I bought twelve books at Title Wave Books in Anchorage on June 26, 2021. (Photo by Camille Botello)

I bought twelve books at Title Wave Books in Anchorage on June 26, 2021. (Photo by Camille Botello)

Wishing y’all well

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be “well” lately. Like, what does that actually mean? Is it realistic for someone to strive to be “well” in their lives? Is that something that is achievable? Certainly wellness means different things to different people. Maybe some people feel “well” when they are physically healthy. To others it may feel like success at their job.

Someone told me recently about the “wheel of wellness.” The wheel is visually represented by a circle divided into equal parts, like a pie. Each “piece” is labeled with a different element of wellness: occupational, spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, environmental and social. The idea is that all of the pieces are equally important to a well-rounded lifestyle.

While it is maybe not realistic for someone to be actively trying to improve every piece of their wellness wheel at the same time, I find the exercise of identifying areas where I’d like to improve helpful. To say that the last year has been rough is an understatement. There have been many days where I find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning and feel crippled by a sense of hopelessness and lack of purpose.

In considering my own wheel of wellness, I am able to take back a sense of control over the direction of my life. One of the biggest things I’ve taken away is that investments in different pieces of the wheel do not need to be major. There are small, manageable tasks that I can introduce into my daily life that I’ve realized can help make things feel less overwhelming.

I’ve tried making a conscious effort to invest in activities that have brought me joy in the past: being outside, watercolor painting, reading new books, playing the piano. The act of picking out paint brushes, loading down a basket with used books, buying a keyboard on Facebook Marketplace, all make me feel like I’m taking actual steps to introduce more joy into my life.

I think it’s working. Visually, I picture the “intellectual” and “emotional” pieces of my wellness wheel filling up, albeit slightly, with each new chord learned and novel finished. Maybe I can’t control how the COVID-19 pandemic has restructured my lifestyle, but I can control how I spend my weekends.

I think it’s easy for investments in a person’s emotional and intellectual pieces to come secondary to their occupational or social wheels— maybe they feel less urgent. The equity inherent to the imagery of the wheel, however, means that no one aspect is more important than another. All are equally deserving of attention.

Some of the things that have made me feel joyful: Kurt Vonnegut’s “Bluebeard,” painting Kachemak Bay, discovery hikes with the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, going to bed earlier, long drives on the coast.

The point is this: In a world with a lot of uncertainty, there are small things people can do to feel more purposeful in the areas of their life that are necessary to achieve some semblance of wellness.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

My keyboard. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara)

My keyboard. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara)

More in Sports

Ninilchik's Kade McCorison moves to shoot over attempted blocks by Aniak's William and Troy Morgan during a basketball game at Ninilchik School in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Ninilchik’s Kade McCorison, CIA’s Ian McGarry make all-state first teams

The Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches sent out its all-state basketball teams… Continue reading

Roope Tuomioksa of the Kenai River Brown Bears attacks Payton Nelson and goalie Nick Erickson of the Minnesota Wilderness on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Saturday: Brown Bears finish sweep of Wilderness

The Kenai River Brown Bears completed a two-game sweep of the Minnesota… Continue reading

tease
Friday: Brown Bears win 2nd straight

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Minnesota Wilderness 4-1 on Friday… Continue reading

tease
Friday: Seward boys fall to Barrow in 4th-place game

The Seward boys basketball team lost the fourth-place game 66-42 to Barrow… Continue reading

Me working in the Alaska House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Out of the Office: Juneau

It was kind of happenstance that I spent the last month living… Continue reading

Greg Fallon, Kenai, receives his gold medal for his team’s 4x400m relay 2005 or later mix effort from Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries. (J. David McChesney/Frontiersman)
Peninsula athletes compete, win at Arctic Winter Games

23 athletes from the Kenai Peninsula, representing Kenai, Soldotna, Nikiski, Sterling and Homer, brought home 31 Ulus

tease
Thursday: Seward boys hold off Houston to make 4th-place game

The Seward boys basketball team defeated Houston 51-43 on Thursday to advance… Continue reading

tease
Thursday: Sitka girls knock Homer from Class 3A state tourney

The Homer girls basketball team was eliminated from the Class 3A state… Continue reading

tease
Wednesday: Grace Christian defeats Seward in 1st round

The No. 3-seeded Grace Christian boys basketball team defeated No. 6 Seward… Continue reading

Most Read