As you may already know, I read a lot about health and fitness. Basically because I’ve always been interested in it, but it’s ramping up because, as I age, I want to live long and prosper. I want a good health span, not just lifespan.
Attia’s book is very big and detailed, including tons of research. I found it hard to start reading through. But it didn’t take me long to start to appreciate the book. Very much!
Why?
Because he’s not dogmatic about stuff like diet and alcohol, what exercises to do, and all that, basically, there are certain things we need to look out for and take care of: nutrition, cardio, strength, sleep, and mental health. But how each one of us does it is up to us.
And this is why I love the book and his approach so much.
What works for you may not work for me. We get to tailor-make our own health regimens.
What works and what feels good? Then do that!
What I love about this is that I feel the very same way about spirituality.
You’ve probably heard me say, “There’s only one way to deconstruct, and that’s your way!”
I also say, “There’s only one way to be spiritual, and that’s your way!” (By spiritual, I mean our inner lives without necessarily invoking divinity or the supernatural.)
This was one of the most radical departures I made from the Christianity I grew up in, where everything was prescribed from above. Every belief, action, devotion… everything… was authorized and sanctioned.
One of the events in my life that broke this for me was helping my son Joshua at his booth at a Wellness Expo years ago. I met all kinds of people… from witches to pagans to magic wands to incenses to all types of New Agers and tarot and Ouija and, well, everything you could imagine under the sun.
And you know what? I had a blast.
They were all wonderful people, all mingled into a huge arena and just having fun expressing themselves in their unique ways. I didn’t feel any judgment or sneering or anything like that. I didn’t feel forced to believe or reject any of it. It just was. I met wonderful people, and we’d go out to eat and just hang out, and they were all just normal folk with their own passions, interests, and beliefs. So what? Big deal.
What provoked me deep down was that they were wonderful people with different beliefs. And that was okay. I’m sure they all wrestled with their stuff like everyone else. But the contrast between that and the cruelty that people with orthodox Christian beliefs can exhibit was remarkable.
That’s what hit me.
What works for them may not work for me. What works for me may not work for them.
We’re all finding our own way to be our most authentic and free selves.
The diversity of paths leads to a diversity of persons.
And I love that.
It’s so much freer than dutifully following every little rule I was handed in my Christian upbringing.
Like Bruce Lee said, “Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless, and add what’s specifically your own.”
