Jonathan Swift named the three best doctors; Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet and Doctor Merryman.
I am a grandfather with good teeth, a full head of dark hair and energy to cycle, run dance and play. Here’s how I have interpreted Jonathan’s advice.
Doctor Diet. Choose your food carefully, be wary of too many fad diets and always leave the table (so conventional wisdom goes) wanting just a little more. Being mindful when eating is also beneficial enjoyment, digestion, a sense of calm and of course, mindfulness.
Doctor Quiet. I am an introvert. I love being around people, teaching, playing, laughing and joking, but I like to gather my energy from a place of quiet solitude. We all have a need for privacy. It is important to find some quiet time for yourself regularly to avoid being overloaded. Being out in nature is for instance one good way to reconnect with the quiet and stillness. Mindfulness, mediation or simple attentiveness often suffices. After having ‘partied’, I then like also to return to that place of quiet reflection.
Doctor Merryman. “Folks are just about as happy as they choose to be!” paraphrased Abraham Lincoln. How happy and positive one decides to feel is often to a large degree a choice. You can cultivate a negative attitude towards everything or a positive one. Positive Ways says I!
Anyway, I enjoy a good party, especially if it involves a lot of dancing and so, with Ludo Crass laughing in my ear, I can relay what he has equally paraphrased Jonathan with “Riot, Diet and Quiet”.
Seems reasonable to me!
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