Apr 20, 2021

The Purposeful Healthy YOU

Statistics show that many people who say they desire to start a physical fitness exercise program often never start, or start and quit, because they fail to make time in their busy day schedule. But not you, my friend. You must take care of your body, and strategically plan to take care of your body. So if you have not, why not plan to incorporate some type of exercise into your day? Try taking a brisk walk. A one-mile walk in a safe place would be an ideal place to start. Here’s a great walking routine called purposeful walking: Walk one mile and record your finishing time, then look to beat that recorded time during your next walking session. This increases the intensity of the walk without increasing the distance. This method of walking not only gives purpose to your walking, but purpose to your day. Putting forth the effort evolves into purpose. You don’t necessarily have to start with a well thought out plan to start your exercise routine, you just have to start. You will find that as you go along, your desire to exercise will increase each day. 

The senior or active adult population continues to grow, largely because these active adults have placed staying healthy and fit as a priority. What you focus on grows. This is also true with our health, both spiritually and physically. As you continue to exercise and make lifestyle changes, your body gets stronger and healthier and the preservation of your body begins! Not skipping meals, eating a balanced diet of fats, carbohydrates and proteins; engaging in an exercise regimen that includes cardio, strength training and stretching; and getting more sleep are all ways to help our bodies perform at its best. Who doesn’t want to have their body perform at its best for as long as you can? I’m sure we all do. It does take effort, it requires being purposeful. 

As you start any health journey, research tells us that you have to commit to it for at least two months for it to become a habit. So as you start, remind yourself that you may not see or feel immediate results, but as you continue to focus on your total health, you will see the benefits of an improved life, an improved lifestyle, improved mood and other benefits that are special to your body. 

A healthy body is a blessing. When we are given good health, we must not take it for granted. You may not have always taken the best care of your body, but always remember it is never too late. You just have to start and you must start somewhere. Also remember that by starting, you are making a new commitment to yourself and honoring your body. Many of us have been given a healthy body to care for and maintain. Our bodies are actually the dwelling place of our spirit. Just as we take care of our homes, yards, and gardens, we must purposefully take care of our bodies. If you have neglected your body, I want to encourage you to start taking care of your precious gift. You may have neglected your body for forty years, but it does not take forty years to reverse the effects of neglect. Each daily healthy choice puts a great deposit in your wellness bank. You can start building your wealth right where you are today! You are your own coach. You can chart your progress. You can devise your plan. Just don’t cheat yourself. Treat yourself. Treat yourself to health! 

As you embark upon this purposeful healthy you, make sure you take a new, positive attitude with you. Such an attitude will bring positive results. A new attitude will help you believe that you can do what might seem impossible. Be purposeful, be healthy, be you! 

By: Eden Barbee-Mabry / (@gardenonthegram – IG/ @EdenJBe – Twitter)

Eden Barbee-Mabry is an Education Support Analyst with the State of Georgia. Eden is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan and was led to relocate to Atlanta, Georgia after graduating from Clark Atlanta University in 1988. Eden joined Black Girls Run! in Spring of 2016 and graduated from the Walk B4 You Run program in June of 2016 and is currently Run Lead for the Fairburn, Georgia group. Eden is a purse lover and strives to inspire every woman because her belief is that although the circumstances may be different, every woman can extract strength from another woman’s story.