Dr. Chad Sato
Hawai‘i Herald Columnist
The month of May indicates the transition from spring to summer, where flowers begin to bloom – a time to open up and embrace the warmer weather.
This year, Mother’s Day lands on May 9. And without our mothers, none of us would exist. True, your mother did need your father, but energetically the strongest connection is that between mother and child, since she carried you in her womb from conception to birth.
Whether or not you have a good relationship with your mother, Mother’s Day gives you the opportunity to connect with her if she is still alive, and for those whose mother has transitioned, a moment to remember and appreciate her love and presence. However, we can also be grateful to our mothers all year round.
COVID-19 has certainly taught us to be more grateful as we were forced to create new traditions. And we had to really start thinking of our actions and how they affect people around us. We put on masks, sanitized and kept our distance – all to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
The emergence of Zoom and other virtual applications allows us to connect with loved ones who live far away or those nearby if they choose to limit their exposure.
A mothering energy is one that is caring, nurturing and focused on the proper care and needs of the child. Sometimes the energy can be gentle and full of warmth, but at other times appear controlling and tough.
A mother gives her child space to grow and evolve to maximize his or her potential so as to become a self-governing individual. A mothering energy exists in all of us. Sometimes due to life circumstances, a father, older sibling, even a grandparent has had to take on the role of the mother. So along with the expansion of spring into summer, honor those individuals who have taken on the responsibilities of being your mother.
Nurturing yourself, as well as fully accepting and acknowledging all your strengths and shortcomings, are the best gifts you could bestow on yourself. Thus, be a “mother” to your own body and life, and honor your mother in doing so.
To have unconditional love and presence for your body by being vigilant and establishing healthy habits and routines is the most important thing that I have learned over the past 21 years of practice. You are given your body from the time of birth and how you choose to take care of it will determine the quality of your life.
When you are a child, your body appears to heal spontaneously without much effort; hence, many live their life without regard for their body’s functions. Fast food, alcohol, workaholic tendencies (to name a few options), and probably a multitude of other questionable behavior patterns lead to the slow decline of your body’s health and vitality. Compounded by the impacts of mental and emotional stressors, your health can also decrease into a less than optimal state.
The choice in how you want to live your life is yours, so why not nurture your body? Start simple and pay attention to your basic needs.
• Do you drink enough water daily (recommended amounts of water for men is 15.5 cups and for women 11.5 cups according to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)?
• Are you getting seven to eight hours of restful sleep?
• Are you maintaining a healthy diet or are you consuming mostly refined sugars and processed foods?
• Are you maintaining a regular exercise regimen and making sure that you are stretching to keep your body limber and flexible?
• Are you choosing to maintain a positive mental state and outlook by avoiding negative people or the constant barrage of disturbing things displayed in the mainstream media?
• Are you diligent with your spiritual and religious practice; uplifting your loved ones and friends who might live in fear or uncertainty?
These questions are designed to prompt you to assess what you are currently doing or not doing in your life. Once you are aware, you can take the appropriate action or make the necessary adjustments to improve the quality of your life and relationships.
Even if you are not currently taking care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, it’s never too late – so choose NOW. Increase your own awareness; identify what feels right for you. When you take care of yourself — like how a mother would to her precious child — you will bolster your body’s immune system and vitality. Your body has the power to heal if compromised, so supporting your body to achieve more pizazz and vitality is up to you.
Let’s honor our moms by choosing to stay healthy and enhance our wellbeing and life experiences. Like the meanings of May’s birth flowers, Hawthorn and the Lily-of-the-Valley, create hope and return to happiness in your life.
Dr. Chad Sato graduated from UCLA in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and earned the Doctor of Chiropractic degree with honors from Life Chiropractic College West in 1998. Sato founded his practice, Aloha Chiropractic (alohachiro.biz), in Mänoa valley, O’ahu, on Oct. 1, 1999. He is a sought-after educator, speaker, author and mind-body specialist who helps people reach new levels of empowerment when it comes to their health and wellness by staying present with their body signs, making appropriate life choices and utilizing stress instead of managing it.
