I just bought a big, hard cover notebook with blank pages and no lines.
This is my first step to wellness.
This past weekend was a relatively emotional one for me. I had a conversation that was long, long overdue with someone important to me. I am still struggling with whether the conversation was a productive one, but I know that after it ended, I was incredibly emotionally and physically drained.
I woke up the next day still tired and dazed from the previous night. The outcome of the conversation was not one that I had hoped for, but at the same time, I was contented and freed as well. I was confused, and to an extent, am still confused. But as I slowly recovered, I realized that the reason the conversation had affected me so much was because I am/was missing one of the most fundamental elements in life – taking care of myself.
My mind has been racing with all of the ways I could possibly start – or re-start, perhaps – this process that I’ve apparently let slip through my fingers. I could start Yoga again on a more regular basis, eat healthier, sleep more, and so forth. After thinking about it for a few days, I finally decided on my first step. I bought a big, black, hardcover notebook.
I had been looking for a notebook with blank pages for a very long time, but I could never find any that didn’t have lines. I finally walked over to the art section of the bookstore and found a large sketchbook that was more or less what I was looking for. I have it next to me right now. I am set.
I don’t know what I’m going to use this notebook for. I might write it in, maybe draw, paint, or even press a flower in it. Regardless of how this notebook (or sketchbook) is going to be used, it is going to be used for my wellness, because that is the commitment that I’ve made to myself as I picked up the book.
My wellness (all forms) should be important to me. I need to love myself before I can fully love and embrace others. This notebook is going to be the constant reminder of my commitment to myself toward my discovery of I AM.
What is/was your first step to wellness?
My first step, was to simply get off my butt.
Peace.
Actually, everyday is a first step
Peace.
Kelly – that's funny you say that because that's what ended up happening, getting off of my butt, that is. I got off my butt, bought my notebook, and walked across campus to a hidden cafe for some time for myself. And yes, every day is a first step. We just have to keep remembering that!
Much love
Peace.
Great, Cassaundra! Being a notebook junkie myself, I am glad to hear that you bought yourself a notebook! (I have too many notebooks to count…)
My first conscious step to wellness was meditation. Actually, my first step to wellness came to me through another person! When I was going through an extremely difficult time in my life while I was living abroad in Japan, a great friend of mine lent me "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle. I was so struck by the book that I seriously read the book three times before giving it back to my friend!
That lead to meditation, and reading more books on wellness, and also listening to audio books related to wellness. Sometimes I think it was just the simple act of a friend lending me a good book that lead me to this current job in Intent! Funny how life all has a twisted way of working out
Have lots of fun with your notebook! I am sure you have many beautiful life chapters ahead of you.
Thanks Yumi!
I'm going to be honest – reading your comment was a slightly trippy experience, because my first steps (before I got off track) to wellness was also through a friend who suggested that I read a book – in my case "Eat, Pray, Love" (Actually, the same friend I had the long conversation with). From there, I started reading some of Deepak Chopra's works as well as "A New Earth" and started exploring meditation and so forth. It's good to know that all those steps have led you to a positive "now"!
Thanks again for your comment and I foresee great things with this notebook! Hopefully I can share my experiences in the near future with the Intent Community!
Hi Cassaundra! I was drawn to your post I guess because I am going through similar, my own story.
I feel so drained by my life lately, so many wanting from me, using my energy, and I am not getting what I need out of life, and feel sad about it.
I have embarked on a mission of wellness, but have felt thwarted that way my entire adult life,off and on.
It has been such a drama, and just want to feel as I did when I felt the world was my Heaven.
I know happiness is ephemeral, so it will be alright, but I guess my meditation on wellness at the moment has to do with finding the things that make you happy that don't have to do with another person, and doing that, being that.
sorry, I'm just having an emotional moment….life is like that sometimes. I know it will be better.
But I am committed to wellness, so I know it will return, and giving to others, even if unseen, is one way to wellness too.
Bless you for asking the question, cheers, Jas
Hi Jasmine – Thank you for your honest response. What you said about finding things that make you happy that has no attachment to another person is so interesting, and so true. As human beings, we feel that we must connect to others, and it is through our relationships that we grow. This could be true, but this is not the entire truth. That said, this is something I'm still exploring as well. The drama will pass, and it WILL be better, but it is still a process to get there. What i've realized simply by writing this post on Intent is that so many other people are or have gone through this as well, and we are all living to share our experiences. I support you in your commitment to wellness and I hope that we will both find ourselves in a place of growth and happiness soon! Much Love.
I keep "hearing" about this book, "A New Earth". What's it all about?
Peace.
Hi, a more upful me response….Cassaundra journaling is a very good thing. Making art is a very good thing, I am artist/graphic artist, and feel that expression is good in its many forms.
I have written in journals for years, and have stacks that I go through and burn what I feel I don't want to keep around. The parts I do want to keep, that have wisdom, a beautiful drawing and so forth, I make collages with as another form of expression.
Often I write scraps of dreams, and when I go back I can always see patterns, precognitive dreams where I had hints of what was happening in my life, see a correlation, a clue to some direction needing taking.
I started using the cheapest kind of notebook so that I would not be over-precious with the process, wouldn't mind burning, as I tend to clutter, and have to work to let go.
I support you in your commitment to wellness as well, and I have in mind that the lotus grows up out of the mud, and that much becomes clear in the process of living. There is much good in the world, despite the confusing bits. That is part of the growth.
Blessings on you, love Jasmina
jas…
I was drawn to YOUR post!! I to have been exhausted for a long time and I am now seeing it is because i let everyone else's happiness keep me in a place of being stuck and unhappy. I have been having alot of aha moments and lightbulb's going off since the first of this year.
I am excited to think maybe I am finally getting somewhere with all this. We will see, but in the meantime I have picked up the practice of meditation.. and just taking better care of myself over all.
It gives me strength to know so many others are out there on the same quest in life.
namasteh!
Jasmina,
I wish you the best on your journey to wellness and your emotion that is good…we are emotional beings and we are all unique in our way. Find that something and if I can help support you in that please let me know.
Dr. Tom Czyz
Phoenix, AZ
" We all have a life purpose, search to find yours and you will be forever grateful.
Life is more about sharing and caring; when we give with the passion of our heart, we embrace a life of health, wealth, peace and prosperity in all facets of our life. "
Writing. Writing as always been my path to wellness, just letting it all out, getting those juices flowing and throwing it all out on the paper, in my journal, writing a poem; it has been great therapy for me over the years whether it be with relationships, love, my life purpose, what is going on in the world…anything. I love your idea. Put whatever you want it there. I think that is great..because it is yours, it is you and you have to love, like and be comfortable with yourself before you can love others and embrace your true potential.
Wellness, is all encompassing via mind, body and spirit. Just because some eats healthy or looks fit does not mean they are well. You can think of a 100 different circumstances like this. It is all about balance in life, in my opinion. I have traveled around the world, spoke in front of many people, seen and conversed with my patients and balance is the key and finding your defined purpose in life.
Good luck to you and continue your path to better wellness in every way.
" We all have a life purpose, search to find yours and you will be forever grateful.
Life is more about sharing and caring; when we give with the passion of our heart, we embrace a life of health, wealth, peace and prosperity in all facets of our life. "
my first step to wellness this week is to clean my bathroom , and enjoy the sight and smell of sparkling white tiles.
x