As we grow older, our bodies constantly remind us that they need attention:  an ache here, a tightness there, something in the blood work, difficulty with a flight of stairs.  It’s easy to pay attention to our physical bodies, since with every pang  our bodies make their demands known.  But what about the non-physical aspects of our lives?

Although not as demanding as a nagging pain, our health includes four other aspects that need attention: our emotional health, our psychological well being, our relationship to our surroundings (our home and community), and our spiritual vitality.

How do we listen to these other parts of who we are?  Each “talks” to us in a different way:

• • Our feelings tell us about our emotional health.
  • Our thoughts and attitudes reveal our psychological well being.
  • Our ways of keeping our living space and how we relate to other people indicate the health of our relationship to our community.
  • Our contentment and peace of mind reflect our spiritual vitality.

We constantly hear about exercise, diet, and medical check-ups for our physical health – but how can we take care of these other kinds of health?  And if we find areas that need attention, what kind of attention are we talking about? Just as you exercise and feed your body, it is time to learn how to exercise and feed your mind, your emotions, your connections to your community, and your spirituality. It is much easier than it sounds.

For instance, you know exercise is good for your body, so you could go for a walk. However, walking with a friend in a park adds so much more:  a sense of community with another person plus the beauty of nature. If you both talk about your thoughts and feelings, you each add to your emotional health, as well.  Try going to a yoga class at a community center,  volunteering to oversee children playing at a playground, touring a cultural museum with others your neighborhood – each of these are nourishing to your whole being.

Putting it all together