Originally Published January 10, 2005 -- Your
Wellness Guide
Two-Year Anniversary of Balanced Living
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This
week is the two-year anniversary of the column Terra Wellington’s
Balanced Living. As we begin the new year, let’s take a look
at where we started a couple years back and where we are going in
the year ahead.
Simple
Living
When Balanced Living began, living a more simple life was all
the rage. A January 2003 column read — |
Trends
come and go. But, if there’s one new movement that I hope stays
around for a while and changes society for the better, it is keeping
the majority of things simple. For example, you’ve probably noticed
that there are several new simple-life-focused magazines popping up
at the grocery store checkout.
To name a few,
Real Simple, Chic Simple, Organic Style, and Budget Living.
While many of these publications’ departments look like old standbys – style,
beauty, home, health, travel, food, features – it’s the approach, the look, and
the content that’s different.
In looking at
where we are today, many of these magazines have flourished. And the
less-is-more attitude has certainly caught on, if not segmented itself as a
viable, mainstream option that has as much appeal as a high-income, big-spending
lifestyle.
As a result, just
about everyone would agree now that a massage is not a luxury but has fallen
into the “need” category of our lives. Many other wellness services are also
now changing a once-pampering-only attitude to lifestyle necessity.
Earth Day Everyday
While once part of a side, radical movement, being earth friendly and
environmentally keen are now trendy applications to serious issues. An April
2003 column read —
The creators of
the world-wide, annual Earth Day event say the purpose is “to promote
environmental awareness and sustainable living by engaging grassroots
organizations worldwide in citizen action and organizing, capacity building,
environmental education, coordinated global campaigns, and annual Earth Day
celebrations.”
The number of
organizations, companies, and products that help you achieve this Earth Day goal
have grown. You can invest in “green” companies, volunteer all year round in
cleanup projects, and replace appliances and home systems with increasingly
energy-efficient options.
Home As A
Sanctuary
While for many, home has always been the place to wind down and feel secure.
Now, however, it has become accepted as a fact. An August 2003 column said —
Upon entering your
home, the environment adds or detracts from what you feel, how you function, and
the overall balance in your life. Ideally, you want to feel peace, tranquility,
and order – a sanctuary from the world.
No less truer now
than then, your home is what you carry out into the world and must be nurtured.
So many companies have now caught onto this need and are providing you with a
multitude of products to choose from to help you reach this objective.
Outdoors for
Health
A trend that is still developing but has reached new heights is getting outdoors
for better health. A February 2004 article read —
“People naturally
gravitate to being outside and are looking for a return to nature, which
nurtures their spirit. People get bored with being in the gym all the time and
want to add variety to the workout….”
In the coming year
ahead, look for more gyms to offer outdoor activities, more public campaigns to
encourage outdoor exercise and recreation, and an overall greater awareness of
the benefits of sunshine and outdoor living.
Terra
Wellington
is a
national authority on creating a wellness lifestyle.
www.terrawellington.com
© Copyright Terra
Wellington
