I used to roll my eyes when older people would say, “Youth is wasted on the young.” Now I’m one of those old(er) people.
The past few weeks, my vision has started to get blurry. I have a hard time reading screens especially (which is why my posts have become less frequent), and need to look away or close my eyes after about half a minute of screen time.
I finally made it to the optometrist who told me that the surface of my eyes is chapped. I’m going to have to stop wearing contacts until things heal, which can take a while. Though I don’t love wearing glasses, I’m grateful that my vision should return to normal eventually. Then the thought of permanent damage got me thinking.
We take our health for granted… until we don’t.
I was fortunate enough to not have to experience too many health issues growing up. I would get sick a few times a year, but I would always bounce back.
Losing dependable vision the past few weeks has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to have a physical disability. I also felt convicted for how I’ve taken my eyesight for granted for so many years– it has never failed me, until now.
Choosing to value our bodies
I come from communities where there’s a lot of focus on the mind and heart. We talk about issues of education, spiritual formation, positive thinking, growth mindset, and more; most of our focus is on the immaterial.
But I believe that salvation is holistic. I believe that healing is about mind, body and spirit. Our bodies are just as important as our minds and hearts, even if there’s not nearly as much literature covering physical health as there is covering philosophy, religion, policy and humanity.
4 Mindset Changes that are Good for Your Body
1) Consider how you feel- emotionally and physically.
As an extravert, it’s easy for me to go on a relational marathon, traversing from one event to another. But is it good for my body? So often we ask ourselves if we are tired, but just as often we’re referring to our mind and emotional energy. Next time you make a decision, thinking about the ramifications it might have on you physically as well.
2) Don’t allow work to hinder eating and drinking properly.
None of us should have such demanding tasks that we can’t afford a sip of water (that would be inhumane). But how often am I so focused that I put off eating lunch or drinking water until I’m done?
I know that I will be more intentional about standing up, stretching, snacking, and sipping throughout my work day. I will also be trying to shrink the amount of time staring needlessly at my computer screen.
3) Consider the outdoors a haven.
We as humans have spent a lot of time and energy trying to get inside— to the point that the notion of being outside can feel a bit anti-intuitive during cooler months. But the benefits of getting outside are tremendous, especially as the provide sunshine and fresh air.
As we enter mid-autumn and the pre-holiday season, many of us are looking at spending a good chunk of our time indoors. Even though I hated the bitter cold of winter when I lived on the East Coast, I remember feeling refreshed after a brisk walk– despite the shivering. Filling our lungs with fresh air, and fueling our bodies with natural light is a good thing.
4) Put vanity to death.
There are so many choices we make as a society that are “good” for our image but bad for our bodies. There’s no need to go into extreme dieting or dangerous tanning– we all know how much we’ve suffered from those. But what about smaller vanity-driven choices? Starving ourselves the morning we have to fit into a dress, or wearing lots of makeup that we don’t have the energy to remove at the end of the day– we all do these subtle things.
Caring more about my body than about how my body looks can help me remember what actually matters.
Related: Why I Shrank My Closet (and quit obsessing over my image)
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Getting used to my glasses
When I purchased these glasses years ago, I had no intention of wearing them in public. That is how certain I was that my vision would never fail me.
Now I don’t know how long I’ll be wearing glasses– and I’m getting used to it. Thankfully it’s a deep burgundy that works with most fall colors, especially when complimented with a few Noonday Collection accessories.
What I’m wearing:
- Capsule wardrobe top: LOFT shell
- Capsule wardrobe jeans: Joe’s
- Tamia bib necklace from Ecuador
- Constellation earrings from Peru
- Everyday artillery bracelet from Ethiopia
- Current cuff from India
Amen, sister.
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! (Great post.) Especially the bit about caring for ourselves and listening to our what our body tells us when it’s hungry/tired/hurt/etc. So often we are willing to invest tons of money into maintaining our car, but not ourselves. We need to work on giving our body (and mind!) what it needs in order to maintain and thrive, so that we can enjoy our daily lives more fully. 🙂 Once those habits begin to fall into place, the positive changes will be reflected outwardly, which will take care of the vanity bit. 😉
I’m glad your eyes will heal again, good luck on that! And I’m going to drink something now, as I haven’t drunk enough for today yet 😉
Ooh I LOVE your glasses, girl!! You look adorable! 🙂 And I totally need to wake up and realize I have to take care of my body. It seems to be harder every year, but as I get older I’m realizing how much more my body needs to be taken of. Ooh to be getting old. 😉 Great post lovely!
I’m so glad your vision will recover! You’re so lucky to have a health-related wake up call that isn’t something permanent.
I’ve been thinking about how much we take our health for granted a lot lately, I’m living in a town with a huge elderly population, and have been realising that all of these people picking their way carefully through town were once as young and spritely as I am now.
I don’t want to be an *old* elderly person, I want to be one of those young-at-heart elderly people who walks miles, dresses well, keeps an active mind, and has good health. I’m becoming more and more aware of the fact that if I am serious about this aim, I have to start now – not when I’m 40 or 50 or 60, but right now while I still have my health.
Thanks for this reminder!
I’m really sorry to heart that you’ve been having trouble with your eyes! That’s really scary, but hopefully they’ll start showing improvement soon! I don’t like wearing glasses either, but my vision is just good enough that when I really don’t want to wear glasses (and don’t need to drive), I’ll just skip them. I’m really good at recognizing people by the color of their hair or outfit, haha!
There’s always this big joke about nurses about how they never stop to drink some water or go to the bathroom during a 12 hour shift–Angel was one who would always stop and take the time he needed, he would never let himself get dehydrated…and he took care of all of his patients just fine. Commitment to doing a good job doesn’t have to mean neglecting one’s basic needs!
I really hope that you vision will return Daisy! I would FREAK OUT if mine start to go blurry… I’m still afraid that all of a sudden, my my eyes will get back again after lasik. Take plenty of time to rest off-screen and don’t worry about blogging :). It’s so true that we have to listen to our bodies. I’ve been super tired for some reason the past few days, so I don’t let myself feel guilty for taking 2-hour naps. 🙂
Oh! And you look super cute with glasses!!
Awww the glasses are cute!
And I love everything you said here (as usual). I am an avid weightlifter (I follow a competitor’s training program but I just choose to not compete) and can speak from daily experience that the first one on the list is HUGE. Learning to read, manage and respond to your body’s cues re: physical exertion, fatigue and exhaustion is key. Too often people completely overlook this. I still do it. I’ll have off days in the gym and, not mentally feeling worn down, I’ll wonder WTH is “wrong.” It can be hard to identify, which is, I believe, why that physical aspect is often overlooked. So glad to see it on this list!
Yes! We in the US can learn so much from the Scandinavians…
Thanks for reading, Lani! And yes… my eyes are “chapped” from chronic dryness. And basially it’s not clear as to what I can do… or how long it’s going to take to heal. It’s a pretty annoying condition– but at least, thankfully, no pain. 🙂
You are so right! Tomorrow is not promised. Knowing this should and can change our approach to each day.
Very true! I definitely took my health for granted before!
Thank you, Kat! Wayyy to much screen time, for sure. I hope you get better news than I did!!
That is fantastic, Elise! I love having that down time to simply relax. I had a pretty stress-free weekend and it was wonderful. 🙂
Thanks for reading this, Ally! And it’s hard to prioritize our physical health when we have so much else on our plate… but trust me, once something goes wrong, our health starts to take more precedence! But I do like coffee!
Haha yes! I still wear makeup so when we say we’re heading to bed, Aaron’s the only one who actually goes to bed! I’m in the bathroom washing up for at least another 10 minutes.. it’s kind of ridiculous!
And thank you, friend! I appreciate that.
Aw thanks friend! Actually, back when we were considering a dog, the daily walk and taking him/her outside was a huge incentive. We didn’t ultimately get one, but we still cherish our occasional after-dinner walks. It’s a great habit.
Thanks so much, Mica!
And wow– that must have been such a difficult time. It’s unfortunate that we have to learn gratitude in this way, but it helps us to be mindful of how fortunate we already are!
Yes… I still don’t exercise as regularly as I want to (though I’m improving!) and I know it’s something I’m going to have to face, and take seriously, in the future!
Thanks Summer! And haha, I get hungry at night too, but I also eat plenty during the day…
Thank you Heather! And yes!! That’s exactly what I’m still getting used to– having something on my face and somehow obstructing (and yet helping) my vision.
I’ve been on a quest to limit screen time as well. So much of what I do involves reading and my eyes are definitely suffering from that!
Thanks Lindsay! Haha– I hear you on that one. I work with students as well and they’re not always hearing what I’m saying. Sometimes I wonder if life’s most important lessons must be learned on our own…
Wow, that must have been really tough, Emily. It’s a difficult lesson to learn and live with!
Thank you, friend!
Oh thank you Rachael!! 🙂 And yes, I forget to be grateful on a regular basis for one more day of good health!
You look so gorgeous with glasses, btw. And I agree with this post– we need to be grateful for everything our bodies can do!
This is SO good! Such good things to remember!
You’re so right, most healthy people don’t even think about their health. This summer I was diagnosed with a chronic disease so now I have to be more aware of my physical health than I ever have been before. Thanks for the reminder not to take health for granted!!
I love this post!! Ahhhh it’s so true, youth is wasted on the young. I heard it so many times and never understood it. I’m 28 and teach high school seniors, and I always find myself telling them things that are SO IMPORTANT but will ultimately go in one ear and out the other.
Those are cute glasses! Though I understand the annoyance because I hate having a rim around my vision (I have similar glasses and thankfully only need them if I’m reading a powerpoint or something). These are great ideas, and I have personally been trying to work on the first one. It is hard to turn down plans just to rest or spend some time by myself, but I feel so much better when I do! I’m also trying to limit screen time and maybe plan my posts on paper so I spend less time typing them.
What great reminders for sure – especially #2 for me. Work doesn’t keep me from eating right, but I’m never hungry during the day so sometimes I forget to eat! Then I eat all night, haha.
The one thing I wish I’d done back when I was your age was to keep walking several miles per day. When I stopped walking I slowly started gaining weight. Thee pounds a year doesn’t sound like much but it you do that for thirty years like I did…
That necklace is beautiful! 🙂
I had a few health issues a while back, culminating in being bedridden and a hospital stay. It was not fun and really made me appreciate what I have. Health is so fragile and precious. I’m pleased to say I’m in a much better place health-wise, but it took a lot of changes to get there and a lot of doctors and specialists to do so.
Away From The Blue Blog
First of all, you look super cute in glasses 🙂 Second, I totally agree with you. Having a dog has been a great accountability check for me when it comes to getting outside. I have to take her outside several times a day and I love taking her on daily walks, even when I have to bundle up. I really do feel so much better when I’m outside, even if I come inside a bit chilly! So glad you’re able to take care of your eyes and hope they heal soon!
Yes, this is so true — all aspects of our health are holistic and impact one another. I had to laugh out loud at your line about wearing makeup we don’t have energy to take off at night. I complain about this to Dan ALL the time! In fact, it’s for that reason that I’ve pretty much stopped wearing makeup to work unless I have a formal meeting to attend. I absolutely agree that we take many aspects of health for granted until those things are put in jeopardy. I’m glad this painful condition could bring you to a new understanding. I’m praying that your eyes heal soon! And in the mean time, you look adorable in your glasses! 🙂
Mmm. This is good.
I have a condition where I should really be eating more protein, less sugar, and I should be having small meals throughout the day.
Most of the time, I can’t tear myself away from what I’m doing long enough to have a health-promoting snack during the day. Breakfast often means coffee… and nothing else. Bad, bad, bad. Thanks for the inspiration today!
I took 2 hours last night to sit and be quiet… I wrote notes and did some reading (for fun, not for school) — It is incredible how recharged I felt this morning!!!
Love this post—such a great reminder. And, I had no idea that chapped eyeballs were even a thing. My vision has been awful lately, too. I’m sure I have eye strain from so much screen time. But, I have an eye appointment next week. We’ll see how that turns out!
Have a wonderful weekend, friend!
xoxo
Kat 🙂
I’ve actually been doing this for a long time. Not just with my body, but with my life. I wake up every morning and instantly remind myself that today is not promised. Tomorrow is not promised, and to cherish every frustration and roller coaster the day will bring. Sure some days are really hard, but for the most part, I can go about my day in a healthy way and not obsess. (:
http://www.accordingtokiki.net
I had no idea your eyes could get chapped! Arg!!!! What did the doctor say exactly? Was there something you could do to prevent it from happening in the future?
Also, I love your last sentence, “IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU PLAN ON CHERISHING YOUR BODY THIS WEEKEND?” – I need to remember this more often. Cheers ^^
Cherishing you body, so important! I really love the importance of taking care of your body and mental health in Iceland, people are very into taking care of themselves with exercise and spending time outdoors.