I came across this graph several years ago and immediately embraced it!  Why do I love this you might ask?  Because it gives us hope.  We often incorrectly assume that being “healthy” is an all or nothing commitment and that until we hit certain self-imposed goals, we aren’t making the mark.  Rather than having a black and white mindset such as “I will only be healthy when_____”, think of it as a continuum.  I visualize this graph as an old school speedometer and encourage folks to make small changes to push that needle up!  Regardless of where you start, small changes can have a big impact on your health and your resiliency. Aging isn’t the absence of disease or injury; it is how well we weather these incidences.  The more you push the “Wellness” needle up, the better prepared you will be to heal and recover for whatever life throws at you!  

There are quite a few metrics that help us determine where we fall on this curve and therefore a lot of different pathways to improve our health.  Our culture often overemphasizes our body weight, BMI (Body Mass Index) or body fat, and although it is a reliable metric, it is one of many.  Rather than wait until you lose those 20 pounds, why not start weight training now and work on muscle mass?  Or start meditating for several minutes a day to decrease blood pressure?   Or maybe, do 20 pushups off the counter while you wait for your coffee to brew to maintain or improve bone density?  Or if you have tried to quite smoking unsuccessfully for years, implement a daily brisk walk to improve your cardiovascular system and be a more healthy smoker.  Sound like an oxymoron?  I say, sounds hopeful.

It is so empowering to have choices on our path to wellness.  Health is not a scripted flow chart but rather an individual journey.  With the new year coming up, perhaps self-reflect on where you might fall on this continuum and identify a small, reasonable metric you would like to address.  Check out our Facebook page or Instagram for more ideas on how to successfully implement behavioral change in the New Year!!!   

                                                                                                                                 Written by Darcy Cook, MSPT