When we think about ‘taking care of ourselves’, most of us think about exercise, diets, and cosmetic procedures. Of course those things are important: we have to make sure our bodies stay in motion in order to prevent future issues; and we are all too familiar with the famous saying “you are what you eat”, because it’s so true.

As for cosmetics/aesthetics, for most of us it’s fun to get a manicure or a pedicure, to get our hair cut and/or dyed; some gentlemen enjoy grooming their beards, visiting the barber for a shave, etc. All these things may be deemed ‘shallow’ but they do have an effect in how we perceive ourselves and, therefore, in how we feel.

Even though all of the above is important and very enjoyable, taking care of ourselves goes way beyond that. Our bodies are our vehicle; they are our home during this voyage we call life. We get so caught up in our to-do lists and worries, that sometimes we forget to check up on our own physical and spiritual selves.

Ideally, every other day we should take a moment and ask ourselves: does anything feel different than usual? If we find that something hurts, it’s good to think about our current lifestyle. Are we experiencing more stress than usual? Or, are we performing new activities that may be elevating our exhaustion? If you find that you can change anything in your daily routine so that you feel better, do it. If you don’t know what may be causing your discomfort, it’s always a good idea to have a doctor examine you.

We all want to be around for as long as possible, feeling the best we can. We hope to take care of our loved ones, and if we don’t take care of ourselves first, we simply won’t be able to take care of others. We have to feel well in order to  make others feel well, too. Nobody else can look after yourself better than you can. The most important relationship we have in this life may be the one we have with our own bodies. We are spirits having a physical experience, and we ought to cherish our body, for it is our home.

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