Good Grief's 5k Run/Walk Promotes Healthy Kids, Both Inside and Out
April 13, 2015
Grief is complex with many competing feelings, including joy and sorrow at the same time. Grief is not only an emotional experience; it is also a physical one. In fact, emotions are closely tied to how our bodies feel. Emotions affect our coping and our coping affects our body, which means there are healthy and unhealthy ways to react to our feelings. I often say that "I'm eating my feelings and they taste so good." Chocolate is my preferred way of coping! But changes in our body can also affect our emotions by impacting our self-esteem. It's important that we don't create dichotomies between our physical and emotional selves because it is all interconnected, especially when we grieve. Taking care of our bodies is a wonderful way to care for both our psyche and grief throughout our entire lifetime. It's best to develop good habits early, but never too late to start!
When we adequately care for our whole selves, we end up addressing the challenges we face in many areas of our "self." We have all heard the reports on obesity and the impact a sedentary lifestyle has on our health. Exercise is critical to our overall health. In fact, many physicians prescribe exercise as an integral treatment for depression. I would call that a holistic intervention and most appropriate for grief!
When it comes to grief, both the body and the heart aches. A variety of emotions build up and we hurt all over from thinking so much about memories, processing someone's death, and trying to imagine the future. As a result of all of these thoughts and feelings, we feel lethargic and foggy. After a significant los, kids often get headaches and bellyaches. They struggle to concentrate in school, as they sit at their desk for uninterrupted hours each day. Getting up and getting out helps us face the challenges we confront in our daily lives.
It's because of the interconnectedness between body and mind that a walk or run is so holistically beneficial for us. At Good Grief, we are providing the community with a variety of healthy coping skills to address life's challenges. Join hundreds of people in our community on May 31 to support a friend and a great cause. Celebrate the important people that you have love by taking care of where their memory lives on- in you!
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