When a person isn’t quite feeling up to par but doesn’t present with any handy-dandy recognizable symptoms either, there are two courses of action. One: Chalk up the malaise to getting older, utter some concerned tsk tsks, compare notes with your friends, and then promptly forget about it.
Two: Believe that things can always be better and you deserve more. Listen to the nagging clues your body may be offering. Be open minded enough to look beyond traditional medicine and accept help where you find it (like Eubie Blake said: If I’d have known I was going to live this long I’d have taken better care of myself).
I’ve been a proponent of both options. Of course, It’s easier to seek out chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, and more if you have the extended health coverage that makes it more affordable.
It was with this in mind that I sought out the expertise of a naturopath in February. I wanted an assessment of my health status. Tests showed I am carbohydrate intolerant and am dumping excess histamine as a result. Over time, through modifying diet and use of supplements, my numbers came much closer to where they should be.
That may or may not be interesting in and of itself. And of course I’m only offering a two-sentence summary of a complicated, months long process.
But, during a subsequent visit, in addition to new supplements, I got a ?prescription? to have fun. I realize that may sound hokey. It was only partly tongue in cheek. It was a reminder that having fun, laughing, relaxing, and taking everything less seriously could affect my wellbeing.
The challenge tickled my fancy and led me to the dollar store. I don’t often wear my glasses/big nose/furry eyebrows prop but just having it on my desk makes me smile. I also opted for a tiny magic wand?who doesn’t need one of those—that sits nearby in a pencil cup. I watch Big Bang Theory so I can laugh out loud several times in a half hour. I’m also working on a jigsaw puzzle, playing spider solitaire, and practicing yoga. Most of those things don’t cost a thing other than the willingness to do them.
What is costing considerably more are the tickets to the Just for Laughs comedy tour that came to Edmonton on Sunday night. Four comedians, Demetri Martin, Jon Dore, Levi MacDougall, and Todd Glass had us laughing and engaged for a couple of hours. Naturally there were moments of insight as these characters gave us a look into their wacky perspectives. One talked about having been in a shitty neighbourhood. But then he wondered why on earth birds would choose to stay in that neighbourhood. That’s a good question, isn’t it? I’m not sure how many drugs do you have to take to think of that but hey, whatever it takes to make us laugh. I just wish I had a better memory (or they allowed recording devices). Unfortunately we can’t store up laughs, from where I sit.
Hazel Anaka’s first novel is Lucky Dog. Visit her website for more information or follow her on Twitter @anakawrites..
