NATURE FOR LIFE

I usually start the year with my annual physical check-up. After the usual interview and getting the basic information on my weight, height and blood pressure by the nurse, I waited for my

name to be called. But it was the first working day of the year and there was hardly a queue. I didn’t even get past the first chapter of the book that I brought along to read while waiting when the doctor called my name. I gave her a big smile and a new year greeting. She smiled back and when I had taken my seat, she nonchalantly said, “You gained two pounds from your weight last year.” Suddenly, the two-week holiday binge flashed before me—the decadent hot chocolate, the numerous slices of ham, pork steak, pints of Carmen’s Best yummy artisanal ice cream, all kinds of salad, mojitos and the countless dinners and lunches with family and friends that accompany the Christmas holidays. An additional two pounds, in spite of my ref magnet that served as a daily warning: “Once on the lips, forever on the hips.” Guilty and now I am punished. I read that instead of resolutions, we should set goals and obviously one of my goals is to lose the excess weight.

Another goal is to save up. I have learned to ignore the full page ads announcing the yearend sales and have succeeded in staying away from these department stores. And although I have brought my aunt, cousin and nephew who are visiting from the US to a number of our malls for shopping, the most that I spent was for parking. I promised to buy my nephew a scapular and so I dropped by Mt. Carmel Church. Lo and behold, I saw my favorites – the Elf help therapy books! I was delighted; I was panic buying, hurriedly picking up all the editions that I still don’t have and pestering the lady minding the store to ask when the other editions would be available. Books are my waterloo. I forget the word “budget” or “save” when I see them, especially the good ones.

Published by the Paulines Media Center, the Elf help therapy books are handy (measuring only 6 X 4 inches) and “offer messages of joy and wonder, playfulness and co-creation, wholeness and serenity, the miracle of life and the mystery of God’s love.” A gift that I usually give to my friends, I am aiming to have the complete set. When I am happy or more especially when I am sad or lost, I turn to these books for words of comfort.  They have titles for every emotion or topic possible like believe-in-yourself, living from your soul, friendship, gratitude, birthday, slow-down, self-esteem, everyday courage.

Because I spent most of the holidays with family, the edition entitled “Be-good-to your-family therapy” aptly sums up what each of us should do when faced with work-life balance decision: “A healthy family strives for balance. When the demands of work, school, social activities and church or civic responsibilities rob you of precious quality time your family needs everyone suffers. Learn to say ‘no’ so you can say ‘yes’ to what matters most.”

And because I equally love my friends, the edition on friendship therapy perfectly describes my relationship with them: “Spend time with your friend: sweet time- walking, praying; not-so-sweet time—disagreeing, hurting, searching. Friendship embraces the whole spectrum of life.”

The start of the year always makes me feel apprehensive and afraid but this passage from the edition on gratitude assures me that everything will be all right: “A thankful heart redirects the mind away from fear and despair toward the love of God. Fear sees limits; gratitude sees possibilities. Fill your heart with so many grateful thoughts that no room remains for worry and fear.”

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