Dualism and Physicalism

Should we, as human beings, think of ourselves as made out of two different substances, like Decartes argued? Or are you persuaded by the arguments of physicalism that we are purely physical beings?
If you agree with Descartes, how would you explain the fact that our mental life seems to be very closely connected to a physical organ, namely the brain. If you agree with physicalism, how do you explain the fact that our mental life seems to be like nothing else in the physical world (think of how unique something like consciousness is, for example).

Movement or action of the body I feel can be corresponding with thought and emotion. I agree with Descartes that our mind and body can interact with each other your mind tells your body to react in parallel ways. Like in the sense of you being able to run, and move your legs. Your mind tells your bodily functions, followed your thoughts on foot, expressed your feelings through quads and legs, and the movement that occurs doing the moment of communication with your thoughts of doing what you want to, which is run. Activity or motion always accompanied thought and emotion. Ordinarily we consider the thinking process a purely mental activity. Consider some ways we think with the body in everyday experience: athletes  always use the saying “mind over matter” because as long as you tell your mind to do something you are able too I firmly believe. What if the brain systems for movement and the brain systems for thought and emotion are intimately connected to each other so that we are literally a "thinking (and feeling) body?” There are indeed extensive neural connections in the brain from those parts that oversee movement, equilibrium, and balance of the body to those parts that direct - thought and emotion. Our brain doesn't simply manage or regulate the body in the way that a chief executive manages a corporation.