Dancing Elephants Book Project: Health and Wellness – Group 1
A life well-lived is the most exquisite work of art -Erwin Mcmanus.
Health and Wellness are the pre-requisites to ensure an optimal state of being and enjoy a fulfilled life.
When we love ourselves enough, the self-healing body takes care of itself. The mind that is calm by nature comes into effect, and the soul dances in high spirit!
All it takes is to accept, love, and respect ourselves. And treat ourselves the way we would treat someone else.
Happiness is the highest form of health- Dalai Lama.
Happiness is a personal choice. It means different things to different people.
To me, happiness is:
Living a life that is rich in love and gratitude.
Courage to do things differently.
Gathering hope and confidence to smile through the pain.
To make a difference.
To become my best version.
The glowing smile on my face is only the reflection of my beautiful mind and a shining soul.
The greatest wealth is health -Virgil.
In my early school years, I used to be one of the best basketball players. I absolutely loved playing and took the game seriously. I never stopped playing once because I got hurt and was bleeding from the wound, or it started raining.
When I started high school, I stopped playing to focus on my studies. I hardly played after that.
I gained a few pounds of body weight when I started working my first job. The erratic work schedule, limitless food options, and less physical activity were not helping.
When self-realisation stuck, I steadily chased the number on the weighing scale. I believed health was all about maintaining particular body weight. I wish someone had helped me preserve my sanity then!
Name a crazy diet, and I have most probably tried it already. GM, Low Carb High Protein, Low Fat, Paleo, Vegan, No-dinner, Skip-breakfast, Salad-for-lunch, Juice diet and what not?! Sadly, I had nothing to lose except good health.
While I looked great on the outside, my organs suffered deep within. It was reflected in the form of intense pain and severe cramps. At one point, my knee pain became my constant baggage.
The red flag flew right at my face in the doctor’s office when I was diagnosed with mild arthritis. He blamed it on the fad diets. And advised me to start medication and limit any physical activity to manage the pain. Instead, I enrolled in the gym and signed up with a personal trainer.
I never believed in love at first sight until I started strength training!
The dumbbells and barbells brought my strength back to life! Girl Power!
At the finish line of the half-marathon race, I felt elated after a really long time in my life! It brought back the player in me!
What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters when compared to what lives within us! -Henry David Thoreau.
To this day, I continue to run and power lift to feel my vigour.
I am glad I gave my body a second chance to show its worth!
If you want to change something about yourself, start with your body!
Bet on yourself, and you will be amazed by the results!
Courage is a love affair with the unknown -Osho
The best chapters of my life have one thing in common: They happened when I dared to make bold decisions going against all the odds. Like marrying my husband, quitting my first job, rejecting a high-paying job offer from a different city, or buying our first new home overseas. The list goes on…
At the peak of the world pandemic, we decided to move to our home country from the dream city in a foreign land to stay close to family. We felt it was the right thing to do. The decision was made and executed in only 2 weeks. We started from scratch again. It was one of the best decisions ever!
Following our hearts is smoother than following the crowd if only we find the courage to believe in ourselves. Instilling the confidence within that we will persist, even when we have nothing left but ourselves.
Life becomes easy and stress-free when we fight for what we want. The joy of living allows us to enjoy our ride in our own style! With no regrets!
I have learned that in life, it is always worth taking that leap, making new mistakes, taking chances, trusting ourselves, and simply following our guts!
Listen to your heart! It always has something to say! It knows the way to your dreams, even from a thousand miles away!
You have nothing to prove to anybody -Maya Angelou.
I feel happy and motivated when I focus my energy on listening to my inner voice. In other words, explaining myself to others drains my energy like nothing else.
Not until recently did I find me in a loop answering questions about my self-care by people around me?! In their view, it is adding stress to an already busy working mom’s life.
How do I make them understand why I do what I do? I used to genuinely wonder! Until I noticed my explanation slowly drifted toward convincing them about my life choices. It became clear that I could never change other people’s opinions about me.
Nowadays, when someone questions “my” time, I redirect them to my article about self-care. The power of writing once to be read by many.
Don’t lose yourself in your roles
The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much and forgetting that you are special too -Ernest Hemingway.
I am a loving daughter, terrific sister, amazing wife, super mom, sweet in-law, and best friend you can never find. I am all of that and much more.
I don’t beat myself up because I forgot to do something for my kids one out of 100 times. Or I put my needs before someone else’s. I don’t judge my wants and let people see my worth by playing my way and not theirs.
When I think I failed as a parent, I remind myself that I am still acing at all the other roles! This thought eliminates my all-or-nothing approach and avoids the series of a catastrophe of emotions.
I am well aware that there will be beautiful times, thankless moments, ongoing challenges, and improvement needs in every role.
On my tough days and best, I remember that the privilege lies in having the chance to be the role.
This is enough to fill my cup with nothing but love and gratitude!
I don’t take anyone for granted, including me!
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
A life lived at less than its full potential is a life half wasted -Tony Clark.
I do something different very often. Doing something nice for a stranger gives me thrills. Adding new meaning to my life by making someone laugh at my cost during their difficult times. I find new ways to crack my husband, siblings, or parents. I like to play make-believe and random surprises with my kids. Simple everyday moments like these make my life colourful.
I have once been a victim of an idle mind, and the experience did not fair well. I felt depressed in my extreme boredom doing nothing. Ever since I found the root cause of my problem, I have engaged my brain by learning new skills, reading books, and writing. Knowledge keeps me alive and grounded.
Like our body, we also have only one brain. Use it to avoid losing it over trivial life matters.
Too often, we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which, have the potential to turn a life around -Leo Buscaglia.
Become your best version
There is no one like you in this world, and that alone is your superpower -N.R.Hart.
Every one of us is brought into this universe with a purpose. Finding the reason behind our existence is the key contributor to our success, happiness and peace of mind. Because we were born to do exactly that!
It took me two kids and 7 years to find my joy in running, strength in powerlifting weights at the gym, and my solace in writing.
My curiosity has been awakened. The more I discover about myself, the happier I become.
Surrounding myself with like-minded people and positive vibes has been instrumental in creating a seamless connection to my passion.
My mission in life is not merely to survive; but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style. -Maya Angelou.
Takeaways
Take care of your amazing body. You got only one!
Dare to live your dreams by listening to your heart. Live beautifully with no regrets!
Redirect your energy to focus on your inner voice.
Do not compromise and lose yourself in the roles you play. Tend to your needs and wants too.
Your brain screams “Use me or lose me”.
Become your best version by finding your purpose in life.
Let the joy in you light up the world! Make a difference now! Start your journey with happiness today!
© Tamil, 2022
View at Medium.comView at Medium.com
Thank you Dancing Elephant Press Editors Lady Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, and Sharing Randomly for everything you do!
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