| If you're tired and plain ole' fatigued, you're not full | | | | Staying with the status quo works some of the |
| of the vim and vigor of life. No one, who lacks | | | | time, but for the burned out and vulnerable (and |
| sufficient energy to work and play, feels good | | | | that easily can apply to any of us at some point |
| about himself or herself. Why do we get so tired | | | | in our life!), we can expect a true declination in our |
| these days? Why is being tired such a major | | | | quality of health. Did I say, precipitous drop? Such |
| stressor? And what can we do about it? | | | | an event is like someone pounding on your door |
| Almost universally, fatigue is a major reason for | | | | at 3 o'clock in the morning demanding that you |
| most doctor office visits in the US. We're tired | | | | pay attention to them. A rude awakening. No one |
| physically, mentally and emotionally. Unfortunately, | | | | thinks that they will be the one losing their health. |
| doctors don't have great answers beyond the | | | | It will never happen to them! |
| platitudes of eat right, sleep well, exercise and | | | | I had a similar experience years ago when I was |
| reduce the stress in your life. Yikes! Even if we | | | | a professional and sacrificed everything for my |
| could do all of that, how do we accomplish such a | | | | career. Every aspect of my life collapsed about |
| daunting task? | | | | the same time my body did. It took me years to |
| The useful "how to" answers require some work. | | | | come back. Right now I have a loved one going |
| They're not easy, simple or quick unless you have | | | | through a similar challenge. I want to jump up and |
| a plan. Having a plan and working it always makes | | | | scream, "Don't do what I did!" But, it's probably no |
| a task easier. Work on your life/ health goals | | | | use. It's funny how we humans don't heed other |
| individually and collectively, keeping in mind that | | | | peoples' warnings. Don't you be as foolish. Now, |
| spiritual health is also important. | | | | here's the scoop, the gold-plated, ultimate, |
| Unless we can balance our lives with reasonable | | | | make-it-happen-today answer! |
| expectations, do-able goals and the actions to | | | | THE SECRET: Sit down in a quiet space and figure |
| follow, before long they may resemble a faltering | | | | out where your life is lacking and how you can fill |
| top, spinning out of control and heading down a | | | | in the gaps. Consider life, health, mind, body and |
| scary set of basement steps. | | | | spirit. Take a day trip to the mountains to find a |
| When we allow that to happen, every aspect of | | | | special, quiet space. If you can walk Uncle Henry's |
| personal health can decline and stay that way. | | | | fields with the cows, do that. But go somewhere |
| Endless battles with stress and fatigue ensue. If | | | | where you can be alone with no friends, no |
| we're paying attention and don't ignore the | | | | television, no cell phone and no e-mail. For once in |
| warning signs, we'll see them: | | | | your life, allow your heart to be in control. Take |
| - Eating too much, too little or eating the wrong | | | | some deep, relaxing breaths. Feel the air |
| kinds of foods (also drinking and drugs can be out | | | | swooshing in and out of your lungs. Then listen. |
| of control, too.) | | | | Listen to your heart's wisdom and the whisperings |
| - Sleeping too little, too much or going to bed in a | | | | of the Almighty. They will come. We can all be |
| less than optimal sleeping environment/ space. | | | | wise individuals if we take time to honor |
| - Exercising too little, if at all. (After all, when we | | | | ourselves. Time and attention are crucial. |
| get busy, don't we keep on keepin' on and | | | | That's it. It's simple and not really complex at all. |
| concentrate on what "has to be done" and, | | | | Block out a special time for such a life review. |
| therefore, sacrifice the activities that keep us | | | | Afterwards, make individual charts for each area: |
| healthy?) | | | | life, health, mind, body and spirit. Turn a long piece |
| If our health only takes a little swoop dive, we | | | | of paper sideways so that you can write across |
| may let it ride because surely we'll be better | | | | the widest surface and mark out five columns. |
| soon, won't we? Often times we'd rather do | | | | Consider the following for each area: what shape |
| anything than make changes in our lives. It's more | | | | you're in now, where you'd like to be a month |
| comfortable and less hassle to stay with our daily | | | | from now, 6 months from now, a year, and 5 |
| habits and what we already know. (Hint: We lack | | | | years. Then figure out how you're going to get |
| the proper motivation to contemplate change.) | | | | there. |