52 old-fashioned ways to build wellness, and the scholarly evidence behind them
Updated: Jul 17
When I'm feeling frightened by life, you can calm me down with this poem. More accurately, I'm calmed by standing up and doing one of the actions it reminds me to do.
'The Whirl of Wellness' is science, hidden in a cute, greeting-card style poem. Its author is the Professor of Wellness, Dr. Marc. If you are sceptical of these lightweight-looking claims, click on the links to see the scholarly articles, and discover the evidence behind why having this much fun is good for you. As Permaculture teaches us, the skills of skepticism are very much worth practicing, for an interdependent, self-directed life.
The Whirl of Wellness
or How to go from 'Wired and Tired' to 'Chilled and Fulfilled'
Hold someone’s hand, gaze into their eyes
Go barefoot in nature, bask in sunrise
Choose a dance partner, go find your groove
Do tai chi or yoga, mindfully move
Share a massage, enjoy healing touch
Focus on one thing and don’t think too much
Make time for a hobby, play chess, fly a kite
Make use of your hands, draw, paint, sew or write
Help someone in need, donate to a cause
Play games, meditate, read stuff from bookstores
Turn off your screens, get a good sleep
De-clutter, spark joy, love what you keep
Dig around in a garden, pick up a guitar
Slip into a bathtub, sauna, or spa
Care for a pet, take up a sport
Go on vacation, make your home a resort
Lie in a hammock, release pent-up stress
Relax and do nothing, then do even less
Laugh out loud, share a joke, give someone a kiss
Say a prayer, chant a mantra, follow your bliss
About the Author: Dr. Marc went a bit overboard, when it comes to being qualified in wellness. He is a practicing GP with PhD's in Chinese medicine and Systems engineering. He is a Professor with over 100 original peer reviewed papers, and he created the Master of Wellness program at RMIT in Melbourne. He lives in a Permaculture edible garden, created by his mates though an endless series of parties. Dr. Marc walks his talk.
All that education, and the conclusion is that the things that make us strong are the things our hearts desired all along.