Take (blank) with a grain of salt

The human body fascinates me. How the smaller parts affect the whole. How a seemingly insignificant cut on the tip of my index, can limit a routine task. How a mere sneeze can cause a small blood vessel to break in the corner of my eye – i.e. a subconjunctival hemorrhage – and in turn irritate me enough to transfix me. I often dig deeper, searching for subtle connections and possible explanations. As it turns out, I have generalized hypermobility. My backward-bent thumbs up often attract the curiosity of people. I ask myself: Could I have some sort of a collagen disorder? I wonder if that has anything to do with my retrognathism (dental lingo for smaller lower jaw). And does that mean I must succumb to arthritis inevitably? But where did my narcolepsy really come from? Was it that bad inner ear infection I had when I was six? Or an epigenetic event.

I realized recently how much I miss my childhood habits. I miss reciting passages 3 times to remember them while walking aimlessly around the room. I miss jotting notes down, revisiting them later. I miss my ablutions throughout the day. I miss duck walks and rolling on the ground; the agility of my mind and body as a child. In an age of infinite social media newsfeeds, endless connectivity and incredulous technology, I find people less connected internally and externally. I find myself advocating to resurrect some old habits. Find a few of my favourites below:

1. Read. Suggestion: Reclaiming Conversation by Sherry Turkle (Sherry Turkle – Alone Together)
2. Nap. Limit them to 24 min or less because once you enter deep sleep naps become counter productive if interrupted prematurely.
3. Stretch. Headstands, Duck walks, Rabbit hops, and lay on the bedroom floor and stair at the ceiling for a while.
4. Get bored. Boredom is the second after sleep for assimilating thoughts and memories.
5. Mouth and sinus rinses: Small teaspoon of sea salt in warm water, and swish until you feel the salt permeate your gums. Saline nasal sprays while inhaling until you feel it pool in your pharynx just like how the water flows through your nose and out of your mouth while swimming.