What is YOUR Wellness Quotient?

This morning while I was watching the news, they were talking about how folks could minimize their health risks for many diseases such as cancers, heart disease, diabetes, etc. by simply eating a more healthy diet and by exercising. They also mentioned including stress reducing activities such as yoga, meditation, and again exercise, as stress is another primary factor in many of these diseases. In fact, they mentioned that the mayor was making today a special day to focus on these health-based, life-improving, possibly life-saving, topics. How nice of her.

(On a side note, my most recent bone marrow biopsy and genetic testing came back about the same as it has been. I still have minimal residual CLL with no 17p deletion. So in a nutshell, I have very small leukemia, growing at a very slow rate. We’ll take that for now.)

This morning’s news topic caught my interest because besides a healthy lifestyle, they also talked about attitude and how important it is to stay positive. I have personally walked the walk of medical depression after my stem cell transplant and I know how difficult it is to crawl out of that hole. This morning after my aquatic class, I was talking with a sweet lady whose husband has COPD, and a host of other health issues, and has basically given up. It is very discouraging to her and she does not know how to help him. It is almost impossible to help someone who doesn’t want to help himself. That is one area where I am so proud of my mom. Even during the past week after she fell, even through the pain, she never gives up. She keeps going, sometimes to my chagrin. She’s a fighter. I’ll take that.

I’m also proud of my daughter, Bethany. She has been fighting her weight for years and has finally gotten the upper hand. She is at 40 lbs and counting and looks and feels amazing. She is a great wife, mom, daughter, friend, baker, and entrepreneur. When you decide to make a change in your life, BAM! That’s when it happens.

I have another friend, Deena, who has been training to run in the October LLS run in San Francisco to raise money for Leukemia, Lymphoma, and other blood cancers. Besides being a childhood cancer survivor herself, she is running for so many others of us in her life and others she doesn’t even know. It’s hard. I can see it. But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it will be so worth it.

“I discipline my body and make it my slave so that after all this, after I have brought the gospel to others, I will still be qualified to win the prize.”
1 Corinthians 9:27

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Hebrews 12:1

I know that throughout these past four years, we could have chosen frustration, we could have chosen fear, or we could have chosen joy. Through the grace of God, even though there have been times of frustration and fear, we chose joy. Everyone has their own journey, their own potholes, detours, road construction, and occasional wrecks. The goal is to keep the Light on your road and stay pointed in the right direction!

None of us have any guarantees for our tomorrows. Choosing a healthier diet and exercise makes good sense. A positive attitude makes you, and everyone around you, happier. God has already numbered our days. It’s up to you to make them count.

Be fit. Eat right. Think well.

Love Him. Love others.

Smile.