From Neglect to Love Story: Rewriting the Script with Your Body

Imagine if our body could sue you, what would it sue us for? The list would rival the Great Wall of China in length, with entries ranging from? sugar/ caffeine binges to chronic couch potato-ing. We will be sued for abandonment, neglect, abuse and even attempted murder. But the truth is, our bodies don't need a courtroom to express their grievances. They whisper through aches and pains, fatigue, and whispers of preventable illness. To present some facts, 17 million lives are lost annually to chronic diseases. That stark statistic hangs over us like a heavy cloud, a constant reminder of the fragility of our health and the urgent need to nurture it. Yet, how often do we treat our well-being like a long-term relationship, ignoring its needs until a crisis forces us to acknowledge years of neglect?

We're all married to our health from the moment we arrive, our families shaping our initial habits and genetics laying the foundation. Then, we become active participants, unconsciously mimicking behaviors, choosing indulgences over long-term wellness. This relationship, like any other, has its joyous moments of vibrant energy and its downfalls of illness and fatigue. The question is: what would help us move from unconsciousness towards consciousness?

When I turned 45, a series of health hiccups, coupled with witnessing my mother's limitations at her age, jolted me awake. Do I want to face similar restrictions later? Absolutely not. What took me so long to wake up?

1. First and foremost, I was born and brought up in a family in which taste comes before nutrition. I say this, fully aware that the definition of nutrition then and now has changed. Probably my family did make me eat healthy food- only now it may be considered as unhealthy in a world full of nutrition experts.
2. Also, I learnt that dedication to work and family came first, and taking time out for exercise (I do not use the term self-care here because for me self-care is a much bigger term) as selfishness.
3. Lastly and unfortunately, I am also a sufferer of a disease called “delayed discounting.” Delayed discounting is the preference for a smaller but immediate reward over a big but delayed reward. What I choose to put in my body in terms of food and exercise is related to the immediate reward that I experience.

I believe that it is true for most of us- We eat for taste and not for health. We live to work and enjoy life, not to remain disease-free. Most cultures globally treat exercise as optional and effortful and not mandatory and easy. The global healthcare expenditure screams the same story: US$9.8 trillion in 2021, a burden fuelled by preventable diseases. The healthcare expenditure in India is also rising steadily.

Now that I am awake, I am asking myself- how do I keep the relationship with my health joyous and kicking? What about you, the reader? Most of you are influencers, even if you do not know it yet. You are influencing your surroundings every day. I urge you to exhibit that you are invested in this relationship with your health. Every day, take one small action: a handful of colorful vegetables, a 10-minute walk, a glass of water instead of whatever drink you prefer, a few mindful breaths- anything. These are not sacrifices, but investments in a vibrant, joyful, and healthy future.

Let’s make a vow today- “I vow to nurture my body with nutritious food, challenge it with exercise, rejuvenate it with rest and sleep- for better or worse.” The time to start is now, one small step at a time. The reward? A life brimming with the potential we were born with, lived to the fullest.

Wish you all a long-lasting and happy relationship with your health.