While sitting on the back porch, soaking up the warm fall sunshine, contemplating the benefits of a good growing season, little did we know that we would be lead, a few short days later, to grapple with a cruel twist of frigid cold and falling snow. Have you noticed that the seasons change rapidly these days? No surprise! We’ve been consumed during the last few seasons with the obstacles Covid has placed before us, and rightly so! It has reminded us once again about life’s uncertainties and how important it is to value our lives, our families and friends, and our health.
More than ever, we realize the importance of self-care or “self- preservation.” It’s not just about eating less junk food and getting more regular exercise. It’s about considering our overall health and wellness. I know that car analogies have been overused, but it’s something that resonates with most people. Replacing worn tires but not replacing a dying battery, can still lead to a break down. Regular tune-ups, oil and filter changes, tire safety checks, and automotive diagnostics provide peace of mind for those of us commuting to work daily or traveling long distances with our families.
When we feel “a little off “for a few days, we tend to ignore our symptoms. However, ignoring a small lump, persistent cough or sudden weight loss/gain can lead to life-threatening consequences. Getting that yearly check-up from your doctor may provide incentive for making some necessary changes needed to improve physical health, but “wellness” means so much more than that.
Wellness is defined as “the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal.” Achieving the state of wellness, is an on-going process that requires continual re-adjustment and contemplation. It involves our physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual selves. When stressful events occur, our entire system can become overwhelmed and unable to adequately complete the simplest of tasks. Chronic or long-term stress can be especially harmful to our health!
The MSU Extension Stress Management page provides excellent resources for better understanding and dealing with stress. https://msuextension.org/wellness/stress-management/index.html
Becoming more informed is often the first step to achieving wellness. Steps to help improve our physical and intellectual health can also be found at https://nutrition.msuextension.org/index.html
Nutritious, low cost recipe ideas are available for you to try on your journey to achieving better health.
Click on EFNEP/Snap-Ed for a delicious Groovy Green Smoothie recipe that your family will love!
Another MSU sponsored program, Solid Finances, is an excellent educational tool for improving intellectual health and by promoting the idea that improved financial health also leads to an improvement in overall wellness. (https://solidfinances.msuextension.org/schedule.html).
Life is a journey, we are told. We never know how many miles we will have to drive on a particularly challenging road. In each twist and turn of the road, we must make sure our vehicle is maintained (health and wellness), look for lessons to learn when something breaks down (try not to blame others) for what happens on the journey, read and follow the road signs, and take advantage of rest stops along the way. Taking better care of yourself allows you to take care of others.
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