It seems, there is a constant barrage of dos and don’ts about healthy living, wellness and such. The truth is these concerns preoccupy one’s mind as one grows older. I remember always hearing the expression ‘age gracefully’ and it all makes complete sense.
It is so overwhelming, this anti-ageing absorption, but moreover, it is simply about living well – Living intentionally well and shying away from encumbrances, be they emotional, social, physical or even environmental. Wellness is not just being free from illness. The World Health Organisation confirms that it is “…a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” It’s a more holistic prospect that has now mushroomed into a wellness economy. Wellness is now a way of life. It is indeed in style!
Now, it is not to be assumed that it is merely a fad, for usually what is deemed as ‘trending’ phenomena appear only as transient aspects of contemporary living. Wellness has now been inculcated, all inclusively, to promote sustainability and foster diversification strategies for living well, in the present, in addition to ensuring the wellbeing of future generations. Just as “style is eternal”, espoused by the inimitable Yves St Laurent, living well is almost the entire world’s dream.
Wellness is the cornerstone of how we define the quality of our lives. In order to appreciate fulfilment, we must develop an integrationist approach, quite akin to multitasking, so as to be better equipped to face our realities and grapple with its challenges. I recognise that this new understanding has become a vocation, an active pursuit. According to The Global Wellness Institute, “We must actively pursue activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.” Wellness is now a look! Many a model, as well as persons involved in other aspects of the fashion and beauty business, have been drawn to calisthenics, following in the footsteps of the iconic Naomi Campbell. The model keeps her 49-year-old frame in excellent form, maintaining her relevance and hence her competitiveness in what might otherwise be deemed a cold and commodified career. Local model, Athaliah Samuel, proclaims “at first, you may be staying in shape to keep being marketable but then it becomes a lifestyle choice!” She emphasizes that her talking the talk and walking the walk, in terms of staying fit mentally and physically is her way of staying centred. She quips, “That’s how I keep sane!”