The past five to six years have been challenging for many reasons most of which aren’t for this space or time. One of the unfortunate outcomes though was a personally noticeable decline in health from every meaningful definition (emotional, physical, mental, spiritual). It was a high stress season, it was focus on family (and self) preservation and involved more pain then I’d typically care to admit. Thankfully that season came to an end near the end of 2022 and slowly but surely things are looking brighter.
One particularly nefarious symptom of that season was the suppression of my voice. I often felt like I couldn’t say what I wanted to say, write what I wanted to write, or be who I am (and this just got more overt and heavy as time went on). Reclaiming my voice post 2022 has been a significant part of my healing journey and blogging has recently begun to play a crucial role in this process. Surprisingly, it feels like a key component of healthy mental health, for me, in this moment. In part, I think that is because it is helping me give voice to various challenges and experiences from my past.
I don’t go intensely personal often, at least not yet. The mere act of writing, of getting my thoughts out of my head and onto paper, has been life-giving though. Frankly, it doesn’t matter if anyone else reads it; what’s important is that it allows me to express myself, process my thoughts (no matter how frivolous) and find my voice.
Mental health isn’t the only area of concern though. The last season was particularly stressful. All of my energy was naturally diverted towards preservation, which doesn’t always mean good health (probably never). As I’ve shaken this season loose and begin to wake up to the importance of health, I’ve seen the need for changes. At the beginning of 2022 I started incorporating semi-regular walks into my routine. Walking with headphones on and being outside was immensely beneficial during the particular time that life was exploding all around me; in some ways it kept me grounded to step outside into nature (we lived next to a vlei), turn on some good music and walk for a while.
As we moved back to the US, I saw how prioritizing health could bring goodness to other aspects of life so I joined Planet Fitness. My focus is on making health habits rather than following specific programs or diets (please don’t invite me to join your p90x or crossfit club). Programs and diets tend to be finite and lead to a return to old habits. Instead, I decided to focus on creating new, sustainable habits and a lifestyle where health is actually valued.
Currently this looks like going to Planet Fitness four to five times a week. My initial focus was on the treadmill and cardio to get my body moving. When I started, I tried some weights but quickly realized how out of shape I was after pulling a muscle. So, I decided to start small with just the treadmill, and it has been incredibly beneficial.
Eight months in, I’ve begun incorporating weights into my routine, slowly and methodically. My goal is to make fitness a habit, not to achieve a specific target. The results have been rewarding. For one I feel a lot better. My back pain is a fraction of what it once was (unless I pull something digging in the garden). I’ve also been able to lose weight.
Holistically focusing on health has been transformative for me (I think). Whether it’s re-discovering my voice through blogging or working out at Planet Fitness, prioritizing health has improved all aspects of my life. By creating sustainable habits and valuing health, I’ve been able to navigate through challenging times and emerge stronger. It’s a journey I’m actually excited to continue.
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