Without most of us realizing it, we have adapted to a noisy, artificial, obtrusive world.
When I was a child, I remember the TV only really being on for an extended period of time to catch Friday’s TGIF program or the local news after dinner. I remember the soft yellow light of our rooms in the evening that was usually only lit by one small lamp. Today, I fight with my kids to turn their attention away from electronics even for a season. Ten minutes away from their iPhone?! No way!!) I live with the presence of bright, blue LED lighting everywhere. Those are only two examples of the sensory differences from my own life that have changed drastically in the last few decades.
Most of the time we don’t even realize when our senses are being bombarded, because we have learned to block it out. With six kids, I live in a very loud environment. What few moments of silence there are seem sacred and are thoughly enjoyed- providing I can keep from falling asleep. As a mother, with little ones, I’m often “touched out.” My kids crawl ALL over me. I’m often nursing one and holding another. I have a few kids who like to touch my face- constantly. So, when my husband comes in for a loving “tap” or “good game” I don’t always graciously receive it. I have often been picked, poked, and prodded all day long. I am “touched out” and over stimulated and my poor husband has no idea.
Each person’s sensitivities can vary and their capacities can change based on the circumstances. If you work as a nurse or are in a medical profession, you might be overwhelmed with smells. If you’re around cleaning products or chemicals, even perfumes, all… day… long… your nose will probably need a break. If you work in an ER maybe movement is a constant and stillness is a necessity when you get home. If you work in an office, perhaps looking at the light of a screen constantly is straining your eyes or wrecking your posture. Or maybe you work in a cluttered environment where your eyes just need some clean space to look at.
We saw similar strains during Covid with the addition of masks and shields that produced sores from the constant grading of materials against the skin. We learned then that just having something strapped to your body can be tiring.
We are even overwhelmed in the foods we eat. When is the last time you ate real food without additives or flavor enhancers. If fruit is no longer sweet or a simple meal no longer tastes good (not saltless or bland, but simple) perhaps we need to retrain our pallet to enjoy real food again.
In addressing these concerns there is one major thing we must all learn to do; pay attention to our bodies.
What aches?
Sometime the symptoms we think are just a sign of “getting older” are really our bodies giving us a warning that something is amiss. Are you dealing with high stress or chronic fatigue and blaming something else?
Rest is often seen as a passive activity, like napping or sitting, but it can also be active. Stretching or walking are both a form of active rest. Light exercise, three times a week, particularly when it is low impact (like swimming) helps provide pain relief and improves mobility. This is particularly important as we seek to age well.
Perhaps all we need is permission to take the time and resources necessary to care for ourselves. If that is you today, remember the great love Jesus has for you. I am not advocating to put our selfish desires over other’s needs or to use this admonition as an excuse to put one perpetually first. But there are those of you who NEVER tend to your own house and this should not be.
