LIVE WELL

Wellness is an intentional choice of lifestyle, a way of living, a life stance that one chooses in order to maximize the enhancement of health and achieve the highest potential for total well-being.  Wellness is balance that encompasses body, mind, and spirit.  Wellness recognizes and acts on the fact that everything one thinks, says, does, feels, and believes has an impact on one's well-being.  Wellness can be chosen at any moment, in any circumstance. Wellness is possible with disability, regardless of physical condition. For most people, "living well" typically means some major changes in lifestyle—in body, mind, and spirit.

Cancer survivorship is a combination of head and heart. Conquering cancer demands that you reach beyond the physical issues of illness. Your mental, emotional, and spiritual health has a powerful effect on your well-being.

Kelly is a 48-year-old account executive with a major investment management firm. He developed malignant melanoma. "I went through the surgery and radiation just as recommended," said Kelly. "But I knew the real problem. I wasn't taking care of myself." Kelly hadn't exercised for years. His diet and nutrition habits were deplorable. He despised his work, and his marriage was coming apart.

Like so many survivors, Kelly considered cancer his wake-up call. "I realized my life was off course. And I knew it was up to me to change."

Similar sentiments are expressed by many survivors of cancer. They see illness as a message to make life changes. Kelly went on to reflect, "When I quit my job and opened a floral shop, my entire life started to heal. Cancer has actually been very good for me."

Living well, intentional choice, exercising the decision to take personal responsibility for one's total well-being—this is common talk among cancer survivors. It's whole-person wellness, a triumphant way of living without conditions.

Without conditions means that although wellness may be obscured by illness, it is a matter of personal choice whether wellness will be destroyed by illness. Without conditions means it is possible to discover high-level wellness in the very midst of life- threatening illness. Do not impose the condition of a "cure" on savoring the gift of life.

The decision to "live well" is significant and profound. Never again will your well-being be a static state measured simply by the lack of negative physical symptoms. Instead, wellness be-comes your personal quest.

An Important Thing You Can Do

Begin the wellness quest. Open your mind and spirit to whole- person wellness. In your Wellness and Recovery Journal, record one step you can take today to improve your greater well-being.  Now act, doing what is clearly doable today. Determine to live life at a new and higher level of wellness no matter what.