Cleaning Up Our Act

It seems that with the onset of the new year, I keep hearing the word cleanse, not only in conversation but in the media as well. It's almost as though the volume on cleaning out our own systems is really loud at the moment...has this always been the case?


My thought for the week is how the idea of needing to undergo cleansing is so intertwined with many other fibers. As our awareness around illness not only to people but to the planet grows, we begin to look at what's making us sick. Why are water filtration systems everywhere? Why are there more kids with autism and behavioral disorders? Why is it that one out of two men and one out of three women will have some form of cancer diagnosis in their life? Why are green apples in the supermarket so shiny?


As one tries to make sense of, and answer, these often overwhelming questions, many people point to toxicity in our environment. Our food is only as good as our soil. If the soil lacks nutrients then so does the food that grows in it. We are dumping tons of waste and chemicals into our environment on a daily basis. Where does it go? For many of us, the awareness is limited to once it leaves our hands, we have no idea where it goes. If we have unused pharmaceuticals from a surgery that we no longer need and toss it in the trash can...what happens to it? If we use bleach to erase an unsightly stain, does the bleach create an environmental stain somewhere else down the line?


In our quest to provide food to more people, chemicals are added to slow down the deterioration process. The same applies to chemicals we put in ourselves via Botox or other "anti-aging" compounds. They are simply different forms of preservatives.


With our communities becoming toxic waste dumping grounds in the most subtle ways, it's no wonder that the conversation circles back to the idea of cleansing.


So what does cleansing look like? Here are some simple things to begin bringing into our awareness:


1. Movement. By moving our bodies as we are meant to (we evolved by being ambulatory) our internal systems function as they are supposed to. Our heart beats, pumping blood throughout the body carrying nutrients and oxygen. Our lungs exchange vital gases. Our immune carrying lymphatic system is activated. Our tissues, muscles, ligaments and bones carry, bend, extend, compress and stretch helping them to maintain their natural integrity.


2. Food. Clean water is vital for optimal health as are nutritionally viable food sources. Cleansing from this perspective can range from partial fasting (to give the digestive system a reprieve), to eliminating alcohol, sugar, caffeine, gluten, meat and dairy for one or more consecutive days allowing the body to re-calibrate.


3. Environment. Gravitate towards natural and organic cleaners for all surfaces...floors, countertops, clothes, body, face etc. Mindfully dispose of items that are difficult for the environmental landfill to digest (paint, oil, medication, plastic, glass).


4. Breathe. Our breath is the connector between our inner and outer physical environments. Obviously, smoking and air pollution challenge our ability to always take a fresh breath. What does that mean to you? Quit smoking? Drive less?


5. Relax. My final point is to do what you can. Small things add up to big differences. If all of us increased our awareness just a little bit, our need to cleanse our systems might become an easier thing to do.


As my Mom used to say, "now...go clean up your room!" Thanks Ma!