Actually, being healthy in every way: physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially wasn’t on my wish list when seeking the love of my life; it was on my must-have list. And it was number one. Is this anywhere on your list? If not, I strongly encourage you to reconsider.
As a wellness consultant, I routinely encounter people who are unhealthy, often in more than one of the areas I mentioned. Having been in long term relationships with men who were not well, I learned how stressful and draining it can be. In addition, therapists note that mental illness is typically more challenging to a relationship than physical ailments are. As I began dating and met singles who were unhealthy, I established a policy of not dating my work. I have male clients and I enjoy working with them. Dating them was not an option, however.
You don’t have to be a health care provider to adopt a similar stance. Well people are great fun to be with, so set your intention to date healthy people. They have fewer limitations and hang-ups than those who are unhealthy, and often have a brighter outlook. Keep in mind that to attract someone who is well in every sense, you’ll want to be healthy yourself. Then go hangout where healthy people do. Start with one area. For instance, for physical health, join a gym, take a Pilates class, or frequent farmers’ markets or health fairs. To find spiritually and emotionally well people, check out a variety of churches or non-profits or do volunteer work. Doing a search on meetup.com is one way to find a group for just about any interest you have.
Now is a great time to revisit your must-have list. Where does healthy fall for you?