If we honored our bodies the way we celebrate important people, places, and things in our lives, we could transform America into healthier nation. Unfortunately, we have a long way to go.
According to the 2020 Bloomberg Global Index, which evaluates 163 countries based on life expectancy, environmental conditions, and health risks such as obesity, high blood pressure, and tobacco use, the United States didn't even reach the Top 30. We landed at 35th place, far from where we should be considering our status as a global leader.
Honor is all about showing respect, value, dignity, and reverence for something or someone. Whether it's religious traditions, heroes, holidays, artists, entertainers, historic landmarks, or everyday people performing acts of kindness, we dedicate countless hours and resources to recognizing their contributions.
But when it comes to our bodies, it’s a different story. We often take them for granted until they break down and demand our attention. At that point, we pray, beg, and plead for God, the doctor, or anyone, to undo the damage.
We don’t need grim statistics to point out the neglect. Let's use our five senses:
· SEE that two out of every three individuals are overweight or obese, putting them at high risk of developing chronic diseases.
· HEAR the health complaints all around us - start with family and friends
· TASTE the foods you eat - notice how the flavor has changed.
· SMELL the polluted air you breathe - the sulfurous, rotten egg, chlorine smell.
· FEEL the economic impact of global warming, greed, and the aftermath of COVID-19 wreaking havoc on our wallets.
My sixth sense tells me that the key to a healthier nation is revering our bodies as part of our self-care practice. I'll be honest, I haven't always been the best at it. Gratitude journaling gently nudged me into the routine, and when you learn better, you do better!
So what if each morning you took a few moments to honor your body by thanking it for keeping you alive while you slept, and enabling you to wake up, get up, and move about your day with energy and purpose?
Perhaps you could honor your body with a simple "Thank You" when you crawl into bed at the end of the day?
How about honoring your body and all it does for you the next time you shop for food?
Suppose you honored your body by acknowledging that it isn’t meant to be sedentary and make the commitment to keep it active?
Why not honor your body by regarding it as the essence, of being human and thanking the Creator for its incredible design?
Respecting your body starts with gratitude, evolves into a self-care practice, and results in a healthy lifestyle change. So today, add this statement to your gratitude list:
ON MY HONOR, I WILL MAKE EVERY DAY A SELF-CARE HOLIDAY BY (______________) fill in the blank. It’s a holiday that wouldn’t cost much, yet yield huge dividends!
If you struggle to maintain a healthy weight or start your Self-Care Holiday, my small change Low Down on Weight Management Workshop can help! Contact me at smallchange@myrtlerussell.com. Catch up on my Self-care blogs at www.myrtlerussell.com/blog.
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