Tim's blog

Urbanization causes more and more people to become disconnected from nature and its values. This is evident in many situations and places. When it comes to understanding the human body, people living in cities naturally adapt to their (less natural) urban environment.
Despite having access to various types of movements, products, and tools, the majority of people do not learn, or learn too late, about the ability to listen to their body’s signals and instincts. Developing body awareness is a skill that we must cultivate, and it evolves over time. As a young child, one grows quickly and has a strong urge to move. Unfortunately, this natural and vital urge is often suppressed, and children are rewarded for sitting still instead. This has a negative impact on development, often resulting in issues later in life.
People also do not fully develop their natural senses. For example, can we tell if food is still good? Do we closely watch, smell, and taste it? Building this sensory ability requires time and practice over many years. The same applies to listening skills; in a completely silent room, you can hear your body’s sounds, like your heartbeat or the movement of your digestive system. However, many people never get the chance to practice this awareness.
The difficult part is that our bodies do not function the same way at all times. When do we usually feel thirst? When does our body signal us to move? These needs are often influenced externally in our modern society. We see an advertisement for a drink and suddenly feel thirsty. Our bodies may signal an urge for fruits, vegetables, or meat, but most people are driven not by internal signals but by marketing stimuli.
This also leads to irrational behavior. For example, your back may hurt, but you see an advertisement for a foot massage machine. Because you feel the need to do something for your body, you buy this machine, even though what you actually need is something else.
At times, your body also gives you unhealthy signals that you should not follow. For instance, there may be a bar of chocolate, and you feel the urge to eat it all at once. This desire comes from a kind of bodily instinct; you feel it deep inside, and may even subconsciously produce more saliva. However, you can learn from this. Some hours later, your body often provides feedback, perhaps as a slight stomachache. By listening to these signals, you can learn to adjust your desire over time. Unfortunately, many people ignore their body’s feedback and so miss the chance to get an adjustemnt of the own desires.
Because we live in a world of abundance, we have access to more and better food than ever before. The consequences, however, often emerge with age.
Many more examples could be given. This is not just about digestion or daily energy patterns but also about muscles, bones, skin condition, and more.
Another situation is when you are sick or unwell. Illness is natural from time to time, as we interact with other forms of life in our environment. Instead of trying to understand where the pain is, how it moves and changes, people often take medication to treat symptoms, which removes the chance to develop a better understanding and awareness of their own body.
Finally, psychology is another important aspect. Our daily habits are closely related to how we feel and who we are. The Western perspective often separates body and mind; separation that, in reality, does not exist.
I am a bit sad that I realized this only later in my life. Nobody taught me this when I was younger. The pursuit of happiness as a young boy and man ignored the pursuit of genuine, viable happiness.
What saddens me more is that most people today are like I was when I was young.
Listen to your body, as often and as long as you can, and you will have a better chance of leading a balanced life within yourself.