September/October 2011
Optimum Wellness Magazine
Online Edition
Editors Letters
September marks a time of transition and harvest. BACK TO SCHOOL banners are practically unavoidable. If you are a parent, it is natural to focus on your kids and their immediate needs: books, school supplies, clothes, and healthful lunch and snack options.
This year, we’ve decided to take this back-to school calling to task in our own lives. After all, we are lifelong learners. Thus, we have dedicated ourselves to deepening our commitment to the lessons that help us to move forward in our lives, and making the most of the present moment.
Here is what we have learned so far: we embrace the idea that transitions are all about transformation. We can use food, thinking, or a brand-new exercise program to help cultivate transformation in any and every area of our lives.
One of the lessons we’ve learned from food is that when we choose foods that support our well-being, our thinking is clearer and we have more energy to complete all that is necessary to fully function at a high level. This means limiting the amount of sugar and excess carbohydrates we take in, making sure we start the day with adequate protein, eating with regular frequency to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and consuming at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day.
With our thinking patterns, we need to look no further than our inner dialogue and the thoughts we keep. Ask yourself a simple question: will my present thinking support me in creating the life that I truly desire and deserve? If your thinking needs to move from below average (C-) to exceptional (A+), then it’s time to reset your thought thermostat. Begin journaling how you would like to be. Keep a daily gratitude journal to help you focus on the blessings in your life. This is one of the best ways to uplift your thinking.
Exercise is smart and makes us smarter. Kids in Naperville, Ill., experienced a tremendous improvement in both their math and science scores when, as a school initiative, the entire student body committed to at least 20 minutes of exercise fi ve days a week, before class started. So here’s your homework: move your body before you move a computer mouse or tackle whatever task you have set for yourself each day.
This is the curriculum of a life well lived. The key to excelling is keeping an open mind and heart. After all, we are students for life.
September 1, 2011
by Optimum WellnessComments
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