Wellness as a Lifestyle
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about my life, how I am evolving, and ultimately my lifestyle. The last couple of years have been quieter than ever before and in the silence I just "worked" on myself. I focused on my career, family, and wellness. My days were a balance of work, kids, Aunt Stefy's condo, and running.
During one of my long runs through the forest and along the Mississippi, I thought a lot about what wellness truly means to me and how important it is to my lifestyle.
Not the version we see all over social media. Not necessarily the Pilates reformers, the matchas, curated morning routines, and supplement cocktails that everyone seems to define wellness as. Not saying there is anything wrong with that but I have always found myself deeply drawn to something different. Less of discovering a new trend but remembering something extremely familiar.
For me, it has been more simplistic. Wellness is spending time in nature daily, learning about plants growing around me and foraging, eating seasonally, functional fitness, and eating whole foods.
While on a 12 mile run, I discovered a long and dense patch of evening primrose. I came back after getting dressed and went on a foraging walk. It made me think about wellness as a lifestyle.
I love the idea of wellness but I don't think it has to be complicated or an aesthetic to be meaningful. Sometimes, wellness can be taking a walk without feeling the obligation to "close your rings". Sometimes, it is spending a hour or so foraging and studying plants and nature. It could be cooking a meal from locally grown produce and eating seasonally. And, sometimes, it is spending enough time outside getting Vitamin D and realizing you are part of something so much bigger.
For years, I've been drawn to the idea of aligning my lifestyle with seasonal living. Paying attention to what the earth is doing naturally and allowing Mother Nature to be the influencer I follow. There is something so inspiring about recognizing that nature has its own rhythm. Everything doesn't bloom at once. There is a season for everything. A season to grow, a season to rest, and a season to bloom again. And, to be in alignment with that and building a wellness ritual as part of my lifestyle is the greatest reward.
While gathering evening primrose, it became clear what being well means to my life. Wellness is familiar to me because of my deep spiritual connection with my ancestors. It isn't something I have to try. It is something I just need to remember. Remember that wellness was a natural part of their daily lives. They learned what grew in their environments. Our ancestors knew what was in season, what grew in the woods, what to gather, and movement was a natural rhythm.
As I age and get wiser, evening primrose was the perfect herb to spend time with as I anchor my wellness rituals. I've learned wellness as a lifestyle is less about adding more to my life but paying attention to what's already there and use what you have.
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