Where does one start?

What is it that brings you to this site? I am guessing that for a few of you, it’s the notion that there is something more you could be doing with your health, mind, spirit, or life that will lead you to the point of happiness, or wholeness. For others, perhaps a different perspective or to hear someone else’s story.
I suffered several back-to-back physical and mental health setbacks up until they culminated in 2017-2019. While it took me what seemed like eons to begin my “honest and earnest” efforts to become a better person, I did eventually see my life from a birds-eye view. The about-face started in about 2021 after watching the wall come crashing down around me and winding up hospitalized with panic attacks. It was during an afternoon get-together with a dear friend and nutrition counselor that the wheels began to spin in the right direction.

Eat better
That’s a pretty broad statement. I’ll discuss this more later, but there are so many shortcomings and offensive characteristics of the standard American diet (SAD) that are literally holding us back from a pain-free, guilt-free, life in which we can flourish and push our life expectancies back by (decades?) a large margin. Consider your last trip to the grocery store and the foods, beverages, cleaning products, and snacks you purchased. We’ll explore that more later.
We are lucky to inhabit a true paradise, Earth. Consider the millions, billions of years our home has been floating through the cosmos, and the innumerable creatures Mother Earth has supported during her long and storied existence. The Earth is home to millions of insects, fish, birds, plants, microorganisms, mammals, and you & me, and every single ancestor we have ever had, and will be home to every generation that follows us (until we find a way to colonize another planet, that is.) Every living being has subsisted on nutrients of and from the Earth for hundreds of millions of years. It was not until the modern industrialized human population arrived that food could be defined as whole and largely plant-based. Most modern food products can hardly be called food at all, as they are far removed from their origins. I’ll be posting plenty of healthy plant-based recipes on the cooking section, and hope to do restaurant reviews here in Denver, or any other city I am in!

Go outside!
I’ll write about this in another entry, but for now check out Shinrin-yoku and come back.

Meditate
I’ll revisit this in later entries but consider this; meditation is a metal exercise we can all use to train our attention to or away from an object, though, or activity in order to achieve a clear mind and become emotionally calm. I use meditation for a variety of reasons, particularly to put out-of-mind, any negative thoughts or feelings I am having.
Some people I speak to about meditation consider it a “hippie thing” that’s “not for me.” These are the folks I believe can benefit the most from this practice. There are plenty of great meditation resources and guided sessions online. YouTube has some great channels dedicated to teaching a variety of techniques.
Meditation is also about setting time and space aside for yourself. Ideally, 30 minutes of quiet, without interruption. If there are others in your household, make sure they realize that it is your time and space and that you are not to be disturbed (aside from a fire or flood) and that you are practicing self-realization. Do not worry, It is NOT selfish to want this time and space, it is essential and is part of your journey.

Nerd out!
I say this because to fully embrace a growth-path life, one must adopt a healthy fascination with the cause and set reasonable goals. When I began my journey, I quickly became engrossed with learning, trying, testing, and seeking feedback from my body and those around me. I craved progress. I looked for signs that I was on the right track by becoming so in-tune with my body that I could noticed even the slightest change in how I felt, looked, acted, and made adjustments to my regimen along the way.
Remember, there is a difference between taking a keen interest and being obsessed.
Keep in mind that this will be probably be a gradual and healthy journey, and there will be no instant gratification. There will be upsetting days. There will be discouraging days. There will be so many distractions and you will try to convince yourself to abandon the cause more times than you can imagine. My advice is to take pleasure in the small, incremental upgrades to your life and always put one foot in front of the other. Some folks will be satisfied with their new take on life within a few months, others may never stop. Your definition of a “healthy and wholly-one” person may change over time. The key is to know that as long as you’re learning and then doing, you’re growing in the right direction.

Invest in some comfortable sneakers
If you are able-bodied on day-one of this journey, lace up…. You’re going for a walk. And get some comfortable (corded) headphones while you’re at it. There are some fantastic podcasts and documentary series that will help satisfy your future inner nerd while you’re clicking off the miles.
Walking is an easy way to experience the outdoors - our feet are capable of taking us to some amazing places. If you happen to live near mult-use or walking paths, you’ll be off the road in relative safety and may discover some new features of your neighborhood.

Be Social
By social, I do not mean social [media.] In fact, please spend as little time as possible on Facebook, X, and the others in the beginning. There are countless resources on those platforms - once you know where to look, and are of the right mindset. But, there are also hours of mindless and dulling content that can easily distract you from the most important voice of your journey, your higher-self.
Spend time with like-minded and supportive friends, groups, associations, etc. There are so many people on similar journeys but unless they’re wearing a “wholly-one” t-shirt, you’d never recognize them. Not to worry, they’ll eventually find you if you show up in the right places. Spend time at the farmer’s market, wellness conferences, the gym (see below,) at trailheads, the healthy-living section of the local bookstore, and other places where fit and motivated people congregate. Look for Meetup groups in your area that feature healthy and enriching interests.

Join a Health Club (Gym)
If you can afford it and can make 2-3 hours per week available to yourself, I recommend joining a conveniently located gym. This has to be a location that doesn’t feel like a chore to visit 2-3 times per week. We often hear about the mass-signups that happen around New Years as people add health and fitness to their resolutions, only to drop off the routing within a few weeks. You will not be selling yourself short. This is not a bandwagon self-care project. This is not a resolution. This is your life and you can do it and stick to it! Make sure you find a location that has a sauna, hot tub, clean locker rooms, and a variety of exercise equipment suitable for all skill and ability levels.
I have a Studio membership at VASA fitness here in Denver. They have locations near me in Colorado, but are also in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Utah where my parents live. If you sign up using this link, I’ll get a referral discount which helps me to continue my journey and supports this site and blog. Obviously, your support is truly cherished! Disclaimer: This is not a sales pitch, but I do enjoy not only the time my trainer and I have spent working on my rehabilitation goals, but also the clean and expansive facilities they offer. The sauna and steam rooms will become an integral part of your self-care routine, I can almost guarantee it!

Stay tuned!
I must say that I am thrilled to be sharing some of the things I have learned about the human body, human spirit, and human condition. Keep checking back for more posts, or subscribe to the newsletter to receive alerts to new updates, recipes, etc. Thank you!