Hello again.
We begin our sixth reflection today on two of the more common threats to aging gracefully,
Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
But first,
I want to remind us what Reiki is and therefore how our self-care Reiki practice may help us in the presence of these threats.
First of all,
Reiki is energy.
But let's break down this general statement to give it some recognizable layers.
I'm going to read them slowly so that you have an opportunity to really hear and digest what I'm saying in relation to aging gracefully with Reiki.
Reiki is healing energy.
Aging gracefully with Reiki allows healing energy to flow more easily.
Reiki is meditation.
Aging gracefully with Reiki allows life to become more like meditation.
Reiki is peace.
Aging gracefully with Reiki brings peace to a mind and body that may not have known peace previously.
Reiki is love.
Aging gracefully with Reiki is all about love.
Love for oneself and love for who is in front of you at any given time.
Able to love the heart and soul,
Love whomever this is.
Reiki is compassion.
Aging gracefully with Reiki allows you to feel compassion for others who have not yet understood the things you know to be true and having the patience to allow them to grow into understanding in their own time.
Reiki is gratitude.
Aging gracefully with Reiki is filled with the energy of gratitude.
Reiki is a way of being.
Aging gracefully with Reiki is a way of being.
Reiki is mindfulness training.
Aging gracefully with Reiki is indeed an act or series of acts of mindfulness training until it becomes a part of you and you become a part of it.
As we have said in one of our reflections,
Aging gracefully with Reiki becomes you.
Reiki is a relationship with ourselves,
With one another,
And with the universe.
Aging gracefully with Reiki is our mindful awareness of all of this.
Reiki is an energy that is alive,
That heals,
That awakens when we open ourselves to it.
Aging gracefully with Reiki is again our mindful awareness of this and our dedication to it.
Reiki is an energy that guides,
Guides us through our opening awareness towards those things we need and away from the things that might be harmful.
This is especially helpful when we are trying to change eating and exercise habits.
Reiki is life-changing.
Aging gracefully with Reiki is indeed life-changing.
Reiki guides us to live in the presence of now.
Aging gracefully with Reiki is all about living in the presence of now.
In summary then,
Reiki can lead us to following the known ways of living to achieve good health and to the many qualities of conscious,
Mindful awareness in all we know and do,
If we will allow it.
Now let's look at some of the challenges we might have in applying our self-care Reiki practice to the reality of threats that may be looming within our health and well-being.
And we begin with diabetes.
Did you know that one of the most common chronic illnesses in today's global society is type 2 diabetes?
In fact,
The World Health Organization reported that as of the end of 2024,
Diabetes had increased fourfold over the past three decades,
Such that the number of adults living with diabetes worldwide has surpassed 800 million.
This should get everyone's attention.
Chances are you know someone who is living with type 2 diabetes,
Or perhaps you have a predisposition for it yourself.
The cause,
Suggested in this report,
Is an increase in obesity compounded by the impacts of unhealthy food,
Lack of physical exercise,
And economic hardship.
So let's look at this condition now from the perspective of your self-care Reiki practice.
To begin,
One could say instead of worrying about developing type 2 diabetes,
As in just for today do not worry,
One could ask instead,
What can I do to prevent or to heal this condition in myself,
Or to help me live with it more comfortably?
To answer this question,
Let's return again to the information from our last session.
You can examine your diet.
This is point number one.
And if you've been given a prescribed diet to follow,
The following of it is entirely within your control.
And I recognize this may be easier said than done for a whole variety of reasons.
And this is why I stress that your self-care Reiki practice can help you.
Bring your challenge into your mindful awareness as something you can heal within yourself.
And invite the universe through your Reiki practice to help you with this.
Point number two.
At the same time,
You can examine your exercise routine and consciously try to make changes if necessary.
The benefits of doing these things apply to all aspects of your health and well-being.
And point number three is to remember to take any medication that is prescribed for you to manage your type 2 diabetes.
Even minor changes to your health and lifestyle will show results in how you feel.
And you are worthy of feeling this.
Believe this.
The second treatable condition I want to speak about is hypertension or high blood pressure.
And the really critical thing to know about untreated high blood pressure is that it can lead to heart attack or stroke.
Two very serious and potentially debilitating conditions.
If you know anyone who has experienced either of these life-threatening conditions,
You will know that the rehabilitative road back to new normal life for these people can be long and challenging.
But were you aware that untreated hypertension can also lead to earlier onset dementia?
Research has shown,
And I'm quoting now from the Mayo Clinic,
That the same risk factors for heart disease also may increase the risk of dementia.
The predisposing factors that can lead to this risk,
Lack of exercise,
Obesity,
Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke,
High blood pressure,
High cholesterol,
Or poorly managed type 2 diabetes.
This research article goes on to say that hearing loss and untreated vision loss may also contribute to cognitive impairment and dementia.
And of course,
Hearing loss tends to reduce the quality of social interaction.
One of the key markers of health and well-being identified in increasing our health span that we talked about earlier on.
Finally,
Some good news from McMaster University,
Hamilton,
Ontario.
Canada's Optimum Aging Portal research,
Which suggests that adopting healthy lifestyle habits,
Including physical activity,
A balanced diet,
And managing blood pressure,
Can not only bring hypertension under control,
It can also reduce the risk of dementia by up to 30%.
So the takeaway from all of this research for us,
As we look at aging gracefully with Reiki,
Needs to be preventative health care,
Of which Reiki plays a more vital role than you might have imagined.
Supported,
Of course,
By annual medical checkups,
Including health markers on blood work,
Vision,
And hearing checks as required,
And regular dental care.
There is only one you in this world.
Only you can make decisions such as lifestyle changes to positively impact your health.
And as I've already suggested,
As you make one positive change,
You usually feel better,
Which makes subsequent changes easier.
As we lead into our self-care Reiki relaxation today,
Please place your hands on the core of your body comfortably,
To allow you to relax and think about these subjects today,
If they apply to you.
And reflect upon any preventative health changes you might be encouraged to make,
To ensure you're caring for yourself in the best possible way.
And then ask yourself a simple question to help you with this.
How do I picture myself,
My health and well-being in the future?
Let's say in five years from now,
Or 10,
Or 15,
Or 20,
Or longer.
And rather than allow this to be a scary or frightening thought for you today,
Come back to the discussion we had at the beginning of what Reiki really is.
You may integrate the energy of Reiki into your own body and mind on a daily basis,
As part of preventative health care for you,
Moving into the future.
So that five years from now,
You're looking good.
And 10 years from now,
Just as good or better.
And so on.
Let it be a future projection of yourself that is positive,
Healthy,
Joyful.
Living your life to your full potential.
That's what Reiki is,
Allowing you to get to that space in your body and in your mind.
To do as much as your body and mind will allow you to do and be.
Just take a relaxing breath into this thought now.
And also,
I would like you to give yourself a hug.
And the easiest way to do that is to raise your right arm up and bring it down and cup your left shoulder with it,
With your right hand.
And then raise your left hand up and bring it down and cup your right shoulder.
And just rock yourself,
Love yourself,
Soothe yourself,
Comfort yourself into all of the thoughts that might be going through your head in this moment.
Relaxing you into the comfort of now.
And into the possibilities that exist for you in your life ahead.
And gratitude for this day in this moment that we're sharing together.
And thanking yourself for giving these things your full consideration today.
And continuing to hold yourself in this hug for as long as you can.
And until next time,
May I say Namaste.
I bow to the divine in you.
