Article May 31, 2004 Issue

'NURTURE body and spirit'

By Giulia Plum

That Catalog Headline caught my attention. Curious, I leaned over the kitchen table, flipped the page, and read inside: "Nurturing yourself isn't selfish, it's a necessity." The article went on to point out the high percentage of illnesses that are stress-related, and explained how the spa products advertised in the catalog would help one "reconnect with well-being." This struck a chord with me because I'd just returned home from a workshop about spirituality and health, at which the presenter quoted a recent medical newsletter that encouraged its readers to "nurture their spirit," suggesting it would have health benefits.

For quite some time, we've been hearing how important it is to our health and well-being to eat properly, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and so on. And now, as these examples indicate, there's a growing chorus of voices emphasizing the importance of taking care of ourselves—not just physically, but spiritually.

But, understandably, someone might ask, "What exactly does it mean, to nurture yourself spiritually?" and "How can you do it effectively?"