Holly Miller #4

          I am very happy our text included a chapter on wellness and physical health. The state of the body has so much to do with the output from the mind. A strong physical state can mean life or death for many people. I  know this from living it. My father had a triple bypass in Spring of 2009. It was one of the worst springs of my life. My sister was going through a really tough time and my father was in need of a life-alerting operation. It was a season of tears for me. I got through it due to my family and friends but I can still remember how frightened I was. My father came out of the surgery beautifully. I remember hugging the surgeon, mask, gloves and all.  When I found out why my father did so well I was astounded. The surgeon told me that his body had somehow allowed a network of small veins to carry blood around the blockage. (I think the technical term was collateral veins.) In other words, one artery was 70% blocked but it created a new "roadway" in which to send the blood. What a miracle! The reason for this was my father's lifelong practice of exercise. Since I was a little girl, my father  walked at least a mile a day. He would go in the rain, snow, sleet, hail you name-he walked it! The only time he didn't walk was when was in the hospital for his operation. He was also in the special forces in the United States Army which I am sure contributed to his excellent shape. The blockage was purely genetic as his beloved mother passed away in 2008 at the age of 84 due to issues related to the heart. Knowing his family history, my father has always sought to beat the odds via exercise and a healthy diet. (I have to do this too.) Today, I walk and hike with my father every chance I get, especially during the summer. We  love to talk, play in streams, and look for wildlife. I grew to love exercise because of what it did for my father.
          I firmly believe walking and exercise saved my father's life. My beliefs were affirmed when reading our text. Corey (2008) asserted the value of brisk walking to enhance physical and mental health. Chapter 4 also how emphasized how physical activity can prolong life and benefit us during our later years. I have always used exercise as a way to relieve stress! Even prior to my father's experience, I used exercise as an escape. Today, I love to walk, jog and go hiking. I aways feel better after I exercise!
          I believe that exercise can help us arrive at a "fresh" place mentally. It gives us a chance to test our bodies and relieve stress from the day. This ties in beautifully with Khong's (2007) research. Khong examined  how the teachings of the Buddha can help us to center ourselves and focus our minds to help us deal with the stress of life. Exercise requires concentration and I believe it can teach is to be more mindful and aware of the world around us and our place in it. For example, when you take a brisk walk on a fall day you can feel the sun and wind, you may hear children playing, you may be talking to a friend.  You have escaped from the critical ruminating world of your mind and entered into another reality. I find that I am the most mindful when I am exercising because I am in touch with nature, a loved one, or just myself. Sometimes I will listen to music which helps me to clear away the thoughts of the day or immerse myself in the good ones. I think the most important piece of the Khong article involves the idea that we can learn to control our minds and find peace within ourselves. This article reminds us that we can control our destiny to some level and that we need to learn to see our minds and bodies and treasures that need to be nurtured and treated with the greatest respect.

Corey,G. & Corey, M.S. (2008). I never knew I had a choice: Exploration in personal growth (9th Edition). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole

Khong, B.S.L. (2007). The Buddha's influence in the therapy room. Hakomi Forum, 18, 11-18.