By SHARON McMAHON
Be Well
“When we look over the field we are not saddened because these particular flowers or grasses will wither; for the law of their death is the law of new life.” – Henry David Thoreau, letter to Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1842
When contemplating writing about a topic that can be VERY heavy, I gave it serious thought as to whether this topic of “death” is appropriate for an article on health and wellness. Today I decided that yes, it definitely is appropriate. That being said, I will not focus on sharing specific and professional therapeutic advice or suggestions but will merely reflect on the importance of our attitudes (about many topics) on death and dying which can affect our current health and well-being.
Let me begin by sharing that I began my own experience in this realm at an early age. I lost a younger sister to heart disease as a child, and I lost both parents in a car accident when I was a teenager. Very heavy scenarios, obviously. I grieved deeply, of course; and I will say here that the grief is there still and will remain a scar throughout my lifetime. However, moving forward through my 20s and 30s while raising toddlers and working outside the home I, as most of us would, did not dwell on my grief as there was work to do and life to live. This is the focus of my column today.
In particular, and unfortunately, those of us of “a certain age” have lost many family members and friends through the years. It sometimes seems that I spend more time attending funeral and ‘celebration of life’ services than ever before. We experience it, mourn, and hopefully continue to be productive and whole. However, some find the experience of loss to be debilitating and that can put those individuals at risk for health issues which can actually impair their immune systems. Reaching out to health professionals is important in those cases. Support groups are also helpful as we deal with significant loss.
Additionally, our belief systems and attitudes toward our own future demise will impact our current state of health. I will not address religious belief systems in this article, as those vary and are personal to each person. Death is something we ALL have in common as we will leave this planet and hopefully we will make any plans or arrangements ahead of time which will benefit those we leave behind. Doing so is our last and most loving gift we can provide to those who love us. Having done so, we can focus on the “here and now” and put our worries and fears aside about the inevitable occurrence we will all face. This mental strategy will go far in allowing us freedom to enjoy life, bring joy to others, and in doing so will improve our own physical health and our immune systems, perhaps giving us some additional quality time while we are here – a “win-win” we might say!
We can still grieve for and celebrate those special people who leave us and prepare ourselves to someday move on as well by taking care of ourselves both mentally and physically as we strive to leave a lasting, positive imprint on this world we temporarily inhabit. By doing so we remain alive through the hearts of our loved ones and those who have been touched by the efforts we have made to leave this world a better place.
Sharon McMahon, CNWC
The opinions expressed in this article are not intended to replace advice of your personal physician or licensed health professional. Please consult your physician for any issues you may have related to nutrition or fitness activity.