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by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.
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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

A Wellness Thanksgiving

Thursday November 23, 2000

Today is a very special day in America. It's my own favorite of all the holidays. Families gather for reunions, lots of people get time off in the middle of the week and most of us pause to reflect about how fortunate we are.

Of course, any day is a good day to be grateful for being alive and for having assorted levels of good fortune, but, Thanksgiving is the one occasion when we ritually profess our gratitude, to God, to our forbearers, to Mother Nature, to Uncle Cosmos or simply to ourselves at the wonder of it all. So, raise a toast of carrot juice, wine, champagne or whatever you like and consider inserting one little wellness-friendly element to the toast: a moment to ponder the great existential, timeless wonder of why we are "here" at all. Just wondering is probably as satisfying as the varied ideas we come up with.

Of course, Thanksgiving also has its practical challenges, some of a health-related manner. For example, the risk that you might eat too much or stress yourself worrying that you might do so. As on any holiday, weekend, or other special occasion, some will succumb to overindulgence of one kind or another. In a way, it seems odd that the quality of one's health would be harder to sustain on reflective, festive occasions, but that's how it is for many.

Thanksgiving is no time for wellness innocents. The extent of the risk depends, to some degree, upon how lucky you were in the beginning when you "chose" your relatives for this life—it's hard to be healthy around some wild and crazy people! There really is not a lot you can do in a few hours to influence all celebrants to act appropriately in wellness- supportive ways. In fact, trying to do so can lead to family tribulations, so don't try to be a quick fix change agent on Thanksgiving.

Set moderate expectations. Good health, particularly the advanced and ambitious kind associated with the wellness concept, is not always the first priority for everyone at these grand reunions. Therefore, focus on your own thoughts and actions and good fortune, and be as peaceful as possible about the choices others make. Protect your health, have fun AND advance your own well-being to the maximum degree possible.

Here are a few additional tips—maybe you can suggest one or two of your own. If you do and want to share, please tell me about them!

1. Recall the basic idea of Thanksgiving -- and find things about which to be grateful. I recommend you do this every day, not just on Thanksgiving! It is always a great day to expound upon specifics for which to be thankful. Share details about your varied good fortunes, large and small. There is a special bond amongst those who exude an attitude of gratitude. Why not with friends and family? It might put everyone in a better frame of mind.

2. Consider good dining, laughter and family bonding as occasions for the celebration of well-being, among other blessings secular or otherwise -- and make the most of this reality. Arrange meals that are lower in fat, be moderate with the libations, protect against ill-advised driving and otherwise safeguard the best interests of your guests. In this spirit, think ahead a bit and have lots of positive activities at the ready.

3. Prepare for this exceptional day by rising early, stretching and going for a long run or brisk walk -- fire up that metabolism in preparation for the digestive challenges ahead.

4. Reach out, if possible, and extend yourself to someone else, perhaps a less fortunate stranger. You live in a democratic country, you have a fine education, there are no hurricanes in the forecast and you are probably not on the FBI's most wanted list. Maybe you can think of additional reasons to contribute in some manner to those a bit less fortunate.

5. Rehearse a bit and give a little performance at the dinner table, or before or after. Really—consider entertaining those around you with a poetry reading, an excerpt from a favorite book, a story or anything that provides a moment of consequence to ponder and delight. This will do more than prevent Thanksgiving boredom! You might even artfully insert a little reminiscence about a family member or two, gone but not forgotten.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, have a wonderful day and please stay well.

All the best.

Domain: mental
Subdomain: emotional intelligence

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