I haven’t been officially diagnosed, but I am pretty certain I have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity traits. And, so what? Compared to the average person… I get a lot of shit done! (Just saying).
Really, what is the point of labeling? With eight billion people on the planet, do you think we are all going to be the same? And what are we comparing ourselves to? How do we define "normal", anyway? It takes diverse personality types to make humanity go around, so thank heaven we are all different. But... this isn’t what I want to talk about. Anyway... “Focus Jill!”
I mention my so-called 'hyperactive' nature because I am experiencing it as being amped up as of late. There is less than a month now before Collette and I will be heading out of this country to walk the Camino de Santiago. This article isn’t about that either, though. Instead, it’s about how I am feeling, and what is to be done about it. I know I must be feeling something because my body is fluttery all over. “Focus!”
I know that paying attention to my physical state can lead to greater awareness of my mental and emotional state. Right now, it is all I can do to sit and write. “Keep writing Jill… you can do it.”
It’s curious how common it is in our culture to don a device that tracks health data. Why has this become such a popular trend? My thought is that, in 'Western' culture, our default habits are often way off track from being supportive of a balanced lifestyle. I came to the trend a little cocky, so I was fascinated by the data that came back. It showed that, although I got 8 hours of sleep, my body battery only charged up to 50%. (Perhaps that had something to do with the travel prep nightmares).
Before I had my device, I would push onward with things (as seems to be my nature) regardless of any internal bells or whistles that were signalling me to, “SLOW DOWN”. Raised in a culture that promotes productivity, output and physical prowess, I was motivated to 'do more'; to 'be more'. Mindfulness practices like meditation were undermined. The result for me of living my previous lifestyle was a breakdown, on many fronts. I eventually came to the realization that I could either consciously integrate rest into my lifestyle, so as to be able to enjoy it while I felt vibrant and well, or I could keep pushing myself until I wound up forced into extended periods of recuperation, where I might be confined to bed for weeks at a time.
Over the years, I have developed a strategy for maintaining a balanced lifestyle. So why, you might ask, did I choose to start interacting with a device? Conscious living is an ongoing journey of discovery and, as a pioneer at heart, I wanted to check out what all the fuss was about. I now find that checking in with my body's data has become a form of mindfulness practice in itself. It encourages me to be more present and aware throughout my day. As a result, I am waking up to patterns within my days that can be adjusted so that I can live a more joy-filled life.
'Holistic wellness' begins with an understanding of the interconnectivity of the physical, mental, and spiritual realms of existence. Many people disregard one or more of the realms, perhaps thinking that those aspects of their life are insignificant. The thing is, something like our physical nature is tightly woven into our emotional compass. When we choose to pay attention to that, noticing a physical imbalance then becomes a prompt for us to address any underlying emotional or spiritual issues that may be contributing factors.
With the wealth of information available from the tracking my device offers me, I am excited to learn more about myself in a much deeper and profound way. You can too. For instance, the fact that I don’t sit still very easily and have to really work at staying focused isn’t 'a problem', I am realizing. Rather, it is simply a trait I can understand and bring awareness to myself around as I plan my life's trajectory. Before, I was aware of my "strengths" and my "weaknesses", as defined by a culture that said there is a "right" and "better" way to be. Maybe it's the culture that has it all 'wrong'.
My current jittery sensations are telling me something. So I listen. Oh, I’m feeling a mix of nervousness and delight. Of course I am! I am preparing for an adventure, far away. Perhaps, instead of trying to push my feelings away, I could invite more self-compassion by saying, “You must be super excited.” When I move past ego-driven motives and accept my true physical state, it fosters humility and honesty and is a spiritual practice.
As I prepare for my Camino journey, I'm reminded that life itself is a pilgrimage of self-discovery. My fitness tracker is just one tool helping me to navigate the path I'm on. It helps me to listen to my body, honour my unique rhythms, and embrace my quirks ('hyperactivity' and all). Whether you're tracking your sleep or counting your steps, remember that the most important journey is the one within.
Let's celebrate our diverse paths, our individual challenges, and our shared humanity. After all, in a world of eight billion people, your unique way of being is your greatest gift. What will your data teach you about yourself today?
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