I have been thinking for a couple of years now that I want
to get a tattoo. I want nothing
grandiose or conspicuous, just something elegant and private and meaningful and
mine.
I even know what I want it to say…
…Challenge the Mind,
Strengthen the Body, Nourish the Soul.
Keeping such verbosity relatively conspicuous could present
difficulty, I am sure. But, I feel pretty passionate about these phrases. I steadfastly believe that the happiest
people in the world are the people who keep each of these pieces fully quenched
with life. True happiness is soul deep.
How can the deepest, most private pieces of our souls be satisfied if
our minds and bodies are dying of thirst?
For last two weeks, life has shouted emphatic reminders at
me regarding just how monumental it is to give attention to each of these
facets of me; when even one is dehydrated, my perspectives teeter out of
balance and I begin to become someone I do not care for very much.
For the last twelve days, I have not been watering my body;
I have only worked out THREE times!
Three? Are you kidding me? For
someone who usually manages to play with Jillian Michaels 5 times a week, this
is pathetic. When times like these
happen (and believe me…this is NOT a first time occurrence), it affects every
other aspect of who I am. My mood is
less alacritous and jovial. My eating habits take a turn for the dark
side. I feel sleepy and sluggish and worthless
many minutes of the day and even more minutes of the evening. Clearly this
self-sabotage is a dreadful, tiresome, ugly thing.
But you know what? I
also cherish these dreadful, tiresome, and ugly moments. Could I ask
for any more TANGIBLE PROOF that my physical well being decidedly
impacts my mental health, my somatic energy, and my soul-deep happiness? It frustrates me when I have these brief
periods of neglect, but on days like today, when that emphatic screaming that I
have been plugging my ears to for days finally wakes me up, when I finally take
a long drink, it is amazing. Miraculous.
Empowering. Fulfilling.
It is on days like today that I REALLY want to get that
tattoo! Make that corporal mark. Perhaps
if I do, these periods of drought will have even more brevity. Perhaps if I do,
I will more quickly respond to the emphatic reminders my soul gives to my body
and mind.
