Accidentally Well: Running Revived Me. Common Sense Saved Me

It started like any other day, but this time when I looked in the bathroom mirror, I paused to take more than a fleeting glance. I hardly recognized myself. How did I gain so much weight? How did I let this happen? My happy family, work and social life operated as blinders. It was easy to overlook physical health. Not anymore. Something had to change. I ate nutritious food and exercised, mostly at low intensity. There were no fad diets or ab busters. I took a slow and sustainable approach, without looking for the quick fix. There were setbacks along the way.

I got in touch with physicality. I fell in love with distance running and enjoyed plenty of time to think. I had studied philosophy decades earlier, before getting busy with family and work. Life's big questions once animated my thoughts, but they had long ago receded into the depths of my mind. Those faint memories started to bubble back up to the surface.

An eclectic set of experiences sparked a personal epiphany about wellness. It was an "a-ha" moment for me. I saw a way to work towards balance between eight facets of wellness. I'm filled with optimism about the journey to come.

• Website: accidentallywell.com