Nourish your body.
Your body is your temple.
It is what you have nearest and dearest. It is there to support you throughout your life. It deserves your respect and your attention.
What are you eating these days? Are you aware that what you eat and what you drink has a direct influence on your mood and levels of energy?
Long before French author Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote in 1826: “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are” the Indian sacred books and the subsequent Ayurvedic treaties were insisting on the crucial role a balanced diet consisting of pure, fresh and nutritious food played in our overall health. Numerous cultures around the world, including that of the well known Okinawa island, reputed for the longevity of its inhabitants, emphasize the importance of varied, seasonal and nutritious ingredients, cooking with love and care and respect for the food we eat.
It is a sad reality that our fast paced western world has slowly but surely drifted away from those basic principles. Despite the fact that we are now more open and inclusive as far as our diets are concerned, and have gladly embraced cuisines from around the world, we seem to have completely forgotten the fundamental philosophy and the wisdom on which those cuisines were based.
Perhaps the current crisis is the opportunity we needed in order to revisit the way we nourish our body?
Is there anything you would like to change about your dietary habits? Are you making the right choices even when on a tight budget? Be honest with yourself. A bit of pampering is good in times of crisis but if you have been telling yourself for some time that you needed to improve your diet, you have no excuse now.
Most of us have in fact rediscovered the joy of cooking from scratch and there is suddenly more time to experiment and enjoy our meals.
There is also more time to eat together with our families and friends – whether around the table or virtually.
Many have volunteered to cook for those in need, health workers or elderly neighbours – and the joy of giving and receiving a nutritious meal – the gift of offering and sharing food – is firmly back in fashion.
Give yourself the gift of eating healthily and mindfully.
Bring joy and gratitude back into the ritual of eating, of nurturing yourself.
Treat yourself with the best food you can, presented in the nicest way – as if you were a guest at your own table.
You know best what you need – and what foods and quantities are right for you.
There should be no sense of punishing yourself and no guilt involved.
Quite the contrary: think of this as the ultimate investment in your health and your happiness.
A good and happy life starts with good health and a positive attitude.
Add to this whatever physical activity gives you joy: whether it is a walk in nature or half an hour of Yoga, or running or cycling or jumping around or weight lifting – whatever puts a smile on your face and gives you the energy and confidence you need.
You have decided to trust Life. You have moved away from feelings of victimhood and you are ready to work with Life in order to affect change and create the Life you truly deserve and desire.
You are making the first step in taking back control of your life.
It is a small step and yet a crucial one.
You can definitely do this.
A healthy body is the best gift you can give yourself right now.