Wellness:
Developing Your Multi-Year Roadmap (To Not Get Lost)
By Courtney Schwagler, RD, Cost Containment Strategist, Advanced Benefits The Advanced Benefits wellness program has seen increased variety in team building activities, such as axe throwing!
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n a recent trip to Carlsbad, I set off for a morning run with my friend to explore the beautiful area we had the pleasure of calling home for the next three nights. The first three miles consisted of a few zigs and zags, while we caught up on personal and professional endeavors. At that point, we decided six miles was the perfect distance for the day, so we turned around to head home and relax poolside. In the midst of catching up, we both 24 BUILDING IDAHO • 2022 SPRING/SUMMER
realized around mile four that we had zagged when we should have zigged, missing a critical turn to get us home. We didn’t fret and decided to embrace the sunny morning, confident we would find our way back. After all, we were staying along a beautiful lagoon that was sure to be a unique and identifiable location. By mile five, we realized we were off course and asked a gentleman on a dog walk for directional guidance. When he asked us for our address, we paused,
processing the fact that neither of us knew the answer to his very basic question. We both offered up that we were staying in a swishy home along the lagoon, to which the walker replied, “which one?” Whoops! I guess it wasn’t so unique after all. After a series of questions, he gave us his best guess on how we could navigate back home. By mile eight, we could finally see the ocean and knew home was near. It was beginning to feel like a game of clue when we engaged with another couple walking, to affirm our location. The couple got out their phone and the opened a very fancy feature – a map app! Who knew this app could provide us with so much hope? We identified the lagoon and giggled with excitement, knowing we were finding our way. As we rounded out the 10th mile, walking down the driveway, we highfived about our sun-filled silly adventure and welcomed a refill on our very empty water bottles. This prodigal son experience (lost, then found) felt very much like the launch of many wellness programs. Begins with enthusiasm, the initial game plan is structured, but after a while we become distracted by other responsibilities. Months down the road, we realize that
