Year after year losing weight, getting fit, and/or exercising more tops the charts as the most popular New Year’s resolution. It has certainly been in my Top 10 more times than I care to admit. I used to be able to make adjustments in my diet and enjoy enough success that I could justify putting off exercise for another day. Inevitably, one day always led to a week, then a month, and before I knew it the year was gone. That, of course, was in my “BC” years (before children). However, I was recently given a little more incentive to finally hit the gym.
The results of my blood work at my last physical showed super-high cholesterol and triglycerides. Not being a big believer in medicine, I hopped on the Internet and did some research. I wanted to see what alternatives there were for lowering cholesterol than just popping some pill that has a list of side effects a mile long. The conclusion I came to after searching was that I need to eat a healthier diet, exercise more, lose weight, and lower my stress. If I do the first and the second items on the list I should accomplish the third, and well the fourth is an altogether different story. Except that exercise greatly helps reduce stress as well.
In simpler terms, I need to take care of myself. As a wife, mother, and professional, there is little time for that as many of you can probably relate. I spend my days taking care of our staff and making sure everything is running on schedule with the magazine. My evenings are devoted to my husband and children, and weekends are just nights on steroids. But after hearing the results of those tests, I realized that I had to make a choice; I could either keep running myself ragged and straight into an early grave or I could re-prioritize. Obviously, I chose the latter and now I’m up at 5 a.m. every morning and out the door to visit my new best friend – the treadmill.
This issue is devoted to this theme that I now hold so dear, “Taking Care of You.” A philosophy that I have promoted many times in past editorials, but haven’t personally practiced in a very long time. What I have began to embrace in the last few months is this: If I spend all my time and energy taking care of others and never attend to myself, I won’t be able to take care of them for as long as I want or as well as I want. This is especially important for all the women who are reading this right now. All your life you’ve been told not to be selfish and to put others first; what I will say to you is that setting aside regular time to care for your mind, body, and spirit is not selfish. Just to put it in perspective ask yourself this, “Is my car more important than me?” I use that as an example because at least once a week you put gas in your car, check the fluids and tires, and clean your windows and mirrors, right? Do you have a similar maintenance program for you? Not to confuse the analogy, your car may only need this kind of attention weekly; you however, need it daily.
My new motto is “one step at a time, one day at a time.” Some mornings are easier than others; I just have to get my feet on the ground. If I can accomplish that, the rest is a breeze. For me, it’s no longer about wearing a size 6 dress, but about a healthier lifestyle that helps me be the best me. And the best me is a much better wife, mother, and professional than the me who was trying to be everything to everybody except me!
Take care of yourself!
Saundra
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