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Wellness is a path ... not a destination

Writer's picture: LauraLaura

If you're like me, it's possible that you have internalized the idea that wellness is on the other side of an invisible "finish line".


If I lose XXX pounds, I will be well/healthy.


If I go for a walk every day, I will be well/healthy.


If I eat more veggies/whole grains/lean proteins, I will be well/healthy.


The fact is, the journey to wellness is non-linear. There are many factors that contribute to our wellness, and our health fluctuates from day to day, week to week, and year to year throughout our lifetime.


Also, there is no one "face" of wellness. The thin white people pushed on us through media don't get to own the face of wellness for all of humanity. Some people want to live in bigger bodies, and a bigger body doesn't equal poor health.


It's true that when people are nourished, their health outcomes are better. However, there is no timefrane for the completion of new routines or wellness patterns. More importantly, much of the nourishment that leads to better health is comprised of the "food" that nourishes us off the plate.


I will be talking lots more about primary and secondary food in another post. For now, I'll just make a list of some of what feeds me off the plate (AKA - my primary food):


  • Spending time with my girl tribe

  • Immersing myself in nature

  • Reading good books

  • Quiet weekend afternoons with a nap and a cozy blanket

  • Snuggles with my partner, TJ

  • Making things with my hands

  • Praying with the people in my spiritual circle

  • Time on my yoga mat


How do you think about wellness and health? A journey or a destination?


Why is it important to ask ourselves this question?


What nourishes you off the plate?


Leave a comment to share your thoughts on this topic.

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4 Comments


edmcolpitts
Dec 10, 2023

Experiencing Wellness as a Journey, rather than a Destination, allows us to be more mindful of ourselves, which significantly benefits our situational awareness. (Easier said than done...I know.)

Living in a society that practically pressure cooks us into believing so many lies about the rights & wrongs of 'Wellness,' we often doubt more than our food/fitness choices. Eventually, we doubt our ability to make any good decisions about our health, our goals, our lives... (It spreads like cancer, which we know is BAD.)

My 'Plate' is somewhat lacking these days. (My MS has taken so much from me that I still struggle to find a functionally sound foundation.) However, some things remain:

~ Tuesday's 30-minute Self-Care Huddle group

~ Cropping…


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Laura
Laura
Dec 12, 2023
Replying to

I agree that there is SO much pressure and so much harmful information in our culture about health and wellness. And it's sad, but true, that it can cause a person to doubt their ability to make decisions. I'm sorry that your MS has taken so much from you, but so glad that you have built in some self-care and loaded up on some nourishment off that plate that can help you balance your health in meaningful ways.

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rlknee621
Dec 06, 2023

I have for awhile now been thinking of my wellness as a journey. And, for me, it's important to look at it this way because I can relax into it instead of having stress about reaching a certain weight at a certain time or a certain fitness level at a date in the future. It helps ground me in the now.

I am nourished off the plate by:


Attending my book club each month

Spending time with my friends

Reading good books

Walking

Spending time among trees

Rainy weekend days with nowhere to go

Watching a favorite movie

Seeing a play


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Laura
Laura
Dec 07, 2023
Replying to

I love how you put it: grounded in the now. YES! We are nourished by similar things, my friend. Which makes total sense as we enjoy experiencing some of those things together!!

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