Contributor: Michelle Smeby

I devoted my educational career to studying biology and physiology, from the lowest, cellular level up to the entire organism. Everything I learned emphasized the fact that in order for life to thrive, it must be given the proper nutrition, it must not be strained beyond its capacity, and it must eliminate all toxins and waste.

Somehow, in my pursuit of making a decent living, I had forgotten the fundamentals that I had studied: that a body must have the best, most nutritious food, and it must have a mechanism to eliminate everything that it does not need. I was working too many hours and I was also not paying attention to the food I was putting in my body. My body, mind, and spirit were stressed and unhappy.

In 2002, a wonderful friend came into my life, who reminded me how important it is to pay attention to my body, and to apply the same principles I had learned in school into my daily life: Nourish, Balance, and Cleanse

• Nourish by providing my body with the best nutritional substances
• Balance all of the systems, so that the entire body is working in harmony and no organ is more strained than the others
• Cleanse / remove all waste and toxins

Given the right environment, the body’s natural tendency is to heal. In fact, the body can do more than heal, it can actually repair and regenerate. After changing the way I treat my body, I feel stronger, healthier, and more capable of handling whatever comes my way in life.

In order to be truly healthy, we need to find ways to nourish every aspect of ourselves, and, as far as possible, to release the fears and stresses that everyday life can cause to arise within us.

For consideration:

What if we are put on Earth to accomplish a Divine purpose? Would this mean that it is our duty to treat ourselves and each other with respect, love, and recognition of this Divine gift? Would this also make it our duty to nourish our bodies with the best possible food, so that we are always ready to accomplish our Divine purpose?

If (as I truly believe) I am a child of God, and am here to do God’s work, then isn’t it selfish of me to not eat healthy food?

If I am sincerely devoted to being the best I can be, every day and in every way, then I should treat my body as a beautiful child of God, and only give it nourishing, healthy food that helps it to function at its best.

Nourishing my body should not be viewed as daunting, but should be embraced as joyful willingness to achieve, with purpose, all I can be. I choose to treat myself with respect, and I know that good nutrition allows my body to attain its best and highest health.

Likewise, nourishing my mind and spirit with loving thoughts, words, deeds, and actions, enables the rest of me to achieve my best and highest health. Through consciously choosing to be and act as respectful and loving as possible, each day I get closer to serving my Divine purpose, and bringing forth my Divine gifts.”

I wish you great health and prosperity in every aspect of your lives!