Simply Healthy
by Mary Louise;Town Jaqua, Health Minister
5/8/18We live in a complex, fast-paced world with many
things to do, places to go, people to see, high-speed
planes and trains to get us there plus high-speed internet
to surf, and, last but not least, fast food to eat. While there
is nothing wrong with having a full and active life, living on
the fast track can come with a price. Overextending
ourselves often adversely affects our wellbeing physically,
emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. This condition is
commonly called 'burn-out', and as the body ages it is
more vulnerable to this syndrome. At such time when the
human frame cannot keep up with the demands placed
upon it, personal health crisises can and often do eventuate.While no one welcomes ill health, the key to avoiding the
potential pitfalls associated with a complex, over-active
lifestyle lies in prevention. We must educate ourselves
in order to better understand basic life principles and then
amend personal habits accordingly to enjoy a fuller,
happier, and healthier life.Simply healthy: It's natural!
When Almighty YHVH formed man, he was perfectly healthy
(whole) and He placed him in an idyllic setting called a
a garden. The garden was resplendent with verdant fields,
trees, and vegetation. An abundance of living foods sprang
up from the earth by the creative hand of YHVH as a gift to
man for his sustenance(food): fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts,
and whole grains. The splendor of this garden must have
been beautiful to behold, and its produce delicious to eat!
So it was that YHVH Almighty placed on this earth all
that man needed in order to be strong and healthy.
A natural way of life thus became traditional practice for
centuries by cultures throughout the world. Today this
lifestyle is commonly called living on the land or getting
back to nature by those who value and understand the
basic principles of good stewardship of both the earth
and the human body. Science, medicine, and scripture
agree that a life in harmony with YHVH's natural creation
is to experience a superior wellbeing as intended by
YHVH.This being said, the merits of a natural lifestyle serve
as an example of how best to live a healthy life today.
While not all are called to be farmers and 'live on the land,'
there are simple, practical steps that one can take in order
to realize the benefits of living well.Simply healthy: creating wellness
Unravelling and resolving a tangled, complex life requires
the principle known as simplification. This principle can
be expressed in many forms, all of which support
wholeness of body, mind, soul, and spirit. Some
of these principles include the following.
- Priorities- determine your life values: what is
most important to you, your goals, future plans,
what you hope to achieve in life, etc. Focus on
what is important to you and leave the rest behind.- Diet- what you eat determines the quality of your
well being. Natural, living foods support health;
man-made, processed, and animal-based foods
do not. Simplify your eating pattern by choosing to
eat the simple, natural way: fresh salads, smoothies,
healthy entrees 'in the raw.' The body does not need
copious amounts of food to be nourished. It only
needs the right foods to meet its needs.- Products- choose naturally- sourced products for
home and personal care, since chemically-based
products are unnatural and are therefore inherently
toxic. Investing in natural products simplifies the buying
process in that natural options are fewer in number
than popular, chemically-produced products.- Clothes- simplify your wardrobe by choosing
apparel that is made of natural fibers (linen, cotton,
silk, wool), since man-made, synthetic fabrics leave
toxic residues in and on the body that can cause
health problems such as cancer, infertility, allergies,
hormonal imbalances, etc.- Shopping- purchase what you need and not
what you want. Often there is a big difference.
Simplify your shopping experience by being
more discriminating.- Clutter- streamline your surroundings by
reducing or eliminating unwanted/unused items.
Trimming your living space down to basic
necessities improves personal outlook and
clarity of mind.- Relationships- simplify your contacts by
weeding out negative relationships. Trying to
support unproductive relationships can be
stressful and therefore unhealthy.- Exercise- physical activity is healthy but
avoid pushing the body beyond its limits.
Better it is to keep exercise and sports
committments simple than over-extend and
suffer ill consequences. The simple act of
taking a walk has many health benefits.- Technology- electronic devices are tools of
convenience that can destroy relationships
and personal health. Choose tools wisely
and limit their use, especially by children.
Simplify and streamline communications
by by-passing modern tech devices in
favor of using 'old fashioned' methods of
communication such as letter writing and
personal visits.It is said that 'less is more,' and sometimes we are
forced to prove it. So it is that cutting back, cutting off,
and cutting out unproductive aspects of our lives is
akin to pruning trees and bushes in order to encourage
healthier growth and a better yield. This process is a
natural progression in the course of life that leads to
living in the fullest sense!
