An everyday story of change, family, and finding balance, told in three parts

This story is for educational and illustrative purposes only. It reflects one person’s experiences and does not constitute professional, medical, or nutrition advice. Readers should use their own judgment when applying any ideas or insights to their own lives and consult a qualified healthcare professional for individualised advice. As a dietitian, the author does not provide individualised nutrition or medical advice through this narrative.

Prologue

Wellness Introduction

Almost everyone says they want to be well. But what does being well actually mean? Is it simply the absence of disease, or something deeper? These are questions often considered around the concept of wellness.

The Wellness Alliance, frames wellness as a process aimed at achieving a more successful existence. It is an active, self-directed process shaped by the choices each person makes.

A more successful existence reflects not only surviving, but the capacity to function, adapt, and at times to thrive. These decisions extend beyond what people eat or how much exercise they do. Instead, the choices they make influence multiple aspects of daily life.

The question then becomes what choices need to be made to support wellness. This is explored in the work of Halbert Dunn, later extended by Bill Hettler and Sarina Wheeler. In her work at Wilfrid Laurier University, Sarina outlines seven dimensions of wellness: financial, physical, environmental, mental, social, spiritual, and vocational.

The Ocean’s Gifts

Across cultures and throughout history, oceans, lakes, rivers, and billabongs have drawn people toward them. Artists have painted them. Poets and authors have celebrated them. People have photographed them. From quiet lakes to the ebb and flow of ocean waves, each water environment offers its own experience. Beyond their scenic qualities, time spent near water can influence how people think, feel, and function.

Since the Illawarra stretches along the coast, it is fitting to use the ocean as the lens through which the following story unfolds. It shows an ordinary man experiencing the seven dimensions of wellness and how they connect through everyday life.

Part One

When the Story Began

He lay on the couch, staring into space. He found himself doing that more often since his redundancy. Three months had passed and job rejections piled up. There was no JobSeeker. The toll was mounting as the financial situation worsened. He was uncertain how long the last of the redundancy payout and their savings would last.

Life at home had become tense. The girls were frustrated. Their sports activities and outings had been cancelled. His wife was less spontaneous than usual, and as for him, he had been keeping the bank statements to himself.

Luxuries were gone. Meals were simpler. The vegetable garden that was once considered ‘Mum’s hobby’ was turning out to be a necessity. When he put his arm around his wife, he noticed she was getting bony. He knew his own muscles were wasting away.

Getting to sleep was a problem. When he finally did, he often woke during the night. Sometimes he would see his wife sitting with her head in her hands. It broke his heart. Anger, worry, and sadness pressed on him every day.

Financial

Loss or change of financial resources and material security affecting stability and choices.

He came across an online budgeting guide. Reading it, he began to understand how financial insecurity could impact every aspect of life. It explained why his focus and belief in himself were fading. Even the lack of social invitations no longer seemed to matter.

After finishing the guide, he spoke with his wife, sharing what he had been reading. The guide stressed the importance of careful budgeting to ensure there would always be enough for food and shelter.

The next day, he arranged an appointment with the bank to discuss how best to manage the home loan. The visit made the reality of their situation painfully clear. They were going broke, and fast. Every decision counted.

That night, he and his wife sat down with the girls to explain that major changes needed to be made to their spending. When he mentioned they would be cancelling all subscriptions, the girls were devastated. They explained the subscriptions helped them unwind after school, especially now they no longer had sport.

He reminded them of the library and how they used to borrow books, movies, and magazines. The girls relented, knowing there was still an alternative. They also agreed to take shorter showers, turn off lights when not needed, and walk home from school.

They tightened their credit card limit and decided to keep only loyalty cards with no fees, like Flybuys. Grocery items on sale were given priority on the shopping list. With all the changes they had planned he hoped their funds would give them a little more breathing space.

He decided it was time to get out of the house and do something useful. Tomorrow, he would head down to the ocean and fish. If he caught anything, it would add some low-cost variety to their meals.

It had been years since he had last fished. Thinking about it now, he realised how much he missed the peacefulness it used to bring him.

Physical

Effects of food, movement, and rest on the body and its functioning.

He lugged the esky and fishing gear down to the beach. He was surprised it took more out of him than expected. In the past he had never experienced so much breathlessness.

After months of eating very little protein, he was looking forward to some fresh fish. He set the esky down, baited the hook, and made his first cast. It wasn’t the same distance as in the old days. The next attempt was an improvement. After several minutes with no bite, he reeled in and made another attempt. This time was even better distance. His muscle memory seemed to be returning. When the first strike finally came, it was a good-sized fish.

As his muscles began to tire, he realised how much movement fishing required. The walking, casting, reeling and dragging the esky. They reminded him how much his breathing and muscle strength had declined.

By the time he had caught the sixth fish, he decided it was time to go home. There was still the work of cleaning and filleting them in time for dinner.

Waiting for his wife to get dinner ready, he remembered seeing seaweed on the beach. He wondered if it would be edible. An online search confirmed that it was, provided it was purchased from a reputable grower to avoid contamination. Although the idea of seaweed as a free food source appealed to him, the practicalities did not.

Finally, his wife brought the meal to the table. The girls had set the table with the good dishes and napkins. His wife had garnished the meal as one would get in a restaurant. Everyone had played a part in making this a special occasion. They left the table feeling full, happy, and quietly proud of what they had created together.

That night he slept well.

Environmental

Surroundings and sensory (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste) and how they influence feeling.

When he woke, he was surprised at how energetic he felt. He leapt out of bed, looking forward to the day. As the morning wore on, the worries resurfaced. He thought about yesterday’s fishing trip and how much he had enjoyed it. It had given him a sense of achievement and a calmness he’d not felt for a long time.

While getting his fishing gear together, it suddenly hit him. If he made fishing routine, that enjoyable meal last night would lose its spark. An idea came to him. A walk along the beach with his wife. He mentioned it to her, but she told him to go without her. Giving her a kiss, he grabbed his keys and headed off.

As he walked toward the shore, the sand gave way under his feet, giving off a faint squeaking sound. At the water’s edge, the cool gentle waves washed over his feet and the sun warmed his back. He filled his nostrils with the ocean air and could already feel that yesterday’s calm was returning.

Sauntering along, he was drawn to the sound of children laughing. He turned and saw them splashing each other, the same as he had done as a child. His attention shifted to another group, crouched around a rock pool and fascinated by something.

Just then, a gull’s cry drew his gaze back to the shore. The water had begun to glisten, each little wave like a diamond catching the light. He paused and took a long look, thinking he had never seen the ocean look so beautiful. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his mobile phone and took a photo.

Nearing the lagoon, the sky was dotted with hang gliders, their vivid colours against the deep blue of the sky. He took another photo.

After a time, he turned and made his way home, his thoughts turning to how he’d once run along this beach without truly experiencing it.

Understanding the Dimensions

Financial Wellness	Physical Wellness	Environmental Wellness
Having a healthy relationship between your goals and your financial obligations, to reduce stress and support balance in other areas of life.	Eating well, moving regularly, and resting to support energy, strength, and recovery in daily life.	Noticing and engaging with the surroundings, which can calm the mind, improve focus, and deepen connection to the world.
Key Points: – Budgeting & prioritising. – Meeting basic needs (food, shelter). – Monitoring spending. – Planning meals and activities affordably.	Key Points: – Nourishing food. – Regular movement. – Adequate rest.	Key Points: – Sensory awareness (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste). – Feeling a sense of calm and clarity. – Seeing how choices affect the environment.

Think about a time when you noticed one of these dimensions in your own life.
Did you see it as a wellness experience in the moment, or have you only noticed it in hindsight?

Continued in Part 2