Take Care of Yourself Before It’s Too Late
by Sarah Gish
We all know it’s important to take care of ourselves – science tells us, our teachers tell us, our friends and family tell us. But do you really take care of yourself daily? “The body always wins,” a friend told me recently. We can push our bodies, but they will always push back.
The late Louise Hay was a pioneer in the mind/body/spirit connection and connected each ailment and body part to a spiritual condition. My wrists are sore (I had two wrist surgeries on one of them) – Louise writes that it’s due to “a resistance to the ease of life.” Indeed, that is one of my main problems – I resist ease! My wrists speak to me, as does the rest of my body. I like the lessons I’m given, and I look at my body as one of my teachers. Another issue with self-care is sleep deprivation: the American Sleep Association’s website states that over 100,000 deaths in hospitals are due to deprivation and that 35% of Americans are sleep-deprived. Sleep is so important to all aspects of our life, including our brain health and physical state. I have found that the best way to balance ALL parts of me – and to improve my sleep -- is by exercising daily. My workouts aren’t always long and involved – sometimes just walking up stairs or parking far away from a store is all I can squeeze in. But I always feel better when I shake it, shake it. Even my 22-year-old son, Alex Buchanan, is enjoying it: he recently started a daily exercise routine and is sleeping better, working better, living better.
This article is part of an ongoing series in which I discuss the “12 Ways to Ignite Your Life Daily” that are at the heart of my I9NITE YOUR LIFE! art project (see more about the project and the “12 Ways” here: www.IgniteYourOwnLife.com). Each month, I will explore one Way and I will also suggest a site in Houston to visit that I love and that connects to the concept. I believe in not only understanding these 12 ways and words in your head and in your soul but also experiencing them first-hand. For “Take care of yourself (nourish),” I suggest that you join a YMCA near you. When we were thinking about moving, one of the most important criteria for me was the availability of a nearby Y. The YMCA offers so many classes and ways to connect, it’s really a healing center. However, if the fees are too much, YouTube exercise and yoga videos can be an excellent source of inspiration and guidance. Whatever works for you, JUST DO IT, and do it DAILY!
Sarah Gish is an igniter, a connector, an artist, a mother – and much more! See her work at www.GishCreative.com and contact her at [email protected] and 713.492.1173. She produces a weekly blog highlighting unique cultural activities for adults and kids in Houston – GISH PICKS: CURATED CULTURE FOR KIDS & ADULTS (www.GishPicks.com). Her I9NITE YOUR LIFE! art project (www.IgniteYourOwnLife.com) is a nonprofit organization and is anchored by a list of “12 Ways to Ignite Your Life Daily,” which are on the website. Sarah sells her IYL bracelets at the Unity of Houston bookstore and she also does private intuitive guidance sessions on Mondays at Body Mind & Soul; to schedule one, please call the store at 713.993.0550.