For a better world, for a better life : the beginning of my new series of posts on saturdays

 

What do you think of my mushroom ? I bet you've never seen the likes of it ! I love it, my eldest daughter offered it to me as we visited the medieval Christmas market of Provins 3 years ago - it has been cancelled the last 2 years (guess why). I wanted to picture it as icon of my health section on this blog, because it's not a gorgeous mushroom, it's a moody mushroom, a cranky mushroom, an imperfect mushroom, as I am.

 

What will be in this health section ?

My morning routine in the bathroom, in our home, physical exercises (musculation and yoga - don't be afraid, it's light, I'm not crazy), what I chose to eat and drink and, more importantly, how I organise myself (Bullet journal included but also bookish bullet journal ^^) in order to keep as sane as possible, have a better life, help make a better world, discover new things, refrain from eating too much when I'm stressed (good luck with that...) and have prevented me, I think, from being as unhealthy as I was before (chronical colds, chronically voiceless in winter, chronical sinusitis among other things). These are subjects that have taken up my interest for years now. I built a routine that I'm mostly faithful to , I have links and Youtube channels that I follow (or try to), but somehow, if it has improved parts of my life, it could be better. As a librarian, I work with my colleague who handles the mental health books section and I handle the physical health books section, it helps !

 

I'm not telling you you have to do the same as me, it's a proposition, I'm just offering an insight on what makes people think I'm a weirdo because I don't act the same as them, lol ! I'm trying to list (I love lists) what makes my life better, how to improve it, look for answers, hoping you'll have suggestions too - because I would like to hear your points of view, the things you do, an interaction, openings ? I'm not looking for perfection, nooooo sirrrah (Wilkie Collins really did a trick on me), I'm trying to be better because the way our lives mostly go, it's not heading in the right direction and nothing/nobody will make it right for us if we don't take action. I know my life could be better now but I have some things that make it nearly impossible for me to improve, like when in a dream, or in the sea, you're trying to run but forces prevent you no matter how hard you try : it's the same here - yet the keyword is "nearly". It's not impossible.

Let me introduce myself to make you understand : 

Hi, I'm Iza, 55 since last december 9th, overweight librarian, which is why I remain home these days, I'm more likely to catch Covid so I have a special authorisation and work from my computer. I used to  have just a few pounds too much when I was a young adult, many diets and family worries have led me to overweight : I compensated all my worries by eating, I also eat when I'm tired and don't listen to what my body says (like, go to sleep). I never expressed myself enough, kept all my worries and fears inside not to bother anyone - wrong move. My father died of a heart attack 19 years ago, my mother died of Alzheimer's 3 years ago after 16 long years of decline that I could do nothing about. Believe me, my heart has been torn out and I fully understood since then the power that words can have over you. I just think about *that* one word and I'm on the verge of tears. I've lived through a divorce, have found another companion who works in nursing homes, have raised 2 beautiful and intelligent daughters who are now 19 and 17 and who are the apples of my eyes - with my cats =^.^=

 

When I started diets (I was what, 20 ? I wish I could regain the weight I had then !), I started informing myself by reading everything I could on food and health in general. I've seen food fashions and dietings come and go, kept what I thought was better for me, what was closer to common sense and my ethics. Many members of my family by marriage have died of cancer, too many, but it includes those of my blood family who lived with them. Knowing that and them, I firmly believe that the polluted world we live in, what we eat, how we live, has almost everything to do with bad health if you don't take genetics into account. If it doesn't, it can't hurt to try and make it better, can it ?

 

Well, this is a long speech to tell you about what's going to be here, I would like to hear from you now. Does that interest you ? Would you like to exchange on that subject in the comments (you don't have to) ? Are there points that interest you more than others ? Food organisation, physical exercices, yoga, bullet journal or anything else ? Do you have nothing particular to say but would like to read about health anyway - or not, tell me !