With health care increasingly expensive and in the near future perhaps even hard to find, it is not surprising to see an abundance of books, blogs, articles, centers and coaches offering wellness advice, tips, services and products, including this one. Wellness, once seen as mostly a do-it-yourself enterprise with grandma handing out the directions, has become more complex with specialists to help us develop our breathing, diet, exercise, inner calm, and the right balance of hormones, enzymes, minerals, and every property our body needs to function and support us. Plus so much more.
Is wellness more than just the absence of disease? Is there a sharp line dividing disease from wellness, or is there a grey area between them. A zone where you are neither ill nor really well. At least not at your optimum.
In my forties, I gave some, but very little, thought to this question. I ate a fairly good diet most of the time, drank lots of coffee, some wine, did yoga, took a walk on the beach many mornings, and worked way too hard. Then I made a life-altering decision to sell my home, buy a boat and go sailing alone at least as far as New Zealand. Thus came my awakening to my own role in preserving and enhancing my level of wellness…in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, alone on a small (31-foot) boat.
1988 on board Southern Cross leaving San Francisco
As I had prepared the boat (but not myself) for the undertaking, I had assembled a substantial first aid kit and requested help from a cousin (an anesthesiologist) to assist with a few hard-to-buy items. She met me for lunch with a gift of codeine enhanced Tylenol and a tube of Neosporin. I was actually looking for injectable pain medication, suturing materials, scalpel and forceps. I knew that I would have to solve any problems that arose on my own, perhaps thousands of miles from assistance. Eventually, all was ready on board, and I was off for the first transoceanic solo crossing of my life.
After the first few days out of Acapulco, I spent the next two weeks in excruciating pain from (diagnosed) sciatica, thinking each day it would get better. Finally, I could not stand up, sit down or lie down without pain. Crawling to the foredeck to manage sails pushed me beyond my limits, but there was no one else to do it. And so I went, often in tears and sometimes screaming in pain.
Downwind at sea
I knew that I had at least three more weeks of this before I would make landfall in the South Pacific Marquesas Islands. Going back where I had come from, by this time, was out of the question. I analyzed every conceivable contributing factor in my physical environment and every possible source of relief, without a solution. Then one day, a voice in my head…or maybe I even said out loud, “Nerve! You just don’t have enough nerve for this! Who do you think you are?” Sciatic nerve! And the cause was fear—a fear that I had failed to acknowledge. What sane person wouldn’t be afraid? I had a mental image of those rod-tight muscles reaching out desperately trying to hold on to the dock as I departed.
Without knowing why, during all the months of preparation to begin this voyage, I had been reciting in my mind the list of my skills and experience. Over and over. I never questioned why I kept doing this. It became clear in the middle of the ocean that it was my inner response to fears I wouldn’t face.
That day, I took charge of my body and acknowledged its messages. I relentlessly massaged the steel-cable-like long muscles running on either side of my spine. Hour after hour, I worked them against hard corners of the boat, small balls and hard limes. The following day my back was in frequent spasms twisting my entire body into bizarre forms, but I kept going all that day between the spasms with the same massage. I looked the fear in the eye, acknowledged it, accepted it, welcomed it (it would help keep me safe for the next eight years around the world), and I dealt with the results of it.
The second morning brought a gorgeous sunrise; I watched pain-free from the cockpit. That pain has never returned. Over the following years of my journey and since, I learned a great deal about caring for my own wellness. Of course, there were many times I went to see a proper healthcare practitioner or doctor, but I did my best to make their job easier by doing all I could to maintain this marvelous gift of life I was given. I believe that we are what we eat, what we think and believe, and what we do. Wellness is about making thoughtful decisions in all of those areas.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on wellness in the comment box below. How do you describe the state of wellness, and what is your primary technique for maintaining yours?
FREE CLASS: Three Ways Life at Sea Contributes to Back Pain for Long-Distance Cruising Sailors, February 16, 2016, 4:00 – 5:30pm, VIP Lounge, Riviera Nayarit Marina, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, NAY, Mexico.
Pat Henry inspires people to make gentle, healing movements that take them from limiting, painful joints to joyful flexibility. Her upbeat coaching style and effective program bring out energy, optimism, and freedom clients thought were just a memory. Her message and encouragement come from a deep conviction that “if you can dream it, you can do it.”
Pat’s life is a model of following your dreams…having sailed alone around the world on a small boat, authoring a book recounting her voyage, launching her women’s sailing school, and developing Organic Stretching®, the revolutionary movement program that has brought relief to countless clients as they allowed their own bodies to guide them to wholeness.
Thank you Pat for your story of healing and how you have taken your experiences of healing and are sharing them with others, and developing real tools for yourself to heal, and for others to heal themselves.
Thank for writing, Rebecca! Learning to heal ourselves could really change the world. If we understood ourselves on that level, we would see others in a new way…with compassion and connection.
Thanks Pat for this amazing story!
I have now done on off Organic Stretching for a year or so and the recent month every day. Once I walked into the ocean and hit my foot badly on the rock. It hurt so much. So I started to do the Organic Stretching movements, and 5 minutes later, the pain was gone! Wow! That really was something different. Thanks a lot, what a nice first aid kit you have developed, Pat! I imagine how it could help so many people all over the world!
That first-air tool capacity intrigues me. I want to explain why it is so, but it is only conjecture at this point. I have undone some injuries that would have taken weeks (or more) following the usual protocol. Really empowering stuff. Thanks for sharing your story.
Pat, you are the coolest thing going on two feet (and hands, elbows, knees, hips, butt, and whereever else Organic Stretching takes you!). Great story and nice pic!
I hope someone will bring OS to Minnesota…
I have a great idea, Tracie!!! You should be the one. Why not? I’m doing another training in January 13 – 17. That would be so cool to have you join us. And it is a perfect time to leave Minnesota for Mexico!!!!
Loved your story also your book about your trip around the world. I try and keep myself healthy by doing every thing I can like eating 3 meals a day also take vitamins ,read self help books , listen to C Ds also try and learn something new every day ( just learned to use the computer at 82, I am 84 now) I do some O S every morning that I learned from you.Thank you
Marge, you are one of my champions. You really set a great example of self-care and willingness to try new things. I love that you are doing Wave Dance with the group on Tuesdays. You are amazing. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
Thanks Pat, for your inspiration and teaching and the courageous example of your solo sailing journey of self-discovery. Bob and I are loving our daily organic stretching and I am so looking forward to the training. There are many people here in Alberta interested in it! One of my favorite daily practices for health is creating a healing circle for myself and many others who are facing health challenges. Each morning, I send Divine Light to everyone along with love and prayers.
Thank you, Judy. I love your healing circle practice. Consciously generating that love and energy to share must start your day on such a high note. Thank you for passing that idea on. I’m looking forward to your arrival and the next training session in January. I learned so much presenting this first one! So the next will be even better.
Great article! My belief is everything manifests from our thought process and our ability to love and honor oneself as a precious gift! Think positive with faith and gratitude and the universe responds in miraculous ways! Your thoughts guide your actions!
Thank you, Susan. Beautiful message and I agree totally. We create the life we live in every way. You are so very right!! I miss you! P
You are an amazing and inspiring woman Pat. I love reading your updates and learn more about how your sailing life has evolved into your current life.
May every moment of your life be conducive to peace and happiness_/\_
Thank you, Aleta. It is ongoing journey. I love feeling free enough to let the path lead me. Bless you for your sweet self, Pat
Pat you have inspired my life for some years now. I am in Vallarta and I can not come by to this beautiful part of Mexico without thinking in the beautifull person you are. If you have time please call me to visit you. Un beso y un abrazo. mi cel es 871 166 1020.
Thank you, Beto! What a lovely message. I will call…un abrazo para ti, Pat
Hi Pat, You found us again. Our history goes back to when our parents connected in Iowa in the late 30’s. I hope I have that straight>>>> Anyway, I am glad you keep me on your list and maybe our paths might cross at some time.
I noticed that you are going to be in Santa Cruz and tomorrow, 7/30 my son, Ben, and daughter, Jane Mott, and grand daughters, Lyndsey and Molly will arrive in Montana for 8 days. Jan and I live on Flathead Lake and they live within ten miles of Santa Cruz.
Glad to hear of your success with OS. Cheers, Dennis
Hi Dennis! I am delighted to hear from you. I’m here now (Aug 8) in Santa Cruz following the workshop. I looked for them in the phone book to say “hi,” but no luck. Maybe my daughter Tamara can connect with them. The workshop was terrific. Thank you for you note!