Wellness as an act of rebellion - how a simple “no” can lead to complete transformation.

I grew up believing a rebellion was loud, violent, and something done against a clearly defined evil. Harry Potter fighting Voldemort. Katniss Everdeen defying the Capitol. Shadowhunters defending the world from demons.

So it was surprising when my own rebellion started quietly.

A soft but certain “no” to what was being offered. A concerned healthcare provider, recommending a medical intervention for what I knew could be healed through lifestyle changes. And yet, this was the American way. Disregard for the way we treat our bodies, and then accepting treatments that come with their own set of consequences. Social gatherings, holidays and vacations that revolve around alcohol and processed foods, viewed as indulgences we deserve. All followed by pills and procedures to “fix” the ways we had broken ourselves. I could suddenly see this so clearly, and it was no longer something I wanted any part of.

Family and friends called it “being good” to nourish myself with whole foods that came straight from the Earth and avoid the processed garbage we’ve somehow been programmed to think we should put in our bodies. To show up daily for a movement practice that built strength in a supported, sustainable way, never looking for a reason to skip it.

How interesting it was, they thought that by taking care of myself I was behaving and following rules.

That wasn’t how I saw it, and if I’d had that particular mindset I doubt any of the wellness practices I was doing would have lasted long term. To me, I was breaking the rules. I was fighting back. When I chose to feed myself with whole, plant-based foods or move my body in ways that made it strong and agile. it was an act of defiance against a healthcare system waiting to provide a procedure or pill for for ailments caused by lifestyle choices. It was a resistance to the society built to capitalize off numerous substances that make and keep us unwell. And it was a rejection of every label and identity I had put on myself, or allowed others to put on me, as someone who didn’t take care of herself.

We live in a world where a lot of large, powerful companies profit from a society full of sick people. Modern medicine is a privilege, a gift to have access to. But this gift is run by a for-profit industry, and their interests do not align with ours. They seek to sell the procedures and pharmaceuticals that make them money. It does not serve their bottom line to simply recommend we eat more recognizable foods, get enough sleep, and invite more movement into our lives. Sometimes our interests do align - sometimes the very best thing for us is a medical procedure, a prescription, or a diagnostic test that can provide much more insight into the source of a symptom than we can glean on our own. But those alignments are incidental to, not important to, the goal of the corporations that are in charge.

And unfortunately, an additional barrier to caring for ourselves comes from the very people who place themselves in the role of a wellness guide. Particularly in the online space, there are many, many sources that make a healthy lifestyle look like something that is restrictive, extreme, expensive or otherwise unsustainable or even unattainable. Pricey supplements, punishing workout plans, and complicated meal guides.

I do wonder - are these extremes just a result of the pendulum swinging the other way? A natural response to the disregard for our health being balanced by overly aggressive programs? Or is, even that, a part of the design that keeps us unwell?

The notion that taking care of ourselves is hard, expensive, and restrictive. A chore, rather than a blessing. Something to be attempted and discarded when it is inevitably unsustainable.

I’d been a rebel in all the wrong ways as a teenager - that is to say, I broke rules in ways hurt myself and others. I grew out of those actions, but I guess the inclination for resistance never left me. It is only my view of what is worth resisting that has changed. Does it matter how we look at our wellness practices, whether we see them as “being good” or as a form of rebellion? I certainly think so. The energy of rebelling is empowering, inspiring, a sense of strength that comes from within. While the energy of behaving and following the rules is an act of giving our power away, allowing ourselves to be small, contained, obedient. In my experience, the energy of rebelling is what has staying power. It is what keeps me dedicated to the ways I nourish myself - a constant act of rebellion against the influences that seek to keep me unwell.

So how do we find a revolution that lasts?

Simplicity. Sustainability. Softness and Strength.

These aren’t suggestions for drastic transformation in 2 weeks or a challenge to get a certain number of reps, steps, or grams of protein in. These are methods that move us forward along a path of taking better care of ourselves, not just for today or this season, but for life. Learning to cook for yourself. Whether you follow a vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore diet, getting an abundance of a variety of plants on your plate every day. A daily movement practice you look forward to showing up for - one that encompasses building strength, improving mobility and allowing for rest. Developing a strong foundation of body awareness, so that you can continue to make small, simple adjustments to your dietary and movement practices that keep you ascending along your path. Having a daily mindfulness practice - guided meditations, journaling, breathwork, affirmations, prayer - to keep you centered and aware of how your choices support the life you want to live.

What does my rebellion actually look like? At a summer pool party, soaking up the sun and time with loved ones, enjoying a sparkling water instead of alcohol. Bringing vegan dishes to family holidays so I can share food that is as nourishing as it is delicious, and also ensure I have something to eat that isn’t full of ingredients that do not promote health in my body.

Ignoring the extreme trends in wellness culture.

Some days it involves saying no to social or work gatherings that center around consuming crap that doesn’t serve me. But I don’t feel it as a restriction - I feel it as choosing myself. I take care of myself, and I love the rewards it gives me. So I keep doing it. My rebellion looks like reminding myself, over and over, that our natural state is one of wellness. That if we tune into ourselves, and out of the noise that surrounds us, we know what our bodies need. Whole foods that come straight from the Earth. Movement that strengthens and mobilizes, and rest to recover. Water. Sleep. Peace.

I never did need that medical intervention my doctor had recommended. Once I started treating it right, my body returned to its natural state of wellness. But I remain thankful for that experience, because it led me to a completely new relationship with my health. Now I provide myself an invitation, each day, to care for myself through the ways I move, the things I consume, and the thoughts I give energy to. I remind myself often that gentle, sustainable practices are more powerful than any extreme. That the way I get to care for myself matters. That convenience is not more important that nourishment. That being too busy to take care of myself is not a sign of a life well lived. I show up each day choosing myself.

In a society where so many industries profit from a sick population, refusing to follow the status quo of harming yourself is one of the most rebellious things you can do.

It doesn’t have to be loud or complex. The greatest revolution, taking your health back into your own hands, can start with just a simple response; “No.”