Wellness Is Not Purchased, It Is Practiced Together
The Missing Piece in Wellness
If I were to ask you, “What is wellness?” how would you respond? Is it some form of self-care ritual, a bubble bath, a skincare routine, or the quality of your food?
The current atmosphere of the wellness industry is heavy on “self-care,” individual solutions to health and wellness. And while I do not disagree that it is up to the individual to use discernment about what they put on and in their body, it is not the individual alone who is responsible for overall wellness.
I believe being cared for by others and caring for others, even when it’s inconvenient, is one of the most important ways to remain healthy and connected.
Some of you may be familiar with the “Blue Zones,” regions of the world where the average life expectancy is the highest. While one major factor is certainly the type of foods they consume, an even more important factor is how they consume food, together.
In these societies, there is a deep communal connection. Everyone, from infants to elders, comes together around mealtimes, cooking together, eating together, cleaning together, and caring for children together. In these communities, they understand that the health of the individual is dependent on others.
In America, wellness is often sold as self-care. You must take supplements, exercise more, and just try harder to be healthy. Individualism is rampant, “me first, my feelings, my time, my thoughts and opinions matter most.” It may be time to shift from hyper-individualism and self-care to interdependence and collective care.
I hope you take some time today to ponder this idea. Can you set aside this mindset and decenter yourself from your own life? Can you ask yourself: How may I be of service to others? And how can I allow others to be of service to me?
This does not mean always overextending ourselves or asking too much when others cannot give. It means showing up when you don’t feel like it and asking for help even when you feel too proud.
So ask your friends to go on more walks. Invite them over for dinner, even when the house isn’t perfect. We were designed for connection, not perfection.
Wellness may not just be what we do for ourselves. It may also be how we show up for one another.
-Renée
