Sweet Home Alabama

Taking a moment today to reflect on the local and national tragedy of the massive damage done by yesterday's tornadoes and dangerous storms that are still moving across the country toward others I love and care about...BE SAFE, please...

I am so grateful that my family was not in the direct path of this storm (though I went to sleep with some anxiety in my chest about the high winds, thunder, and lightning flashing outside our windows, praying to not hear the sirens we have recently heard multiple times), and at the same time my heart aches for those who lost their lives, loved ones, homes, etc. Sending prayers and positive vibes out into the universe for all who are affected by this (which, in reality, is everyone to some degree, when we truly understand our interconnectedness).

Thinking about all of this brings me back to the first dimension of Wellness, SELF-RESPONSIBILITY and LOVE (Travis, J.W. & Ryan, R.S., 2004). Please allow me to explain:

According to their definitions...SELF-RESPONSIBILITY means (among other things)

*"Making choices and living courageously in the midst of uncertainty"

*"Expressing yourself-both your ideas and feelings-in ways that effectively communicate to other people who you are and what you know"

*"Engaging in projects that are meaningful to you; being supportive of others; and respecting your environment"

and LOVE means (among other things)

*"Listening to your own heart-treasuring your inner wisdom"

*"Responding to life's challenges as opportunities for growth, rather than as problems"

*"Realizing your connectedness with all things and acting in a way congruent with that."

With this in mind, I felt moved to share some of the resources I am looking into to attempt to help others and move forward in a positive way in the midst of the awfulness...you know, yin yang and all that balance "stuff." I may be a military spouse, but currently this is my HOME. This could have been US. People nearby are hurting.

If any of y'all are looking for information or ways to help, please check out the following:

http://magiccitypost.com/2011/04/27/tornadoes-kill-dozens-across-alabama-now-is-the-time-to-help/

http://www.redcross.org/en/

http://www.handsonbirmingham.org/specialevents/viewSpecialEvent.php?_mode=eventDetail&_action=eventDetail&ixSpecialEvent=419

So What???

Welcome to my blog! :)

You may be wondering why I'm blogging or how in the world this blog may be of interest to you...good questions.

My intention is to create, through this blog, a monthly forum for fun, lively, interactive discussion and information/perspective-sharing that has its foundation in WELLNESS.

What is "Wellness?" So glad you asked! Many definitions exist, but the one I have chosen to focus on in this blog was developed by John W. Travis, M.D. and is featured in the "Wellness Workbook: How to Achieve Enduring Health and Vitality" (2004): "WELLNESS is a CHOICE - a decision you make to move toward optimal health. WELLNESS is a WAY OF LIFE - a lifestyle you design to achieve your highest potential for wellbeing. WELLNESS is a PROCESS - a developing awareness that there is no end point, but that health and happiness are possible in each moment, here and now. WELLNESS is a BALANCED CHANNELING OF ENERGY - energy received from the environment, transformed within you, and returned to affect the world around you. WELLNESS is the INTEGRATION OF BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT - the appreciation that everything you do, and think, and feel, and believe has an impact on your state of health and the health of the world. WELLNESS is the LOVING ACCEPTANCE of yourself." Personally, I cannot think of anything better to strive for than that, can you? As an organizing structure for posts, I will utilize Dr. Travis' Wellness Wheel, which consists of the following 12 Dimensions: 1. Self-Responsibility and Love 2. Breathing 3. Sensing 4. Eating 5. Moving 6. Feeling 7. Thinking 8. Playing/Working 9. Communicating 10. Intimacy 11. Finding Meaning 12. Transcending Each month, therefore, we will focus on one of the 12 dimensions in turn, sharing ideas and experiences, resources, etc. that specifically relate to the featured wellness wheel dimension. I will have a Reader POLL posted on my blog (visible at the bottom of each page), with a question related to the wellness dimension of focus for the month. Please jump in and share your ideas, preferences, tips on what works for you, etc.! That is what really makes this process come alive. I will update posts at least monthly regardless, as this is what I am passionate about...but it adds to the fun for me to also hear about others' ideas and experiences that we can all learn from together. So, pop in, say hello, share a comment, etc., whenever you feel moved to do so... I welcome you to come along on this Wellness Journey with me, and look forward to our joint discovery of what will evolve throughout the process! Thanks so much for stopping by... ~Gail