As in our own homes, each part of our own bodies has a purpose, and they must work together. Get to know each part of your house to help you most effectively utilize your space. Every room, floor and nook and cranny is unique. How does your home remain functional? Knowing your house well helps ensure that it can take care of all your specific needs. In the same manner, our bodies house our soul. The more we know our bodies and minds and become familiar with our internal selves, the better our body serves our soul, and our soul connects to the body. What resides in your body? Get to know your home inside and out. This is crucial to your long-term health. It is easier to maintain your house if you understand how the different parts function. That knowledge also makes you more responsible and informed. Looking at a home, all together, it might not seem like there’s much to it. When we start to notice the intricate parts, then this cohesive whole called house is now complexly engineered even in the simplest form. One of my engineering friends took time to explain to me the beautifully and purposefully designed award-winning pedestrian overcrossing bridge in Walnut Creek. It has a deck suspended from arches masterfully shaped and curved to accommodate surrounding elements. Our homes require first and foremost a solid foundation to support the entire structure. Then there’s the frame, walls, roof, chimney, floor, plumbing, electrics, windows, gutters, siding, furnishing and landscaping. The key message here is that it’s your choice that affects your home’s appearance, energy efficiency, safety, and lifespan.
What about the homes that look healthy from the outside, but internally there are parts that were broken and forgotten? We can still function without it, because the other parts will compensate. I recently talked with a veteran who was not adjusting well to the rehabilitative care facility. He was in the same position in bed that I had met him in, lying on his side with legs folded. He gets anxious regarding health questions, so I started with talking about bowling and golf, his favorite activities. We kept talking, and he eventually explained to me that his roommate talks nonstop so he can’t sleep during the day, and he can’t sleep at night because he hasn’t gone a day without nightmares after returning from combat. Everyone, your neighbor, friend, and coworker, has experienced some kind of trauma. We cannot always control what happens to our bodies or in our homes. My traumas are not something I can forget. But I can change my perception and safely integrate them into my personal narrative. I can embrace self-leadership by observing and reflecting, and reconnecting with others. What happens to us happens inside of us. We internalize it, until it is revisited with love. When we realize that there are no bad parts, we start to take an empowered approach and care for our whole selves.
Start taking practical steps today to foster health and resilience. Nurture your body with balanced nutrition, hydration, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and routine check-ups. The first step to changing your behaviors is to create an awareness around what you do regularly. Taking charge of your habits can empower you with confidence and self-worth, positively affecting every area of your life, your family's life and your community. Start today with our 60 day Healthy Habits Challenge and take advantage of all of the resources the YMCA has to help you build a healthy spirit, body and mind.