Many of us exercise, in part, to maintain a youthful appearance or to feel younger. Get in a healthy mindset by turning back the clock and retrieving those boxes of nostalgia from your elementary school days. Life was so simple when you were reading comic books by flashlight on the top bunk. It was also full of wellness and promise for the future.
In a recent survey in Reader’s Digest, older adults said they would worry much less about so many things in life if they had the chance to go back and do it again. Looking back at all those problems they worried about during their prime adult working years, they now realize it all wasn’t worth the additional stress they put upon themselves.
You are only a memory away from your youthful vigor and wellness. Get out an old painting you did when you were in second grade. Dust off the snowman sculpture you created in art class when you were 9 years old. Look at the class picture and imagine being back in a time when all that mattered was the
next recess.
Find your own Peter Pan moment, and use it to create a current foundation for health and happiness. I will share an excerpt from a poem called “What is Orange?” that I wrote in the fall of 1978 in Mrs. McCollough’s fourth-grade class back in Hobart, Ind. It reminds me of all that was good back then … and still can be now.
Orange is the flame after a rocket ship.
Orange is the pumpkin that can hop and skip.
Orange is the car painted so beautiful.
Orange is your hair on your skull.
Orange is the leaves that fall off trees.
Orange is the stripes on cougars, tigers, and bees.
It’s 3:15 p.m., and the bell is about to ring. I’ve got to go now. My friends Rick and Dave already have their jackets
and homework in hand and are lining up at the door. Crisp autumn air and the afternoon’s possibilities await outside. Life is really good!
This wellness article is brought to you by that guy with diamond dreams. That hopeful guy is Ron Blake, and he can be found wishing upon a star at ron@blakehousecleaning.com.
