With the knowledge of what health is, I do everything within my abilities to stay healthy, which means also to stay grounded. Health is a state of COMPLETE PHYSICAL, MENTAL and SOCIAL WELL-BEING and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. You see those key words right? From this, it can be inferred that it is almost impossible to stay healthy but nevertheless we strive to be health, to some extent despite the numerous 'unhealthy' challenges that comes ones way.
Yeah, I stay grounded by first of all avoiding negative vibes. This I do by literally avoiding such and forgetting such episodes easily. I remembered a situation when as a student, one of our teachers used some harsh words at us in our group of 2-3 students. On our way back, someone raised the matter and I could hardly recall it. I had forgotten a less than a quarter-day event because it was a negative one and I had to be reminded. That's how I stay grounded at a preventive level. Of course, prevention is better than cure.
But some events evade prevention, like when I score an unsatisfying grade, when I failed a professional examination, the strict measures that followed the COVID-19 and the list goes on. One basic way I keep myself grounded is by taking a walk, an evening walk. I don't fully understand the mechanism of this method but I know it's very therapeutic and had applied it many times with great outcome. I strongly believe that period of solitude and serenity provides me the opportunity to connect with my core being, my core values and this rejuvenates strength and courage to pick up and move on. After a stressful day or seemingly 'bad' day as a student, I could just take some time and walk some short distances. I may have to take a sitting break or just walk through and return to my room but this made the difference for good.
An unbelievable walk I had was during the last COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. According to the school calendar, my class set was supposed to have graduated from the University in September 2019 but for some strikes and other unanticipated activities which pushed it to December 2019. Somehow, it entered 2020 and I was hopeful it will happen that year. School started, there was so much motivation to give in the best this last lap. By March, ASUU strike happened, I returned home immediately to get some rest because I was exhausted by the so much effort I already exerted to get this final lap right at a go. I was happy about the strike thinking that it may be some few days and the issues will be resolved. The strike lingered and bacame compounded with the COVID-19 spread to Nigeria and the subsequent lockdown measure among others. It was as if the world was crashing down on my dreams. And not just mine because I also woke up to lamentations by other colleagues on our class WhatsApp page. I developed various activities like reading my academic books, studying the Bible, going to farm, surfing the web and discovering new things. I even learnt graphic design for about 2 months also. After all these, the lockdown and ASUU strike's end were not in view.
One day, I woke up angry at everybody and everything. Nothing could help maintain my balance. I just told my fam members that I was going out. To where they asked, I don't know was my reply. They let me be anyway. I set out on a walk not knowing where I was going. Before now I took evening walks almost on a daily basis knowing where I was going to and what time I ld spend on the walk. But this day own was different, it was in the afternoon and the sun was very hot. I set out. I walked a distance of about 20km. And in this period, many things came through my mind. I connected with my inner self but under very hard conditions. I guess I didn't even eat before I started this adventure. Since it was a lockdown period, my co-adventurers where people who had mental issue, mad men. I returned home exhausted and with many reasons to be grateful and to reduce my worry. The phrase when there is life, there is hope made more sense. I had life, I was healthy so I adopted the attitude of gratitude and patience and today, those worries are now achievements. This was and still how I stay grounded in the midst of lifes' challenges.
Another major way I stay grounded is by connecting with my creator, God through His word and prayers. This too forms what happens during my walk - I meditate, I pray. Also, listening to inspirational songs, surfing the web, socializing on social media and physically with people are some more ways I stay grounded I would love to list here. Like our faces are different, so are our methods to stay sane. What counts more is keeping our sanity and staying maximally productive in spite of all.