In the previous blog post, I chose faith as my #1 essential for traveling light through this awesome journey we call life. My number two is so close they almost tie. Personally, faith remains my #1.  However, without health, there is no traveling. There is but existence. Food,water, nourishing the body, quenching the thirst, and restoring the soul are vital elements of true resilient health. This eluded me during the first half of my life.

I spent years both knowingly and unknowingly harming my body in an effort to be thin. I did not eat. I ate out of boredom. I starved myself. I ate “diet” junk. I was very concerned about form. I did not consider the consequences. I never considered what I was doing to my body, until I received an ear splitting, life changing, wake up call.  I had received several over the years, but sidelined with an injury and a protracted recovery left me at a huge impasse.

This time I not only listened, I took drastic action. I changed my diet to be organic and healthy, but my body was not healing.  I found more specialists.  I was desperate. I hired holistic health coach, Rose Cole.  Under her guidance, I radically changed my diet and life style. I became a gluten, dairy, soy, caffeine, sugar, and MSG free zone.  I doubled my water intake.  I even gave up sparkling water, switching to alkaline water.  Everything I ate was local, organic, free range, humanely raised and treated.

After the initial withdrawal and shock to my system, my body began to heal, from the inside out. I learned to listen to my body and trust it to tell me what I needed to nourish and care for it.  I began to eat every three hours, eating for optimal energy. I added supplements that balanced my blood sugar and adrenal exhaustion from the chronic pain.

There have been times when I have been happy to cleanse my body with a cup of somewhat clear and anything but hot water. A major lesson I learned while living in Japan. My life was a cacophony of noise and stress.  A friend of mine introduced me to the hot baths. After trudging through the snow, I entered another world.  After cleansing my body, I immersed in the hot pools of water.  The stress seeped from the cells of my body and life healing energy entered. The stress quickly sank to the bottom of the pool.  I emerged relaxed, calm, and centered.

This habit remains ingrained in my soul. I relish deep tubs with abundant hot water for a long deep, relaxing, soul-restoring soak. Whenever I am at wit’s end, I fill up the tub, light the candles, add some essential oils, turn on the music and simply melt.  The words of King David come to mind: “He restores my soul.”

Over the months, I have completely healed. I gratefully say I live in resilient health.  I am at my ideal weight.  I have abundant energy that lasts throughout my busy practice, travel, family, and social schedule. New doors have opened.  I am expanding my practice, pursing a new certification, setting up a business, creating a website, writing a chapter for a book, learning to podcast, blogging, traveling, running and once again a vital part of our children and grandchildren’s lives.  Best of all, at day’s end, I have energy to enjoy time with the love of my life.

Traveling light, for me, a close second to faith is nutrition, hydration, and health. It is #1 on my sacred six.  How do you nourish your body, quench your thirst, and restore your soul?  Where is your health on your list of priorities?

On this last day of 2010, I ask you to take a moment to consider. What are your #1 and #2 traveling light essentials?  I would love to hear from you!

I would like to thank the entire morningcoach tribe for your help and encouragement this year. JB, you are an inspiration!!

Blessings for an awesome 2011

Lori

Lori Elgin is a nurse practitioner currently expanding her practice to include coaching certification with Morning Coach. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Zev the wonder Scottie, and Charlie the old gray Persian gentleman.  A mother and grandmother. She enjoys holistic health and nutrition, traveling, running, pilates, reading, and music.

http://lorielgin.com/ website like Lori, herself, is a work in progress so for now, please follow her on: