HEALTH & WELLNESS

THE JOY OF CARING

In giving and receiving, we care for one another

Story by Pastor Timothy Hogan-Palazzo

‘Try to be a rainbow in someone’s clouds,’ said Maya Angelou Not long ago, after a community meal at our church, one of the servers said she had been stopped by a diner who thanked her for serving the dinner on “real plates.”

A week earlier, a gentleman had visited our emergency food pantry. When he saw we had toothbrushes and a couple of tubes of tooth paste, his eyes widened. “May I have a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste?” he asked with excitement in his eyes.

At a local community center, a friend who reviews sponsored membership applications told me about a young mother with three boys who applied for a membership for her oldest son: he wanted to join the basketball league. After quickly reviewing the file, my friend said to the mother, “Wouldn’t you like the other boys to be included on the membership?” The mother quietly answered, “That’s asking too much, but thank you.” After assuring the family it was not too much, the mother watched with tears in her eyes while the boys tried really hard to stand still to have their photos taken for their membership cards.

Earlier this fall, at a coffee gathering, I was talking with several friends. One was grumbling about why folks thought there was a need to provide a dinner to the athletes the night before their team competition. One of the coffee drinkers said he knew many of the young men didn’t have healthy food options at home. And, two of us were pretty sure several of the athletes didn’t have any food at home — none. The public sees a group of students playing a sport they love, giving it their all, in a beautiful, well-appointed sports complex and, yet, we don’t think about whether the athlete and his/her family has the nutritious food they need to fuel their health on a regular basis.

Perhaps, like me, you sometimes observe the needs

around us and feel overwhelmed. I could wish for a million dollars to help each person-in-need, but, since I don’t play the lottery, that won’t happen. What helps me “cope” with so many needs is to think of each challenge one at a time. We need to think about how to serve our family, friends, neighbors, community groups — and many others — with kindness and love. Friends in a neighboring community provide a meal and items to stock empty pantries at a town park once a month. Small bottles of dish detergent, cans of fruit, packages of pasta — what ever anyone wants PASTOR TIMOTHY HOGAN-PALAZZO to give. It’s not just about the give-away items or the meal. It’s about community. Every. Little. Bit. Helps. In our faith community, we are blessed. We have a great community of people who are willing to help when and wherever they can. I am continually reminded that what is given — maybe it’s not a lot — is, to someone in need, beyond important. In these situations, I am reminded of a friend and mentor who used to say her dream for a church was to pass the plate on Sunday morning and if someone had a few dollars to give, they gave. And, if someone had a need, they could take what they needed. In that way, we would care for one another. There are examples of that “dream” all around us, yet many times we have a bit of fear associated with giving. If I give, I may not have enough. If I serve on real plates, then I will have to wash them. If I take time to help feed the team, then I need to add one more thing to my busy schedule. Each day, the need becomes more clear. Let’s each of us — especially during this holiday season, but hopefully throughout the year — do whatever we can, whenever we can, with all we have to share and with great love. Plug in where you can. If you have an idea, offer it. If you have a skill, volunteer it. If you have a few extra dollars, fund it. Whenever possible, let’s share the feeling that comes from doing good. We need lots of rainbows in our lives. PA

MetroCreative Library

MetroCreative Library

FINISHING STRONG

Holidays can be tough time to maintain fitness

Story by Kristy Lair

If we’re not viewing our health goals properly, fitness during the holidays can seem like a daunting task.

Exercise can actually be fun if we know what to do and how to step into it! Every aspect of fitness comes into play when we are trying to ward off pounds and stay vigilant about our health during stressful times. Staying in tune with each detail during the last two months of the year can be the difference-maker as to whether you begin the new year feeling accomplished or defeated.

EASIER THAN YOU THINK

Doing a consistent activity during this time is easier than we think. If you have a commitment to your health, in any season, there is hope. Focus on what you can do instead of what you can’t do, and celebrate every part of that dedication. If you are someone who currently throws in the towel over the holiday season, try setting a goal of walking five to 10 minutes, three days per week.

Allowing yourself the freedom to not start with a big goal can take the pressure off of exercise and help it feel more enjoyable by blessing your body with some movement. If you already walk, but you find yourself intimidated to do weight training, start with ten minutes, twice a week, to get into a routine. If you aren’t sure how to properly weight train, hire a personal trainer who will help you train safely and efficiently or join a local fitness class that includes weight training.

START SLOW AND BE CONSISTENT

One of the best things you can do to learn to be consistent is to start slow, with measurable results. Keep an exercise log and journal every time you do some sort of activity, no matter the amount of time you were active. Having a clear log of what you did do, instead of focusing on all the ways you aren’t reaching the goals you had established, will allow you to see that you are making progress, even if you don’t feel it.

Our mind is a powerful thing. You will always have to guard your thoughts and create new thought patterns as you move into your health and fitness journey of consistency. It will take time, and it is hard work, but your mind and your body will thank you.

WORKOUT PARTNER

It is also very helpful to have a workout partner with whom you can stay active. Having someone join you in your journey is a great way to stay accountable and cheer each other on. One of my favorite things to do is to meet with a friend and go for a “walk and talk.” A friend often sees the greatness in you even if you can’t see it yourself. A friend is also good at helping you stick with your fitness and healthy eating goals.

LEAVE THE GUILT BEHIND

Another key to health over the holidays is to leave the guilt behind. Feeling guilty over our choices can actually make us feel disempowered and more likely to quit completely. Understand, during this season, you will be tempted with so many food choices. Allow yourself to enjoy your favorites, but remember, you don’t have to try everything, and you can say no.

Staying alert to portion sizes and drinking water, while fueling yourself with fruits and veggies during these high calorie meals, will help you feel satisfied and able to say “no” to second or third helpings.

However, allow yourself to have some treats guilt-free, and choose the ones you love the most. Then, you won’t feel pressured to overeat and over indulge. It is imperative we have balance. We must find balance to stay in check, yet not beat ourselves up for having special treats. Part of that balance is the consistency to stay active and not take a break from workouts during November and December.

Remember, our words have power. It is important to pay attention to how you speak to yourself and the thoughts you choose.

I believe in you. Keep going. Your success is just around the corner. Be well. PA