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Prioritize your Health…Take a Vacation!
Summer is an ideal time to vacation, the
days are long, the weather pleasant, kids
are out of school, and our dispositions are
generally upbeat and energetic. A vacation
can be anything from taking time off to stay
home, flying to the Caribbean, or hiking
deep into untouched land; spending time
on vacation can honestly contribute to a
positive effect on your health. Many other
cultures have figured this out, allowing for
weeks of vacation time, and really taking
them. Sadly our American work ethic is
lacking in this priority. So if your vacation
time has racked up read on, get inspired,
and start planning!!
Refocus. As we progress through a typical
day we are constantly thinking ahead,
what to wear, how to get through the to
do list, what to make for dinner; it is a rare
event that we sit and enjoy a moment in this
day. Vacation, however, allows for a better
concentration on the moment. Enjoying a
sunset, listening to the sounds of birds, or
smelling the delicious scents of a street vendors
cuisine; those simple moments are so
much a part of what we focus on in a typical
vacation day. This refocusing allows the
right ‘in the moment’ side of the brain full
pleasure while insisting that the overworked
left side relax and take a load off.
Relax. Certainly we can all relate to
being more relaxed when on vacation. The
phone call are fewer, the expectations little
to none, the plan more flexible. This allows
for the body to recharge the adrenals, better
preparing them to act and react in the
future. There are more chances to walk
on the beach, hike a mountain, rent a bike
for the day, move the body in ways that
may not be as familiar or routine. Breathing
deeply, when relaxed the body naturally
breaths slower and deeper exercising more
lung capacity and therefore supplying the
body with even more oxygen. All aspects
of relaxation rejuvenate the body, mind and
spirit.
Rejuvenate. Where you go, who you
see, what you choose to do on vacation
replenishes the spirit. Whether that is family,
friends, mountains, tropics or foreign
adventure there is an enrichment that is a
key component of vacationing. There are
Dr. Tracy Erfling is a
naturopath physician in the
Lower Columbia Region.
Questions?
erflingnd@hotmail.com
bodiesinbalance
By Tracy Erfling, N.D.
lessons you learn about yourself and others
that are gathered in no other way then in
the unique elements of your vacation. For
families and couples this is often a chance
to bond more deeply, sharing laughter, adventure,
romance or passion. Conversations
are richer and the concentrated time with
others is often irreplaceable. Even those
you meet on vacation are unforgettable…
they excite us about the human spirit.
Refresh. Although routine is one of my
favorites health tips, and something I highly
encourage people to follow in their typical
lives, when on vacation the tides turn. It is
a chance to get out of those ruts no matter
how good or bad. This is enlivening to
the brain turning on new pathways, firing
neurons and enhancing blood flow in places
that may have been dark and unused. This
forces you to think in new ways, opening
the mind to new possibilities…ah how
refreshing.
Remember. I find when on vacation I
have the most terrific dreams, and memories.
Not only can we get more in touch with
our deeper selves, we can establish new
things to remember. There are new photos
to hang on the fridge, and new stories to
tell at
work.
People
around
you
feel
lifted
by the
experiences
you’ve
had
and
you
have
a new
outlook on life. Not to say the novelty of a
vacation sticks around long, and that old
habits and routines don’t return…but the
memories are forever.
Repeat. A good vacation doesn’t have
to be exotic (although one of those every
decade or less doesn’t hurt) to be important
to your health and overall well-being. It just
takes a little forethought and planning to
prioritize this very pleasurable celebration
of life. Vacation may not be a priority for
all you readers, but I am here to say it is a
necessity…so practice often.
Spin the globe, or get out your road maps
and pick your destination to embrace this
essential prescription for health!
Do something you love, Be with someone
you love, Eat your vegetables, Drink clean
water, Breathe deeply and Move your body
everyday.
carefreedom
I’m watching parts of the Blues
Brothers movie, and it is tweaking an
emotion that has lain dormant for a
while. I call it “the carefree, life-is-fun
emotion.” I remember feeling that.
I have remnants still lingering in my
system.
Somehow over the years, life got
so serious. Bills, divorce, broken relationships,
loss....and lots of work. Yet,
the spark for silly fun is still within.
I learned a lot in grad school about
personality development, needs,
motives, and desires, relationships.
Yet, nowhere did I hear about any
psychological need for fun.
I propose that there is.
Oh, wait, Aretha is about to burst
into “Think.” I may have to get up and
dance.
Okay, I did, and it was darn fun.
Back to the serious stuff of writing
this column.
I didn’t realize how under-used my
fun cells were. Laughter has always
been touted as something healthy to
do.....
Carefree. I had a few months of
“carefreedom” in my early twenties.
At the time I had few responsibilities
and the summer weather in Connecticut
was glorious. My red VW bug and
I and a friend or two would travel to
a river for a swim. We’d jump in from
a bridge, in our clothes. We’d dry off
just laying in the grass. We’d go have
a beer or two at a local bar, eat fried
shrimp and wait for the band to arrive.
I smile when I think about it.
Could I do that kind of thing today?
Would I? Would I jump from a bridge,
get sun-dried and go to any eating/
drinking establishment? Most likely,
no to all. While it was fun then, I
word and wisdom
By Tobi Nason
would probably hurt myself if I tried it
these days. And maybe get arrested
for jumping off of a bridge. Then I’d
get drunk on beer while waiting for
that band to arrive. My clothes would
be all wrinkly and boy, it would not be
a pretty picture at all.
Carefree. That state of laughing
spontaneously. Of being right in the
moment. Of finding joy and humor
suddenly, unexpectedly.
I have that possibility still in me. I
now have to figure out how that looks
these days.
As always, if I can pass something
on to you, the reader, it would be
this: Re-define your idea of fun. If it
correlates with carefreedom (yes, its
a word I made up) then figuring out
how that can happen without being
hurt, arrested or drunk is something
to think about. I find dancing to Blues
Brothers songs fun. Flirting is fun.
Being silly is fun. And I can do it all in
the course of a normal day.
Its ironic that I own and operate a
game and puzzle store and yet found
myself so alienated from my own
feeling of fun. Yet, fun is part of what
I sell. Fun with family and friends.
Like discovering I’ve put on 20 lbs.
and that I need to watch my diet, I
am making serious efforts to have
fun. I am going to work at this fun
stuff. ... no, I’m having fun with you.
No serious efforts here, no working
at it. But definitely more dancing,
joking, silliness, flirting, and loving life
in general.
Tobi Nason is a counselor in Manzanita.
She frequently has to reassess
her own state of mental health. Fun
(joy, frivolity, silliness) has to be a
piece of that picture.
Tracy Erfling n.d.
naturopathic physician
primary care using
natural therapeutics
aug11 hipfishmonthly.com
Call for an appointment! 503.440.6927
2935 Marine Dr. • Astoria
email: erfling@hotmail.com
28
Vicki
McAfee
Clinical Herbalist
Certified Nutritionist
A Gypsy’s Whimsy herbal apothecary
1139 Commercial St. ~ Astoria
“Our ancestors used the
herbs that grew all around
them. Let me share with
you what they knew that
kept them in health.
Today more than
ever we need herbs and
nutrition for obtaining
and maintaining
optimum health.
Allow me to guide you.”
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503-338-4871
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