Every day we as humans eat and drink, walk around in the sun, and breathe as best we can. All of those things go to nourishing our bodies as well as sometimes our spirits and minds. What then do we do to nourish our total life? Each person has something they do to make it so that the energy in their bodies is replenished. For some it is reading. Others are religion. In the end, it matters little what the nourishment is and more that it happens. We can walk around physically healthy, full, and sated but lack the nourished and full life we would like to find.
This has been particularly telling within the United States where the Protestant Work Ethic has had such a dominant position in our life. The translation of this…we work hard, play less, and live a shorter life. Americans work 40+ hours a week, take fewer vacations, and spend more time running around that virtually any other developed country. This has led to higher stress, more fatigue, and an outlook that is detrimental to us.
I hesitate to use the word holistic; it has gotten a great deal of bad press in recent years. The truth is though that our bodies and minds and spirits are one unit, not separate and functioning in a void. This means that each aspect of life has to be balanced to ensure a healthy and long existence. When one aspect is out of balance, “symptoms” occur showing lethargy, inattention, etc . just to name a few. By bringing things back into balance, including the “fun” aspects of life, we find ourselves able to accomplish and enjoy more of our life.
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