Take care, eat better get rested

Take care, eat better get rested
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Shades of Green — By Katharine Rose Gergosian, Special to WoRD

There is something noteworthy about how the Irish take care of themselves. Most everyone I have met seems to have the same pure and simple philosophy — the body and its many intricate parts are to be respected and valued.

This approach is not shrouded in sophistication. It begins with straightforward patterns and habits. The first step is an acceptance that the body needs attention, including relaxation and fuel, in order to be well functioning. I have noticed many businesses in Cork, including the University College Cork, take a break in the middle of the day for sustenance. Lunch is often more than a hurried sandwich and guzzled beverage full of caffeine to ward off the afternoon slump. It is a scheduled hour-and-a-half that includes a walk in the outdoors and fresh, healthy food.

Skipping this break in the name of needing to complete a project on deadline would never be considered an act of dedication and zealous commitment. Rather, it would be viewed as a denial of basic human necessity. A task can wait another hour or even another day, but the body deserves consistent care and regard.

Nurturing oneself is grounded on old-fashioned principles. Food is made to be eaten for nourishment, and therefore, contains nutrients that provide goodness and health. I have been amazed at how many different products herald ingredient lists that are short with recognizable names. There are few expiration dates and fewer preservation chemicals. For many folks here, freshness is the optimum standard, even if it means frequent trips to the market on the way home from work.

Many of my new Irish friends take time for the preparation and enjoyment of a meal. The notion of it being a luxury or an inconvenience is held less here than in our country.

Self-care is paramount to the emphasis the Irish place on preventative health care. This time of year in Ireland, the frequent rain and blustery days weaken even the healthiest of immune systems.

The other day, sitting in a lecture hall, the silence of a listening class was interrupted by the all too familiar and universal sick sounds of a cough and runny nose. The professor stopped her presentation, turned and said to the student, "Dear, are you ill? You look dreadful. How about you head on home and get some sleep? Come back when you're feeling better, OK?"

I was stunned. I wanted to hit "replay" to be sure I had heard correctly. This reaction was so foreign to what I had become accustomed to living in the States. We view sickness as an inconvenience to be overcome, not as an excuse to stop and recharge.

On a recent trip to the University Health Center, I experienced firsthand the Irish prescription for the head cold and flu — rest, healthy eating and allowing a virus to run its course. The medications we know as common preparations to reduce annoying symptoms are carefully stored behind closed doors and never used in an attempt to ignore the underlying illness.

It has been refreshing to experience a place where you are always regarded more important than the task, no matter who you are or what the task is. There is no substitute for timeless nurturing. Yes, it may mean the schedule takes a bit of a hit every now and then, but are not our prioritized and carefully detailed "to do" lists arbitrary for the most part?

It seems the Irish have one over on us when it comes to well-being. Their unrelenting, protective nature for the individual is the best chicken soup ever. It is no wonder they are a happy, fun-loving people with a longer lifespan than we can claim in our country.

Katharine Rose Gergosian is a 2005 graduate of Mt. Ararat High School and a junior at the University of Maine at Farmington studying secondary English education. She is spending a semester abroad in Ireland at the University College Cork. As the recipient of the George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship she is devoted to sharing her experiences with others and bringing cultural awareness to those on both sides of the ocean. She can be reached at katharine.gergosian@gmail.com.