Saturday, June 12, 2021, will mark the 10th annual Global Wellness Day Celebration, and it’s with great joy that, as Macau Ambassador, I announce the return of a great community event day. Global Wellness Day (GWD) has grown from being celebrated in one country in 2012 to being celebrated in 170 countries across tens of a of locations.
The fundamental purpose of the day is to make us aware of the value of our lives, even if it’s just for one day of the year, to make us stop and think about getting away from the stress of city living and our bad habits, and thereby find peace within ourselves.
The central theme of GWD 2021 will be “protecting our mental wellness,” focusing on both kids and adults during these times of a global pandemic. According to GWD founder Belgin Aksoy, 1 in 10 people live with a mental health disorder. Indeed, with all the Covid-19 restrictions and living in uncertain times, the chances are that these numbers will rise. People might be feeling trapped, lonely away from their families, frustrated, and disorientated.
So let’s take some action. Since this year is focused on Mental Wellness, here is what I have been applying in my life and suggest to you:
1. Change something in your routine. Start (or finish) the day with a power walk or a swim (even if it’s just 10 minutes), or go for a ‘night-cation’: I guarantee you that for a few moments you will feel like you are on a bit of holiday and your heart will thank you.
2. Be mindful of what you are eating and give yourself a break from highly processed foods: How about a two-week challenge of no sugar and alcohol, and just focus on rich natural foods? What bad could come from that? Add some intermediate fasting into your week: It’s proven that your body needs time to heal, and that won’t happen if it’s constantly in digestion mode. Start with 14 hours fasting and work your way up gradually.
3. Finally, my favorite one: plan to watch the sunrise! This was a holiday habit that I turned into a routine. Watch the clouds change colour, get lost in the early morning silence, and be grateful for being alive one more day.
Together as a community that has been living in a completely different reality, thanks to Macau being so safe, let’s unite and celebrate and be grateful for our lives. This year, we will be coming back stronger than before. Sponsored by Macau Tower as the primary sponsor, ManaVida has joined forces with Mr. J Sports to bring to Macau a day full of free activities to make your body move from 10am to 6pm – from group classes to performances, nutritional workshops, experiences for every age including farming and old-school games, free massage experiences, face painting, and a range of wellness-related vendors.
As Macau GWD Ambassador for the past three years, my mission has always been to reach out to all the different communities in Macau and to show how wellness doesn’t need to be complicated, fancy, or expensive. As a sacred temple, your body was made with all necessary features to heal, but it’s up to us to take the required, wise steps. So I invite you to come, with an open mind, regardless of what others may think, and make a decision to be better than the day before.
I leave you with a passage that has been encouraging and supporting my mental wellness:
Fill your minds with the best, not the worst; The beautiful, not the ugly; Things to praise, not things to curse.
And see you June 12 at Macau Tower!
