If you’re a car driver, you’ll be used to the myriad of hazard and warning lights on your dashboard. Whether you know exactly what they’re for – or not – is another matter (!). Some orange, some red. Some blinking, often rather aggressively. Others coming with a warning shriek or, as an elderly relative used to call them, “whingers.” With there being so many different ones these days, it can be hard to know which ones to pay attention to – NOW!!! – and which can be safely ignored, for a while at least…
And it’s exactly the same with us, albeit less high tech. We all have our own unique warning signs and symptoms that something may be amiss. Whether a little or a lot. We just have to notice them.
Perhaps it’s being a little less patient than usual (!). Lacking our usual oomph or the feeling we have less “fuel” in the tank than normal. Maybe it’s not fancying our food or going for the “naughty” options. Sometimes it’s just a vague feeling that “something isn’t quite right”, without being able to put our finger on exactly what that may be.
Or there may be our own particular warning light. A sore throat. Feeling achy or “glandy”. Indigestion. A change in “bathroom habits” as one Client put it so beautifully recently.
You may know exactly what your warning signs are and, just as important, what you need to do to get back on track. More often than not, it’s just a gentle reminder to slow down a bit. Give ourselves a little tlc or “me” time. Some fresh air. Top up on water. Cut down on the caffeine or other treats (!).
Perhaps you hadn’t joined the dots before but, with the power of hindsight, realised the warning signs you were given in the past. The times when you’d taken the hint – hurrah (!) – and times you hadn’t…
Sometimes, it’s a completely new warning light, whether a vague feeling that “something isn’t right” or something more specific. In either case, the answer can often be found by looking back at what may have happened immediately beforehand or in the last few days / weeks. Then, doing a little research or taking some advice. More often than not, a little common sense will easily resolve the issue once a closer look is taken.
Of course, there are also the so called “red line” symptoms that mustn’t be ignored and a sign that professional assistance is needed NOW. And, if you’re worried that you’ll miss them, you won’t. They’re all quite dramatic and, for everyone concerned, more than a little frightening. We sure you know what they are but here’s a quick reminder:
• Loss of consciousness
• Sudden dizziness or confusion
• A high temperature
• Seizures
• Difficulty in breathing, choking or shortness of breath
• Severe chest pain
• Any other severe pain, particularly if it comes on rapidly and builds
• Persistent vomiting
• Severe allergic reactions
• Severe bleeding or burns
• Severe physical trauma
The good news is these are the exception rather than the rule.
So where are we going with this?
Well, it’s just a gentle reminder to be more aware of our bodies and how we’re feeling.
To check in with ourselves from time to time as we go about our day. Is it a “firing on all cylinders” day – hurrah (!) – or one where we need to take things a bit easier?
And, just as important, what hints are we being given about how to get back on track? After all, it’s much easier to give ourselves a little tlc from time to time rather than soldiering on, ignoring the hints our body may be giving us, until medical intervention is the only option.
It’s also a reminder that it’s the little things we do every day, without ever thinking about them, that make all the difference. Positively and less so. In other words, all those lifestyle choices we regularly talk about in this blog. Proactive beats reactive, every single time, whether for you or your car!
As always, the choice is yours.
Copyright © 2025 Elaine Smart, Smart Holistics. All rights reserved.
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