you speak with your health care provider and connect with a nutritionist. They can guide you in your dietary needs.
Below is a healthy fall inspired recipe: Pumpkin Hummus.
Ingredients:
- 1 can chickpeas, 15.5 oz, drained and roasted
- 1 cup pumpkin pure
- 1tbs. minced garlic
- 1/3 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Half of fresh lemon, juiced
- 1 1/2 tsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. salt
Directions:
Set oven to 350 degrees and place drained chickpeas on a lined baking sheet. Cook chickpeas for 15-20 minutes. Add cooked chickpeas to blender along with the rest of the ingredients. Blend until hummus is smooth. Top hummus with roasted pumpkin seeds as a crunchy garnish. Enjoy dipping your favorite veggies or crumbly bread bites in the hummus.
Mental health, this is a big one for me. Why? Because our minds affect all aspects of our lives. Our minds influence how we see our world and others. Anxiety, depression – the chemicals swirling around in your mind can play a role in how you physically feel. Over the years I’ve used many different disciplines to improve my mental health. I’ve worked with counselors. I’ve tried exercise programs. I’ve incorporated different diets. I’ve modified or changed the medication(s) I was taking. But through it all, the one thing that has had the biggest and longest impact on me has been practicing intentional mindfulness. If you aren’t aware of what mindfulness is, I highly recommend you read the writings from Sam Harris. Focusing the mind and centering the mind on the present. I can do this through meditation and yoga. I also do this through writing. I sit and write with pen and paper. I place myself in a quiet space, silence my phone, and write. Doing any of the above listed is hard. It is a mental exercise. But I’ve noticed its benefits are not only for my mental health, it’s also my physical. I feel physically happier after doing it. My mood improves and I am overall more at peace with myself. I am no longer lost in my thoughts.
How meditation can change your life and mind | Sam Harris, Jon Kabat-Zinn & more | Big Think
At peace, doesn’t that just sound blissful? It does to me. For me, becoming healthier means becoming more at peace with what is going on inside me and around me. I am no longer a slave to external influences. I can center myself and remain true to myself. This is powerful!
Before I discovered mindfulness, the environment I was in greatly influenced my health. A few months before getting pregnant with my youngest child, Ruby I was working in one of the most toxic work environments I’ve ever been in. The culture bred distrust and colleague gossip ran rampant. The type of people I was around began to pull me down. I never knew what type of drama would await me when I returned to work. The worst part was, I could see the toll it was taking on me. I was less positive. My energy levels were low. I began to see the world through a pessimistic lens. A week before leaving, I had a positive pregnancy test. My husband and I were thrilled. The day of my departure, I prepared the office for the day. When my supervisor arrived, she informed me that a fellow co-worker had come to her about me. She wanted to discuss that conversation. Upon hearing this, I was not surprised as this co-worker was notorious for talking about everyone else in the office. She had done it with me numerous times. After listening to my supervisor retell the information, I said, “I think it is time for me to go. I don’t think this position is a good fit for me anymore.” I left and sadly soon after I experienced a miscarriage. As you can imagine, this was a hard time for me both physically and mentally. On one hand I made a positive change. I was leaving a toxic work environment. But on the other hand, my body was rejecting a pregnancy I desired. Confusion and disappointment bubbled inside of me. Looking back now, my body needed to detox… literally. I had just gotten off of birth control and my hormones were still adjusting. I was stressed at work. This stress only bled into my life at home. I simply needed to hit pause. I am so grateful I had the option to do this. I left the job and began to heal.
Below is a video example of strength training you can do at home. I used to think strength training involved going to a gym for hours and lifting heavy weights. Now I incorporate my workout with my kids whenever I want and use my own body weight. This type of workout can be done anywhere, and your kids will think it’s super fun as they attempt to do the moves with you. For video purposes, I shortened my reps for each move. I normally do a set of ten for every move.
Our health is multi-layered. What works for one person will not necessarily work for another. Your needs and your goals are different. That is why it is so important to have open and honest communication with your healthcare providers – trust in what they provide. If you have questions about your health, please seek professional advice. Seek guidance and take the feedback provided. Our culture, in recent years has grown so distrusting of our healthcare institutions. So much so, some will reject proven results simply because they do not like the source, or they do not agree with the data found. This saddens me and worries me as we think about our health futures. We need to be able to collaborate with our healthcare professionals.
What does your health future look like? If you begin now to improve your health, you can slow down the effects of aging and create a beautiful future for yourself. Don’t be afraid to be honest with your starting point. We all have to begin somewhere. You are amazing and so is your body!
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