Start To Get Healthy in 2008

10 Tips for Starting a Wellness Program TodayEasy Ways to Get Healthy -- By Carrie Myers Smith, Health & Fitness Writer

It’s never too late to begin your journey in wellness! Here are 10 steps you can take today to get started.

1. Write out your goals and desires. What’s your wellness vision? Where do you envision yourself three to five years from now? Set three-month and weekly goals based on your wellness vision. Goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Action-based, Realistic and Time-oriented.

2. Ask what, when and how. Make a list of the hurdles that keep getting in your way of living a life of wellness. Then determine which ones are true obstacles – things that you need to work around or find solutions to. And the excuses – ‘nuf said!

3. Have a plan. Rarely, if ever, is any major task or project accomplished without a plan in place. Lay out a plan for accomplishing your goals, as well as solutions for overcoming the hurdles. This is your game plan – it should be flexible, but have fortitude, fun, but not “fluff.” And make it active. Include specific steps you will take to reach your goals.

4. Start a journal. Your goals, desires, barriers, obstacles, excuses, solutions and plan should all be a part of your journal. Make your journal yours. Set it up so it’s easy to use so that you will use it. Include space to just let your thoughts flow. Use it to let out your feelings, vent, rejoice, or celebrate. You’ll be amazed at how freeing it is!

5. Begin your journey where you’re standing now. Where are you right now, this moment, on your journey? Accept where you are and where you need to be and begin the steps necessary to bridge that gap. If, however, you find that old issues keep popping up, preventing you from reaching your goals, you may need to seek counseling. Sometimes the only way to move forward is to first go backward.

6. Take one step at a time. What happens when a builder forgets an important step in building a house? Or a chef leaves out an important ingredient in a recipe? Doesn’t work so well, does it? It’s the same thing with your life. You must take certain steps in order to reach a place of wellbeing—and make it fit your lifestyle.

7. Learn from your setbacks. Making mistakes and experiencing failure is all a part of being human and living. Rather than getting down on yourself, take that setback and turn it into something positive – something you can use to reach your goals. Sometimes life is indeed two steps forward, one step back!

8. Spend some time “cleaning house.” This is intended to be both literal and figurative. When our homes are a cluttered mess, it’s impossible to function well. Ditto for our schedules. Create a list of your activities and decide which ones aren’t contributing to your overall purpose in life. “De-fluff” that schedule and concentrate on those activities that bring meaning to your life, and ultimately to others!

9. Stop comparing yourself to others. We’re bombarded by images of “perfect” bodies every day. It’s easy to get caught up in all of it and feel as though we’ll never measure up – and chances are, we won’t. Let’s get real! These images are results of computer imagery, great lighting, professional make-up artists, self-starvation, plastic surgery and really good genes. Stop comparing yourself to a fantasy and just be the best you that you can be.

10. Reward yourself. It’s OK to feel good about yourself! And it’s OK, and beneficial, to reward yourself for your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. A meal at your favorite restaurant, a date at the movies, a new outfit, a bubble bath… whatever you wouldn’t normally take the time to do, as long as it contributes to your wellbeing, is a great reward!

Article created on: 8/24/2004
For more information on living healthy visit www.sparkpeople.com

The Black Church Institute on HIV/AIDS and Other Health Disparities

Let me start by saying this was such an awesome spiritual and learning experience that I believe will lead to a “Great” work in me. I know that God has a plan for me and it is being revealed slowly each day. I don’t know what will come, but I do know this conference has shaken up my Ministry.

The Balm in Gilead (BIG) was started in 1989 by Ms. Pernessa Seals started with a vision for the Harlem Week of Prayer for the Healing of HIV/AIDS. Since that time the rates of HIV/AIDS continue to rise particularly in the Black community. The Balm in Gilead realizing that the rates in Black women were extremely alarming; it would be women who would have to take a leading roll in attacking this epidemic. Approximately 3 years ago a Partnership was developed between the Balm and the Presidents of the Women’s Missionary Societies of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME), the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ), and the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church. Each president was asked to establish a National Health Director and a coordinator for each Episcopal District. St. John CME is in the 7th Episcopal district and our health coordinator is G. Bernice Richardson. Each of the denominations were well represented.

The Conference started with a welcome reception and awards program where persons who are making a difference were recognized. Bishop Ronald Cunningham of the 8th Episcopal District of the CME Church received The Rev. Canon Frederick Boyd Williams Community Service Award. Dr. Elnora Hamb, National President of the Women’s Missionary Council, CME Church accepted the award on his behalf. The next three days was started each morning with a full breakfast buffet followed by Praise and Worship. The Holy Spirit was ushered in followed by powerful messages that were geared to shake things up or at least shake up ones ministry.

Building The Capacity of The Believer To Server was the theme of the conference. I believe they accomplished what they set out to do. The overall message I received was that we mush have compassion, be inclusive and talk about things we never talked about before. What do I mean?

Jesus was full of compassion and he moved among the masses and socialized and healed people who others wanted nothing to do with. Bishop Yvette Flunder in her message titled “The Both and God” stated we separate people from the Grace of God with our mouths. We must stop letting people divide us and embrace people who disagree with us. By embracing someone does not mean we are condoning their behavior or their personal views.

The Church’s conversation about HIV/AIDS must include talking about sex and human sexuality. Sex is the number one cause of HIV/AIDS. Dr. Keith Rawlings, Medical Director of Peabody Health Center in Dallas, Texas stated We “the Church” celebrate the Birth, we celebrate the Baptism but we pretend there is no sex.

There were persons present who have been affected by and/or infected with HIV/AIDS. There was a 19year old college student who sat on a panel who was diagnosed with HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer. There were persons who are openly homosexual who are hurting because they have been shamed by the church. There were Health Care workers and government workers all with one common goal to educate our people about the disease that is killing over 40,000 African American each year.

I have gained a wealth of inspiration and information during this experience that I hope you will receive with open minds and an open heart. I pray that St. John will allow me to lead you in what God is leading me to do.

For more information on the Balm In Gilead and its mission visit http://www.balmingilead.org/

For an overview on HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia see link below.

overview.pdf

Sonia P. Brown, Chairperson
Health and Wellness