Feeling Motivated to Trust the Process of Life
“ Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away.” ~Maya Angelou
My theme for September is creating life balance. It’s a topic close to my heart, and that admittedly, is often difficult for me to attain. I’m a striver, and while I value maintaining a work-life balance, I can easily be swayed from my wellness goals in my efforts to achieve mastery—or what some might call perfection—in everything.
It can be humorous, even for myself, to witness the struggle. One part of me desires to reach heights of success in everything, from writing my next book to preparing a delicious, nutritious meal to exercising daily and keeping my connections strong. Another part of me wants to relax into more being and less doing, to be more easy-going and relaxed than is my nature.
It’s not quite as funny when my intensity leads to health problems, and unfortunately, there have been more times than I like to admit when that has happened. It can still require every ounce of mindfulness training I possess to convince myself to take a break, rest, and be still. I write in my journal every day: I trust the process of life; all is well. But often, I forget to live it. I get caught up in the feeling, of a need to control everything or risk getting it all wrong.
A few days ago, Mister and I stumbled onto a Netflix documentary that was affirming and inspirational. Titled Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, we were intrigued to find out more. I wondered; would these secrets also reveal insights into the mystery of creating life balance?
Dan Buettner, the producer and host, led us on an interesting journey to five blue zones he’s identified on our planet: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, USA; Nicoya, Costa Rica, and Ikaria, Greece.
While each blue zone held some interesting tidbits of wisdom to help live a healthy, long time, it wasn’t clear to me whether they also led to life balance, or, more importantly, a life well lived. Many of the people interviewed seemed to be living a joyful, peaceful life, but I couldn’t discern how all the dots connected. In the final of four episodes, Buettner presented a circle diagram featuring four keys to longevity he labeled: Move Naturally, Outlook, Eat Wisely, and Connect. I hoped the colloration, between longevity and life balance would be revealed.
Examples of moving naturally included things like gardening and walking. It seems that the people living in blue zones get more exercise from activities that are a natural part of their day, like walking up steep inclines, than people who pay memberships to work out at the gym. In my experience, getting my heart rate up and stretching my muscles on a daily basis is definitely a part of what makes me feel balanced.
Your outlook, or what I like to refer to as your mindset, is about how you perceive life. It’s about faith, purpose, and how you unwind and de-stress. When you challenge yourself to see life from a glass half full, or better yet, glass overflowing perspective, you attract positive things into your life. When your goals include a higher purpose than your own success, abundance, and happiness, when they include contributing to the happiness of people you love, there is greater joyfulness to your life. And isn’t that as important as how long you live?
Eating wisely seems common sense enough, and what I noticed was that people in each blue zone ate a variety of diets. While highly plant-based, each zone had a unique combination of foods native to their area. Perhaps more importantly, the people ate in moderation. In fact, in Ikaria, one of the centenarians being interviewed claimed that drinking a glass of wine every day was a part of her secret to longevity. For me, it isn’t so much about the wine or the food, it’s about celebrating life together, in community.
The fourth pillar that all blue zones had in common was connection. The people in blue zones put family first. They valued their partnerships, invested in them, and supported them. They found their “right tribe” of people with similar values; friends that feel like family. Instead of putting their aging parents in old-age homes, they kept them nearby, with important roles within the family that included things like helping their grandkids with their homework, while letting the children teach them about technology.
I found myself remembering a time in my life, long ago now. My father had severe rheumatoid arthritis that forced him to stop working and go on personal, full-time disability status. He wasn’t very old, but he faced similar challenges as aging people. I was teaching preschool full-time. My son, and youngest child of three, was enrolled in my morning class, but needed daycare in the afternoons. My father volunteered to take on that responsibility for me. I’d meet my father at my house and the three of us would have lunch together, then I’d leave for work while my father ran the fort. It was a gift for all three of us.
But, back to the documentary and its relevance to my theme; creating life balance. In the last episode, Buettner noted that each of the blue zones were extremely small communities. He wondered, could these principles work for a nation? That question led him to Singapore, which isn’t a blue zone, but has a government with a vision for creating the healthiest nation possible. Singapore is a small island of thirty by sixteen miles, but populated by 5.8 million. Currently, it is one of the happiest and richest countries, with the highest life expectancy of anywhere in the world. The people make exercise a part of their day, have positive outlooks, eat wisely, and value connection.
My favourite takeaway from the documentary was the story of one man. Born in the blue zone of Ikaria, Greece, he left for the USA as a young man to make a life based on the American dream. He built a good life there, but at the age of sixty-six, he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and given six months to live. He decided to move back to Ikaria to live out his dying days, but ended up living for another thirty-five years, to the ripe old age of 102! When asked his secret, he didn’t have one. He hadn’t made a single conscious decision—to exercise more, eat differently, or try a new treatment regimen. He looked into the camera with his huge smile and said, “I don’t know, I guess I just forgot to die.”
Over an engaging follow-up conversation, Mister and I shared our mutual observation, which we’ve noted many times before. There are many paths, choices, and decisions that lead to happiness. I concluded that creating life balance not only contributes to longevity, but enhances the experience of life. I also believe that there is another secret: to listen to your heart. Each of us has a unique path. Maybe it isn’t about figuring out the best way to do everything. Maybe it’s about being in love with the person you are, with the life that you have.
So yeah, I’m feeling motivated to trust the process of life.
COMING UP…
Books & Projects:
· All four of my books are available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo and Barnes & Noble. You can also find them at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.
· I just finished writing my fifth literary fiction, a psychological drama that explores the complexities of mental illness and trauma. Stay in touch by signing up for my blog or following me on social media to find out when it will be published.
Reviews & Interviews:
· Molly Rookwood @ Rookwood Editing listed The Rogue Scorpion in her August newsletter author spotlight.
· You can read the latest reviews or listen to interviews on my website.
Events:
· On August 16, 2023, I was at FILPA, Panama’s International Book Fair in Panama City at the Atlapa Convention Centre. It was a fabulous event and I’m grateful to El Hombre de La Mancha bookstores for the opportunity.
YouTube Channel:
· Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer.
· Watch The Holding trailer.
· Watch The Healing trailer.