I used to think and believe that being healthy meant eating well, exercising regularly, and avoiding illness or injury. It took years of both external and self-inflicted struggles, followed by lots and lots of inner healing and living a more balanced life, to realize that true health goes beyond just taking care of my body.

After committing to living my best, healthiest life six years ago, I only recently came to realize that years of focusing on being physically fit might have been a coping mechanism. Could that be true?  It’s worth considering. How many of us get caught up in one aspect of ourselves as we navigate life’s journey?  It’s easy to do, especially since different phases of life often demand our attention in specific areas. For instance,  career pressures or the challenges of parenthood can all take centre stage, leaving little room for other parts of ourselves.

I spent decades focused solely on my physical body, ignoring my emotions, seeking validation from others, and following someone else’s path—without realizing there was a bigger picture of health and fulfillment that I was missing.  I kept myself very busy raising a family, starting a new career as an elementary school teacher, working out, being an active member of the community, all the while doing the best with what I had at the time.   Eventually, as life slowed down, my husband and I became empty nesters, we lost everything in the wildfires, and I started turning my focus inward. That’s when I began to have a strong feeling that something was missing.  

It took asking for help, hours of reading self-help books, and a lot of forgiveness and self-love before I finally started to experience my full potential and purpose.  I lived and learned and love the quote, “You don’t know what you don’t know.  Practicing living in the present moment, finding gratitude in everything, and continuing to nourish my whole-being is the road I am traveling on now. 

No matter which health model we follow, true health requires nurturing every aspect of ourselves to live a Healthy, Loving Life.