Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Holistic Life

One of the issues I continually struggle with is that of balance - being able to balance everything in my life. As of late, I have been thinking of this in terms of the "holistic life." The holistic life is a life where we make the time to balance all the important things and continue to grow in body, mind, and spirit.

For me this takes time and focus. To focus on the body part of life I get up early, go to the gym or go for a jog, make sure I get to bed at a decent time at night, and am active with my family. The parts I slip on the most are the physical parts - going to the gym especially. This is a struggle, but important so that I can be as healthy as possible.

For the mind part, I try to spend time daily reading, listening to music, and doing other interactive ideas.

For the spiritual part I have time every morning in the office when I close my door, read scripture, and pray.

Then there are the other parts of life that are as important and needed for the holistic life - such as time with Jennifer, our daughter, friends, and family. These are all essential to have a healthy family life, which makes my life healthier as well.

But keeping the balance is tough - there always seems to be more to do, especially when it comes to work and the ministries happening here. So trying to keep everything in check, making the time for all parts of life - it isn't easy.

So today I would like your input - what do you do to keep balance in your life? How do you balance family, work, and time for yourself? What do you do to make your life more holistic?

1 comment:

Betty Dygart said...

I know I could do much more on the exercise end. Every time I go to the doctor, it is one of her questions, and she always gets the same answer. Somehow, it is the very LAST thing on my list. I will try to do better, now that the nicer weather is coming.

My daily routine begins with this machine. I like to come to the computer, coffee in hand, and do my devotions. This blog has now become a part of that, and I find it very helpful to freeing up my mind, allowing me to get in touch with not only myself, but with powers outside of myself.

After I have prayed, read some scripture, and thought about my yesterday, I can then move on to my today.

This morning, before devotions, I made a couple of phone calls, one to a fellow OS member, who had called and left a message last night. She wondered how my MRI had turned out. (We are all relieved to know there is no tumor.) She urged me to go seek another opinion on somehow bringing the hearing back in my dead ear. I'm not all that certain that is what I want. I am okay with Dr. Lee's attitude, of just "waiting to see what happens, if anything."

The other call I made to one of my sisters who had a birthday a couple of weeks ago. She had called me, got my answering machine, and I had called her back, got her answering machine, so we had not gotten to REALLY talk. She didn't even know I was having an MRI, so she was kept from having the worry and already got the good news. It was a good call.

Holistically, I need to make more of those kinds of calls, especially to my siblings. I vow to do that from this day forward. Working only half-days is helpful for me, in that I do better "fitting everything in." I am enjoying my semi-retirement.

Living alone has its advantages too. I can do what I want, when I want and never have to ask what some other person wants to do. It is especially helpful if you are accustomed to the other person never wanting to do anything. What a drag.

Life is good. I am enjoying the meat of it, but also working toward the bone, where I plan on sucking all the marrow out. I want all the flavors, all the feelings, all the experiences I can squeeze into my life, however long or short it turns out to be.

God has been so good to me and continues to bless me. I thank Him every day for what he has done and for what I know He will do.