All Blog Postings by Mary
How Healthy Am I
Archive notice: This is a historical post from Mary’s years of blogging. Some older posts may mention products, courses or shop items that are no longer available, as Mary now focuses her time and energy on supporting widows inside her private Facebook community. The guidance and stories remain here as a free resource for widows.
For current ways to connect with Mary’s work, you can:
- Read her book on Amazon .
- Request to join her private Facebook group for widows .
Do you ever wonder, “How Healthy Am I?” Everywhere we look there are advertisements prompting us to get healthier, and yet most of us fail just weeks into our attempts to do so.
I think it’s because we focus too much on the end goal. Instead a few smaller resolutions would be easier to work into your life.
Sleep – Go to bed around the same hour each night and get up around the same time each morning. Taking melatonin half an hour before bedtime may help you sleep.
Diet – This is where the answers to my question, How Healthy Am I?" really needed some attention. I personally eat off a lunch size plate. It helps me not to overeat. Commit to removing one poor food choice. I have a sweet tooth for anything chocolate. It was hard give it up, but I slowly cut back until I no longer craved it.
Exercise – For me it’s not about having the body I had in my twenties. I’m now 68 years old and my late Mother lost her leg, due to poor circulation, when she was 69 years old. I don’t want that for my future. It’s all about being mobile and staying independent. I live in a condo building with 16 floors. Every morning when I first get up I walk all 16 flights and hallways, both up to the top and down to the bottom. It’s free and just out my door so I have no excuse, but there are still morning where I have to talk myself into it. I tell myself, “I don’t want to, but I’m doing it anyway”.
Friendships – It’s true that people who have meaningful connections live longer, are happier and healthier. I know it’s hard to get out when grieving, but the more you do it, the stronger your broken heart will get. Talking, laughing and sharing can give your health a big boost.
Stress Management – Learn to say “No” to things you really don’t want to do, and that don’t add to the quality of your life. Start using some stress-reducing techniques such as deep breathing, massages, and social time with friends with some good belly laughs.
Let it go - Widows are stressed and it’s natural to struggle when you feel that others don’t understand your grief. This is where I repeat to myself, “Let it go” and it stops me from taking their lack of empathy personally. It’s not, it’s just their point of view and only has the power I give it. Take what may be a kernel of truth and let the rest go.
These are a few things that I learned when I stopped and asked myself, “How Healthy Am I?” Please step back and ask yourself the same question. We all uniquely grief in our own way and so our health is also our own unique journey.