New Rituals of Wellness

It wasn’t a New Year's Resolution; It was a means of survival… Well, that may be a tad dramatic, but it was a necessary pivot from what once was to what is now in progress. 

For the months of November, December and  through early January, I felt ugly, fat, lethargic, and uncomfortable. I couldn’t figure out why I felt so confined. Now granted, these months were filled with feasts and baked goods, so that definitely played a part in the discomfort, but I sensed there was more to this than I could physically see. 

So, just a week ago, I decided that my digestive system must be out of whack. My bowels weren’t working properly. So, let’s do a cleanse. But not by drinking juices or however else you’d go about it. I would take the Nature’s Promise supplement “Liver Detox Complete”. Within 1 hour after consumption, I felt incredibly freer. I was bloated, and then I wasn’t. I was able to move, excrete, and my energy was back. 

So, instead of getting suckered into remedy over action, I vowed to only supplement when need be. There was obviously an issue in the roots of my daily activities, and I was in need of a healthy change.

Over the years, I’ve attempted to be “healthier”. Eat certain foods, exercise for a specific amount of time with a specific structure. But always, I became burnt out. I looked to health as a to-do list; as  a box to check off for the day. I am someone who thrives in an organized fashion; who lives off of self-made charts and graphs to assemble my life together.

So, it was hard (and still is now) to refrain from mapping out a schedule to “abide” by. Each day brings a new 24 hours, and again, this new path for me isn’t about checking off the boxes, it is to learn about myself. To take each day as it comes. To do what is in front of me. Because it’s when I pile up all the exercises and “eating rights” of the future onto my thoughts of today, I get overwhelmed and give up all too soon. 

It wasn’t until I finally measured myself at a leaping 145 pounds that I realized just how far and how quickly I had strayed from my lower weight over the summer. Though I currently still sit at around the 144 pound range, I can see tremendous difference in my physique, energy levels and even positive mindset. So, I wanted to share the 8 new things I’ve incorporated into my “todays”. 

This is not to promote any product, diagnose any condition, or prescribe any remedy. This is only documenting my success. And to share my journey…

Morning:

1). 1 large glass of fresh-squeezed lemon water with mineral sea salt

I learned from Barbara O’neil that when we drink water, it can often go in and out pretty fast. This is an indication that the water isn’t entering our cells. In order for it to do that, it needs pairing with sodium. But not just any sodium, the cleanest there is - “Celtic Sea Salt”. I learned also from another source that lemon water in the morning jumpstarts the digestive system, freshens breath, and promotes a healthily functioning immune system. 

2). 4 oz of Pineapple juice for wisdom teeth surgery prep

There is an enzyme in Pineapple Juice called Bromelain which helps reduce swelling and inflammation. Though there is no swelling yet because the surgery hasn’t happened, I am preparing my body in advance. As you would prep your body to run a race, so that you run it more equipped and ready for what occurrences may prevail. 

3). Healthy Balanced Breakfast

I might not remember the food pyramid to a T, nor do I know the exact changes made to it in recent years, but I do have a sense of God-given foods that benefit the body God created. I try to stay flexible in my eating habits, not necessarily limiting myself, but broadening my intake. Breakfast sometimes consists of eggs (prepared in various ways: boiled, fried, scrambled, etc.), turkey bacon, fruits, beans, and toast (sourdough, rye or whole wheat). Today, I surprised myself by combining scrambled eggs with quinoa and black beans. It was really delicious!!

4). Movement

My style of exercise is unconventional. It’s a tad odd, laid back, but surprisingly effective. There is no set time or regimen that I use to execute the movement at hand. I move how I feel led. Although 9 times out of 10, the session starts off with high knees (I honestly don’t know if they are called that. The movement is marching in place, bringing your knees up as high as you can). I will do this until exhaustion. By then a cramp has formed in my hip, so some stretch will emerge from that. Again, this is free-form. Soon thereafter, my arms become jealous and want to get involved so I do arm circles and front crawl movements; as if I were swimming. But it varies. Sometimes there are push ups, and sometimes there are not. Sometimes I boogie to hoppin’ country music and sometimes I am easing gracefully into a lymphatic dance. I’ve learned that true health and wellness isn’t structured. It’s a rhythm powerful enough for committed change, if you are willing to dance to its genuine tune.

Throughout the Course of the Day:

5). No bra until necessary

I rarely wear bras unless the weather or outfit requires it. It is such a freeing feeling to be able to let them be. At first when I began to change my bra habits, my back muscles had to readjust and my posture had to change, but it was a change for the better. I’m not a small size either. But I had gone through so many years of intense back pain, that I felt the need for a change. I may be extremely sensitive, and some may mock that, but again, I did what was necessary for me. I go deep into the day or the whole day without the structure of a bra. If I do put one on, it is most likely one of the no-padding, no-wiring, cotton bralettes that I got off of Amazon. Absolute game changer. Does the job in a pinch to add some structure for needed outfits and comfort on cold days, but I am happy to say that I am free from the societal standard. 

Which brings me to another point. I had just said above that “I may be extremely sensitive”,  but that sensitivity showed up in any band around my core. Like a tree busting at the seams from anything tied around it tight, I was stiffened, uncomfortable, and frustrated with life altogether being constrained by these elastics. So, in addition to the no bra thing, I opted to wear mainly dresses and skirts (liberating my muscles from tension and strain). So, in actuality, though I wear no bra and some may picture erected nipples popping out of tshirt fabric, my wardrobe has developed throughout the years to be very modest, concealing that which I felt called to do from God. 

6). Hydration

It has been my conscious thought to drink more water. My body system is a very dry system, so my intake for fluids is probably higher than others. I can become desperately debilitated if I don’t take care of myself each day. I have long had a history of migraines, usually located within one of the other eyes. My mouth is always dry. My body feels the cramps and reflects this lack of hydration with discomfort. Besides, fluid intake aids weight loss, and keeps all of the functions of the body running smoothly and efficient. I have to be continually mindful of my need for water. We, as humans, were created from the same stuff the birds, plants  and all the earth-trodding animals were made from. We are cohesive in our need for water as it is an integral life-giving source. 

7). Always Striving Forward

My adult life has not been easy. In fact, it has probably been more stressful than most. But, through it all, I made the conscious decision to always advance myself so that I never grow weary and that my skills are ever-developing. This mindset of positivity has conquered more giants than I could ever have thought possible. I didn’t know this verse until I just looked it up, but this pretty much sums up my mentality toward this positive principle… Psalm 71:14 says this, “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you [God] more and more” (NIV). Or even Stephen Covey’s perspective… the 90/10 principle; success comes from how proper reactions to challenges and the power of belief to achieve goals, even when the body wants to quit. 

8). Wellness Ware Necklace

Honestly, though, having my little pendant around my neck–always in reach if needed, is such a warm feeling. A little token of hand-spun creativity laced with intent and strength. I am ever so glad I began crafting with health in mind. Just putting my necklace on in the morning permits me to feel safer, like I have control over my life. 

Every day that passes, smaller rituals form. Life is changing in every breath. The worst thing you could do is to limit yourself based on the structure of society or its beliefs on individual needs. You know yourself, probably better than you think you do. Allow yourself to listen to your body’s communication system. And ease into that calling, abiding in its hidden strength. 

I’ve shared my current life’s progress to inspire. I, myself, am a learner. I am not above. I am not successful. I am merely growing. As we all do. As we all have a right to. As we all should. 

God bless you, 

~ Amy