Commentary by Sally Bassett
My mom often joked when I was a young adult that she must have gotten the wrong child at the hospital. Instead of having me as her daughter, who was always eating healthy and exercising, she knew she had a child out there that was eating pizza and drinking beer.
Wherever I went with my mom, I would just have to listen for her laughter to find out where she was. Two things, however, she didn’t like to do were exercise and eat live/green food. Now at 82, my mom dreads walking more than a few feet and asks the same questions every minute or so. She has dementia. I can’t help wonder if she would have more of a quality of life if she would have cared more about her health. However, she still loves to laugh.
Here is a quote by James H. West, “Health is a large word. It embraces not the body only, but the mind and spirit as well;…and not today’s pain or pleasure alone, but the whole being and outlook of a man.”
What if, just what if, our bodies are the temple of our souls? Would you do anything different? Let’s consider the following ideas:
- You are what you eat
Two weeks ago, Indiana received its annual health ranking as the eighth most obese state. You already know what the implications are with obesity. If this is a challenge, start with cutting down portions and have a full glass of water before every meal. May we all find ways to make a difference with our friends and family, too, even if it is what we serve our children every day or bring to holiday get-togethers.
- You are what you do (or don’t do)
Most Americans are sitting 9 or more hours a day in front of a computer. At the end of a long day, try not to be a couch potato. Don’t ask yourself the question, “to do or not to do?” Do it! Get your endorphins going and create energy in your body that you forgot you had.
- You are what you think
The average person has about 72,000 thoughts a day. If those thoughts are stressful, you literally can add 30 chronological years to your life. Here’s a question for you: If you didn’t know how old you were, how old would you be? Our natural God-given state is meant to be peace and joy. May you seek those two things with all your heart. Until next time…
Namaste!