don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Merry Christmas. This is a major holiday and a cheerful one at that, for hundreds of millions of people all over the world, including those of us with little or no interest in the religious and/or cultural trappings of the occasion. Personally, I largely ignore the sappy songs, decorations and movies of the season, the Santa Claus nonsense and all the kid stuff, despite my immaturity! I don't participate in the commercial aspects of the season, either. I have zero use for xmas cards, wrappings, gifts, trees and the like and I sure as heck don't want a white Christmas, which is fortunate since I live in Florida.

I'm not thrilled with some of the hazards the holiday invites, either, such as the excessive drinking, congested highways, crowded airports and so on. Yet, I am not a Dickens-like Scrooge! Really. I always have fun on xmas, though not in the usual ways related to the occasion. I make a point of having fun every day, and this is one of the 365 24-hour opportunity periods I get to do so annually! I hope you do, as well, with or without attachment to the seasonal trappings. If this xmas kind of thing thrills and delights you, makes you feel good and IS an important part of YOUR view of a great December 25, then I wish you a Merry Christmas. See, I'm not unreasonable.

How DO you feel about this day? Is December 25 a time of Yuletide overload, or a pleasant, even joyous occasion of a healthful and satisfying nature? Does this particular holiday, in all its manifestations, add to the quality of your life, diminish it or affect it not at all? Can you direct your imagination to create peaceful, happy holiday scenes at home and work? Do you indulge in warm and glowing, multi-generational gatherings? Do you somehow manage to create a holiday of a wellness-friendly nature?

It might be important to think along these lines, for xmas like other holidays can be a health hazard! If like yours truly you disdain the commercialism, the music, the traditions, the expectations, the rituals and the rest, it takes a bit of talent to avoid occasional consternation, grumpiness and assorted harrumphing and cynicism. As you might imagine, getting all bent out of shape can be an emotional downer -- not the kind of mood needed to look on the bright side of life.

However, I do have a bit of a xmas fantasy, which I can introduce in the form of a question: What if it were possible to give someone the gift of a wellness lifestyle for xmas? Assuming this great gift were not too expensive, wouldn't just about everyone purchase and gift-wrap such a thing for everyone he/she knows?

I think so. We don't have to wait for someone to give it to us at Christmas, or as a gift at any time of the year. This can't be done. We can, however, choose excellence in body, mind and purpose whenever we want to give ourselves the gift of a great and epic life, lived fully. There is no reason for us to accept anything less than the real thing -- from ourselves. As for giving the gift of wellness to others, you can in a way do that, too, or at least major parts of it, especially for your children, by living a wellness lifestyle. You can't wrap the gift of wellness modeling, but some things are too beautiful and wonderful just the way they are to need or benefit from extraneous decorations, anyway. Be a positive person, a cheerful person and a self-managing lifestyle artist and you will give your children, your friends and everyone who knows you the everyday pleasures of your company, example and treasured memories. What a present that will be, 365 days a year. Furthermore, as long as you are around, the gift will keep on giving, and many of the memories of those kindnesses and generosities will last for lifetimes.

With that thought in mind, I wish you a wonderful day. Be well and look on the bright side.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of lifestyle habits. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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