I am reading the latest Booker prize-winning novel, “Flesh” by David Szalay. In the book, the main character, István, responds with “okay” over 500 times. As a reader, you need to interpret what that “okay” means. And therein lies the magic of minimalist writing: asking the reader to think and interpret to create meaning.
It got me thinking about how we interpret our feelings daily. When I am asked how I am feeling, I am likely to reply, “Yeah, I’m okay.” Someone can take me at face value or interpret something in my body language which might suggest otherwise and probe further.
Similarly, we must interpret what our bodies are telling us. We tell ourselves (and others), “yeah, I’m okay, feeling tired, but that’s normal with age,” - isn’t it?
The onset of chronic disease starts many years before it shows up on blood tests or a diagnosis; many years of us telling ourselves that we are “okay,” while ignoring the warning signs of tiredness, poor sleep, digestive issues, aching joints and weight gain 😟
So are you okay? Really?
If something in you hesitates before answering, that’s your cue to look closer. Start by listening - properly listening - to what your body is trying to tell you. If anything feels off, get a medical check to rule out any underlying issues. Then give yourself an honest lifestyle audit. Choose one area to focus on, whether it’s sleep, movement, stress, or nutrition and make one small change, one tiny step - maybe it’s avoiding snacking after 8pm, or turning the lights out 30 minutes earlier.
Over time, build in more changes so that all the tiny steps accumulate, pulling you back from a slide into chronic disease and toward a life where “okay” is not a polite mask, but a genuine state of zest ☘️
“I’m okay, thanks!”