Carpe Diem: Seizing the Day to Save Your Life
What I would like to share with everyone about myself isn't really a specific story or event that occurred in my life, but more of a short story of how I live my life to fullest because it makes me happy, but also healthy.
When asked what I am passionate about, I answer with the words Carpe Diem! It means "seize the day". When life throws opportunities my way, 99% of the time I grab hold of them and let them take me to new experiences because when I stop to think about it... unless I actually go searching for them, how many times in my life are these opportunities going to come to me? The answer is usually not very often at all. I am not saying that I am a "yes man" who just blindly accepts everything in life, but when I come across something that I enjoy, have always wanted to try, or even might help me to get over a fear, I do what I can to participate. Once again, it makes me happy, I learn new things/experiences, and though the action itself could be dangerous, in the end I am over all a healthier person.
What I would like to share with everyone about myself isn't really a specific story or event that occurred in my life, but more of a short story of how I live my life to fullest because it makes me happy, but also healthy.
When asked what I am passionate about, I answer with the words Carpe Diem! It means "seize the day". When life throws opportunities my way, 99% of the time I grab hold of them and let them take me to new experiences because when I stop to think about it... unless I actually go searching for them, how many times in my life are these opportunities going to come to me? The answer is usually not very often at all. I am not saying that I am a "yes man" who just blindly accepts everything in life, but when I come across something that I enjoy, have always wanted to try, or even might help me to get over a fear, I do what I can to participate. Once again, it makes me happy, I learn new things/experiences, and though the action itself could be dangerous, in the end I am over all a healthier person.
How Can Carpe Deim Make Me Healthier?
This is a very good question. When I seize the day, I am most often participating in something that will give me an adrenaline rush such as: riding a roller coaster, or something more extreme like cliff diving, skydiving, or bungee jumping. These are all potentially dangerous acts that directly threaten my life (excluding the roller coaster), so how could they be healthy for me? Its simple... it makes me happy!
This is only a few illnesses on a very long list of issues caused by or enabled by stress. Yes, it is very frightening doing some of the intense actions I mentioned previously and yes, those could actually cause stress for many people. They are just examples of what I personally do. Anyone could seize their day doing even the most docile of things. Gardening, for example, can help one think positively, get you outdoors, depending on how intensely your are gardening, you may get exercise through heavy lifting, helping to make a place more beautiful with a garden can increase self-esteem, it can give you a change of environment, if you are with a partner, it can give you time to play, and last but absolutely NOT least... it can make you smile. It all depends on what makes you comfortable, happy, and healthy... Good Luck and have a great time seizing the day!
Sources:
Alexander, Rose. "Illnesses Caused By Stress." Women's Health Issues. N.p., 28 June 2007. Web. 08 May 2013.
<http://www.lifescript.com/soul/self/well-being/illnesses_caused_by_stress.aspx>.
"Enjoy Life More - De-stress.ca." Enjoy Life More - De-stress.ca. Government of Manitoba, Department of Healthy Living., 2009. Web. 08 May 2013. <http://hydesmith.com/de-stress/reducing.html>.
- Positive Thinking
- Humor
- Exercise
- Spending Time in Nature/Outdoors
- Talking to Yourself/Self-Esteem
- Finding Time to Play
- Change of Environment
- Smiling
- Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping: inability to fall asleep or to remain asleep long enough to feel rested, especially when this is a problem that continues over time)
- Eating Disorders (obsessive attitude to food: an emotional disorder that manifests itself in an irrational craving for, or avoidance of, food, e.g. bulimia)
- Depression (a psychiatric disorder showing symptoms such as persistent feelings of hopelessness, dejection, poor concentration, lack of energy, inability to sleep, and, sometimes, suicidal tendencies)
- Anxiety/Panic Attacks (short period of panic: a sudden overpowering feeling of fear or anxiety that prevents somebody from functioning, often triggered by a past or present source of anxiety)
- Cold/Virus (People who are stressed often have immune systems that are not functioning properly.)
- Circulatory Problems (Stress can make your body’s arteries and veins tighten up in response to the fight-or-flight complex. This compression can reduce blood flow throughout the body and create problems like blood clots, poor circulation, or even strokes.)
- Systemic /Local Infections (Stress drains the body of positive energy as it strives to cope with the demanding worry of the stress-related issues. This leaves inadequate energy to sustain bodily immune functions that heal infectious illnesses and injuries.)
- Diabetes (Stress can throw off the body, sending sugar levels skyrocketing or plummeting.)
- Heart Problems (Stress can make anyone’s heart palpitate wildly and increase pulse rate as well as blood pressure.)
This is only a few illnesses on a very long list of issues caused by or enabled by stress. Yes, it is very frightening doing some of the intense actions I mentioned previously and yes, those could actually cause stress for many people. They are just examples of what I personally do. Anyone could seize their day doing even the most docile of things. Gardening, for example, can help one think positively, get you outdoors, depending on how intensely your are gardening, you may get exercise through heavy lifting, helping to make a place more beautiful with a garden can increase self-esteem, it can give you a change of environment, if you are with a partner, it can give you time to play, and last but absolutely NOT least... it can make you smile. It all depends on what makes you comfortable, happy, and healthy... Good Luck and have a great time seizing the day!
Sources:
Alexander, Rose. "Illnesses Caused By Stress." Women's Health Issues. N.p., 28 June 2007. Web. 08 May 2013.
<http://www.lifescript.com/soul/self/well-being/illnesses_caused_by_stress.aspx>.
"Enjoy Life More - De-stress.ca." Enjoy Life More - De-stress.ca. Government of Manitoba, Department of Healthy Living., 2009. Web. 08 May 2013. <http://hydesmith.com/de-stress/reducing.html>.