Wellness

Nurture Your Nature 

Jeanna GLeave a comment

Where I grew up, we didn’t have a town pool, we had a town pond.  And it was small.  And there were catfish and the occasional snake sharing the space between shore and the floating dock. But it was a 5 minute bike ride from home, so when school was out and the sun was high, the pond was the place to be.  

But on weekends, when a car and driver were available, we had more options. Coastal beaches were anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half away, but 30 minutes up the road was a state park with a reservoir that had a sandy beach, lifeguards, pavilions with picnic tables, and last but not least, beautiful scenery.

I’m ashamed to admit that a similarly beautiful and accessible reservoir beach is 30 minutes from my front door of 11 years, and I just went for the first time on Sunday.  It wasn’t crowded, the water was serene, temperate, clean and clear, and the view was breathtaking, especially that of the magnificent bald eagle soaring overhead. 

I consider myself lucky to have such places, not at my disposal, but in my care. I see it as a responsibility and an honor to visit, enjoy, and cherish these places while I still have access to them, and I promise myself I will visit that reservoir more often, and explore more of my natural surroundings.

John Burroughs said, “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in tune once more.” I think this is something we should all consider practicing more often. Fill your minds with the sounds and images of the natural beauty these parks protect. Let them soothe your soul.  Get in tune with nature so that you can get in tune with yourself. And then return the favor by supporting and protecting these parks before, God forbid, they disappear. 

Corps Memories

Jeanna GLeave a comment

If you were asked what activities you participated in most outside of school as a child, what would you remember first? You’d probably remember what you spent the most time doing, and hopefully that was also what you enjoyed the most. 

In my elementary school years, playing games outside, 4-H, Saturday morning cartoons, and Nintendo occupied my free time.  My adolescent years were saturated with sports, riding my 10-speed around town, and playing for the fife and drum corps. No matter the day, I was active. 

I recently read in my hometown newspaper that the corps I marched with would soon be disbanded because of dwindling recruitment of both participants and volunteers. It’s sad to think that some things come to an end, despite how great they were or how many lives they touched. I can’t count the hours I spent practicing my fife and how to march in formation, or how many hours we spent on parade routes or in musters all over the northeast and beyond. We were a dedicated group, which is impressive for a bunch of tweens. But maybe that is even more impressive for the middle-aged. 

What can you say you do most outside of working hours now? If you’re a dedicated parent, your free time is limited, but finding ‘you time’ is invaluable. Do you carve out time for a hobby? Do you practice your talents? Do you focus on doing something that you love and is worth your while? 

I have often heard people say life gets in the way of doing what they love. 

That is absurd. 

We cannot allow ourselves to fall by the wayside. We need to dig deep and re-engage with our younger versions to find the dedication and motivation it takes to practice doing what makes us happy, and to live life to the fullest! 

Don’t let another great thing come to an end. Get out of your own way, and start living. 

Worth the Practice

Jeanna GLeave a comment

How important is spirituality in your life?

Spirituality plays a large role in my daily living and thinking. I don’t pencil “Practice Spirituality” onto my to-do list because it has become a natural part of who I am. Yes, I am a Christian, and I pray daily and go to church regularly. However, this is not all of what spirituality means to me.

I believe spirituality has to do with why I live my life the way I do. What do I think my purpose is, and how do I live to achieve it? In the search for the meaning of life, what choices am I making that are guiding me to the answer I hope to find?

Spiritual wellness also means feeling joy. What do I do to feel alive deep in my soul? I listen to music that gives me chills. I spend time in community to share in the joy of others. I watch sports because I love to cheer and celebrate the accomplishments of those who have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into achieving a goal. I read books and view works of art so that I can gain new perspectives and learn to appreciate new things. And I spend time with my pets because they remind me that happiness can be as easy as a back scratch, a treat, and a nap.

Now if only I could practice meditation without grocery list distraction!