Your Health and Wellness in 2020

     Now that the celebrations are complete and the holidays are behind us, it is time again to take stock of 2019 while making goals for the New Year. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, it’s a good idea to set small goals rather than one big goal.         
    For example, are you planning to reorganize a particular room now that the holiday ornaments have been taken down and put away? Clearing or cleaning out a particular space can  clear the mind for new thoughts and ideas, and allows us to be thankful. Last week, when I walked into my home from the cold, I was struck by the sudden warmth inside and thought how blessed I was to have a roof over my head and heat to keep me warm. Too many individuals and families do not have that luxury.

    Perhaps you want to resume an old hobby like crocheting, woodworking, or coin collecting or learn a new one. While doing so, you can take full stock of all that you are grateful for while immersing yourself in these hobbies.  As you perform a quiet hobby while sitting by a fire, drinking a cup of tea or cocoa, you can allow your mind to have the freedom to process all that you are grateful for. Even the simple act of looking someone in the eye and thanking him or her for something they did for you, acknowledges them. By doing so, you may even make someone’s day.

    The sage Mister Rogers once said, “I believe it’s a fact of life that what we have is less important than what we make out of what we have.” Why not include a loved one in one of your goals for 2020? Take a friend or relative with you to a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter. Volunteer your time at a wildlife sanctuary or help clean up the street-side garbage that collects in or around your neighborhood. Make donations of warm clothing that no longer fit your size or your wardrobe.  

    Libraries also collect food and clothing for those families in need. Just because the holidays have ended, doesn’t mean that the gift of giving has to stop.  Always be mindful of opportunities for kindness as they help not only others, but yourself as well.
    In this New Year, please remember to think of others. Kindness and acknowledgment toward others are the most heartfelt gifts you can give. Happy, Healthy, and Blessed New Year to one and all.