Pilch goes on to explain that spiritual values, prayer and meditation, reflection on deeper meanings, can point the way to wellness by providing answers and direction for the five points above. Although coming at his points from a different direction, Pilch concludes that having a passionate interest in life, being involved in something we truly care about, is a remedy for unwellness, particularly as a motivator for making or own healthiness a priority in our living. Forming long term goals might be part of this project of achieving overall wellness, too, and Pilch s book may help some to make needed changes, just as Weil s books may, as well. I call such pits the doldrums, and while they are brief moments, they are admittedly low times in which no one wants to linger. If you feel you are in the doldrums, try thinking through your symptoms, and being certain that your physician is not the one to call before you decide to find a remedy for your feelings.
Most people think first of getting up and getting out to do something they truly enjoy.
For some it s a trip to the mall, or to visit favorite grandchildren. For me, it s an exciting afternoon browsing the shelves at the bookstore with the caf , or an hour s stroll through the tropical gardens in the local nursery. For others it might be a meal in a new ethnic restaurant, or listening to a new CD of upbeat music. For my friend it s getting lost in the fabric store where she runs her hands over the textures and her eyes over the visions she imagines she can create with the lovely material. Using our senses to distract ourselves is often all it takes sight, sound, scents, tastes and textures can really draw us out of our minds and into the present effectively.