Heartbeats, Life, and Lifelines
A heart doesn’t beat in perfect time all the time. In medicine, we describe different rhythms:
Normal Sinus Rhythm: 60–100 beats per minute, the steady flow of life.
Tachycardia: when the heart races above 100, often in moments of stress, fear, or excitement.
Bradycardia: when the heart slows below 60, a deep rest or sometimes the weight of fatigue, grief, or illness.
These aren’t just medical terms—they mirror the very rhythms of life.
In health and fitness, we talk a lot about numbers: heart rate, reps, miles, calories burned. But true wellness goes deeper. It’s not only about what your body can do, but also how your mind and emotions adjust to the ups and downs.
Life brings tachycardia seasons—those high peaks when adrenaline surges, when love, challenge, or even trauma makes everything feel accelerated. And then there are bradycardia seasons—the times when energy is low, when grief or burnout slows us down, when forward motion feels nearly impossible.
Wellness is about learning to live in rhythm with both. Strength training, stretching, fueling your body well—these build resilience in the physical heart and body. But tending to your emotional and mental health—through rest, connection, reflection, and community—keeps your whole self aligned with the natural flow of life.
Balance doesn’t mean avoiding the highs and lows. It means building enough stability—physically, emotionally, and mentally—to carry you through them. It means knowing when to push, when to pause, and when to reach for a lifeline.
Because just like a heart sometimes needs a little help to reset its beat, so do we. Encouragers, mentors, friends, and professionals—these lifelines steady us when our own rhythm falters.
Total health is never just physical. It’s the integration of body, mind, and spirit—the courage to keep adjusting to life’s rhythm, both the hard and the wonderful.
So check in with your pulse today. Not just the beat in your chest, but the pace of your life. Ask yourself: Am I racing? Am I slowing? Am I in balance? And if you find yourself off-beat, don’t hesitate to lean on your lifelines. A strong heart—and a strong life—was never meant to beat alone.