GUEST COMMENTARY

Start the new year right by being kind to yourself

Beth Hurney

A new year is often accompanied by personal resolutions to “do something better” or add something new to our already full “to do” lists. Typically, inherent in this process is the emotional roller coaster of unbridled motivation and eagerness to begin that eventually turns into frustration, anger, and disappointment at our inability to achieve what was probably an unrealistic New Year’s resolution to begin with. Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we choose to start a brand new year, full of opportunity and promise, in this self-devaluing way? This is so counterintuitive to the value of personal health and wellness.

So let’s start 2022 in a new way…in a self-valuing way…in a way that promotes health and wellness! Let’s start by just being KIND… to ourselves. Be kind to your body…be kind to your mind…be kind to your spirit. Sounds simple, right? Yet, we all know too well how truly difficult this can really be. We have been dealt some heavy blows over the past two years, on top of our struggles that existed prior to the pandemic. We all have them…the struggles that keep us up at night. Yet so much of the struggle is out of our control. But kindness? We absolutely got that!

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that “you cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” Don’t wait… be kind to yourselves right now. The moment you begin being kind to yourself, you begin being kind to others. What a gift! Kindness and self-love ignite a personal journey of wellness that we ultimately share with others.

According to the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the eight dimensions of wellness include: physical, emotional/mental, spiritual, financial, intellectual, social occupational, and environmental. As you begin the new year, I encourage you to explore each area in your own lives. You may think you are a pinnacle of health because you eat right, exercise, and renew your spirit regularly. However, are you constantly burdened with financial worries? Is your job a good fit for you? Do you surround yourself with positive people? Are you taking care of others and neglecting yourself?

You may not have explored these as areas of wellness before now, but each dimension adds to or takes away from your overall health. Remember that you cannot give what you do not have. Dalai Lama XIV stated that “love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” These necessities start with self. Don’t wait…you are worth the investment!

Wishing you a year of kindness, compassion, health and true wellness.

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Celebrating the spirit of women

In November, the YWCA of Syracuse and Onondaga County celebrated the Spirit of American Women at Drumlins Country Club. Spirit of American Women highlights the empowerment and accomplishments of women, girls, and families served through YWCA programs. It is also a fundraiser that showcases the power of individual philanthropy.