by Greg Lincoln
We all have some sort of heart issue that we are dealing with and living with. These heart issues are different in extremeness, intensity, and type since we are all different individuals. Every one of us operates at some level from the heart and if we have heart problems, or issues, it becomes another layer that influences us in our decision-making processes, how we interact with others, and how we age.
The older we get, the more resolute we become in our ways, thoughts, and in the choices that we make. For this reason, we sometimes like to keep things the way they are since we are so used to them and nothing can change our minds. For example, one of our older relatives won’t drink coffee unless it is made in a certain way, it is made with a certain kind of coffee brand, and it is made at a certain time of day. They will refuse to have it any other way no matter how hard you try to cajole them into trying it your way, it is only their way or no way. Does that sound like some of us?
When a person is grieving and they have unresolved issues related to their grief, that pain can weigh a person down causing premature aging, the aging process speeds up. Unresolved grief also causes other things to happen to a person, and faster aging is one of them.
Drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, and unhealthy habits such as lack of physical activity can also cause a person to age faster than they would if they had not been doing or using these kinds of things.
Through our own grief and suffering this past year we continued to remain active and kept our bodies in motion even though we did not feel like doing anything. When your world is shattered and your heart is torn to pieces, you have a choice to make. Do nothing and still bear your grief, or do something and still bear your grief.
Physical activity can ignite your natural endorphins, which is our bodies own innate way of dealing with pain. Just thinking and writing about endorphins creates a feeling of anticipation, and we quickly make plans to do something.
Visiting the tundra can be a most therapeutic remedy for grief when you are dealing with traumatic experiences. There is beauty there at your feet and all around you. Slogging across the spongy and swampy terrain in rubber boots helps you work out your tired muscles, it makes your heart pump giving you cardio, and it flushes out that most extremely unpleasant feeling that you get when sitting too long in one place.
You know that feeling of sitting too long on the plane during a long flight?
This week we have been blessed with many good things. Kelly is very thankful to you for the presents of fish, flowers, and the nice card from a kindred person who used to be a stranger but is now a friend, thank you so much for these gifts. We share the common bond of grief. Wherever we may be, or whoever we are, we are bound together by the experiences – both traumatic and good – that life deals us.
Friends, we will talk with you again next week. Quyana.
