What wellness means to me.
Each individual's interpretation of wellness is unique, and at Hemlock, we strive to celebrate this diversity.
This ethos has inspired our blog series, 'What Does Wellness Mean to You?'
By Kirsten Harlow Foster
I believe in the power of simplicity, nature, and finding wellness from within. It's not about achieving perfection or changing who you are. It's about not losing sight of the beauty of this world we have - learning to respect it, coexist with it in a positive way, and draw strength and inspiration from it to find a way to love yourself for who you are. I am not perfect. None of us should strive for perfection. We need to treat ourselves with kindness, care, and forgiveness. The world can be a harsh critic – so finding ways to be our own best cheerleader and supporter is so important. Let’s work on happiness and acceptance instead. This is at the core of what we try to create for our guests at Hemlock.
Wellness is also having the freedom and self-awareness to give yourself what you need at any given moment. Taking care of yourself. Being kind. Giving your body and soul what it needs and understanding that that may be different from one day to the next. Some days it may be solitude, better self-control, and a need to look inward. Other days, it may be carving out time with your best friend and finding moments of laughter and being carefree.
And wellness is about the moments in life we take for ourselves. The moments that don’t have an end goal and are not on any checklist. It's doing the things that make us happy because we want to do them. Not because we need to. As a mother, wife, and business owner, it's easy to pack my day with the things that have to get done. But carving out time to do the things from which I find inspiration, happiness, and laughter are the ones that fill my tank.
Like taking my shoes off and running through the grass. Feeling the strength of the ground rise through me. Removing the barriers to feel free and invigorated and channel my inner child.
Jumping into a cold lake. Rolling in the snow with only a bathing suit on. Turning the shower handle to cold. Our world has evolved to create so many conveniences and efficiencies - but these things can dull the senses, so it's important to check back in. I love the feeling of losing your breath for a moment in a cold plunge and then feeling like you are tuned into every single cell in your body.
Playing a board game. Reading a long book with my kids. Losing my phone. Playing catch with my goofy dog. Doing an activity that doesn’t have an end goal but is rather about the moment itself.
Spending time alone on a regular basis. Without things to distract me so that you can truly check in with myself. There is power in silence and internal thought that is so easily drowned out, so it's important to actively seek out those moments for yourself.
