A New Perspective on the Word of Wisdom

 Amazing how things look different a few decades later, and so much time has passed, yet it seems but an instant. 

I used to hate* the word of wisdom because of how people reacted and responded to it and the (to me) mindless debates that ensued in any class that covered it.  Instantly the endless discussions and breaking down of food into measurements, anything can be an addiction, comparing Tylenol to hard drugs, and even over-drinking water, yadda yadda yadda, always seemed to miss the point to me. It wasn't the word of wisdom that bothered me.  It was how we regarded it.

I hated the topic.  

Similarly, having gone to college and graduate school in the then-health-conscious Portland Area (now I think they do a lot more meth and fentanyl than they used to), it seemed that going into a health-food store was another extreme where people would compete to see who could out-healthy-each other.

But some time has given me a new perspective as I...mature.

First, our mortal bodies aren't forever.  These temples?  We have to take care of them.  And that means that we need to spend time in connection with our bodies - our temples. 

Not just not drinking alcohol, and not doing drugs.  

Nor is it just eating healthy - you can't eat your way to heaven, nor can you abstain your way to heaven.

It's also about rest.  

Relaxation.  

Stretching.  

Sleep.  

Meditation.  

Developing talents.  

Brushing your teeth.  

Getting fresh air.

Taking care of your hearing.

It's about living life.

Getting an education and developing your mind.

Developing a skill and improving your talents. 

Living life!

We live in a country with more processed food-products than anywhere in the world or than ever in history.  But we need to be making the choices that bring true happiness, spiritually, temporally, eternally - rather than living a life solely focused on "comfort and consumption."  

Taking care of our temples is truly the "word of wisdom."