Value Your Work, Value Yourself

The past three days leading up to Labor Day has been an opportunity for me to reflect about the importance of “work” in my life and how purposeful activity has bettered me. Perhaps you know that in addition to my being a Wellness Blogger, I am a Health & Lifestyle Writer, Author of Colors of Joy: A Woman’s Guide for Self-Discovery, Balance, and Bliss, and Independent Publisher at Align Publishing LLC.

Many years of toil, persistence, and patience with myself and my learning curve has taught me much. I have a strong work ethic and do my utmost to create interesting content that features ideas and tips to enhance the quality of your life. I’m enthusiastic about the topics I choose to share with you. The writing process makes me happy, and today I savor my process as much as I do the bounty of my efforts.

  

I’m grateful I continue to feel excited about learning new things. My next project is to increase my technological ability in order to expand my audience and touch more people with my words. My goal is to be of service to others and stimulate thinking about health issues, wellness topics, food and recipe information, travel gems, book recommendations, writing tips, environmental issues, and relationship and self-care skills.

On this Labor Day, I pause to honor all workers who live in our great nation. I encourage you to do your best every day, whether you are an entrepreneur or work for someone else. Be conscientious and go that extra mile whenever you can. Take my word for it. It's worth it. You're sure to gain proficiency, have more self-confidence, feel gratification for the effort you put in, and even may be noticed and promoted. 

If you don't feel good about your current occupation, or feel under-appreciated or under-paid, recognize it as a sign that your self-esteem is lagging, you need to speak up for yourself, and/or it’s time to move on. Before you take this step, it’s best to have another job lined up. If you want to shift gears, and need additional schooling to prepare, have the courage to go for it. 

Another good way to investigate a new career is to speak with those who already do this job.  Why not volunteer in a field that you are considering and see whether it is a good match for you? At the very least, you'll find out what skills are required in that position, meet contacts, and learn what leadership qualities make people in this role stand out in a competitive market.

Be daring! Let your unique talents and gifts shine. Cultivate them on your career path and your spirit will dance. Everyone has something that is special about themselves. I believe our life purpose is to discover what that means for us. 

On Labor Day I especially want to salute all those who are raising or have raised children. Your job is extremely valuable and challenging , and many of you also maintain your household, serve in the military, and/or are our bus drivers, police, waiters, teachers, technicians, shop owners, and the countless others who are part of the work force. Whatever your job may be, do it well! Kids learn from our guidance and the example we set.

What do you value about your work? What challenges and growth has occurred as a result? What self-care techniques help you function well on the job and in your down time? Please comment below. Then share the love on social media. I'd love for you to become a Google+ follower. That way you'll get an update automatically (about twice a month), when I post. 

The quotation for today follows:

"No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." -- Martin Luther King Jr

This post is the "Happy" Feature at Healthy-Happy-Green-Natural-Party-Blog-Hop-83/      

                                     

This post has been shared at Awesome Life Friday Link Up

This post has been shared at Tuesdays with a Twist #127

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This post has been shared at Inspire Me Monday – Week 192

Here's to Your Health in 2014

Please reflect on the points I cover in this blog and let me know which set of health guidelines works for you. Also, do you think you'll be able to follow one of the plans wholeheartedly?

Only 3 % of the 153,000 Americans who were subjects of a report that appeared in the April 25, 2005 issue of the Journal Archives of Internal Medicine were able to maintain a healthy lifestyle consistently. Michigan State University Associate Professor of Epidemiology Mathew Reeves and Ann Rafferty, an epidemiologist with the Michigan Department of Community Health reported that 97 % of those analyzed slipped up on at least one or more of the following:

    1.    Do not smoke

              2.    Hold Down Weight (Body Mass Index of 25% or less)

3.    Eat Right (5-7 servings of fruit and vegetables per day)

4.    Exercise (regular physical activity for 30 minutes at least 5 times per week)

Look at the full article @ 
http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2005/study-finds-very-few-adults-leading-healthy-lifestyles/#sthash.ilYNmCUx.dpuf


Following is information provided by
Medline Plus and the National Institute for Health. They  advise:

"Many factors affect your health. Some you cannot control, such as your genetic makeup or your age. But you can make changes to your lifestyle. By taking steps toward healthy living, you can help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and other serious diseases:

• Get the screening tests you need
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat a variety of healthy foods, and limit calories and saturated fat
• Be physically active
• Control your blood pressure and cholesterol
• Don't smoke
• Protect yourself from too much sun
• Drink alcohol in moderation, or don't drink at all "

Read the plan from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality @ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthyliving.html

A Third Guideline is featured on the Website of Dr. Dean Ornish and his Spectrum Program: 

35 years of research has scientifically proven that 4 elements are key in reversing heart disease and other chronic ailments. They are

1. Nutrition
2. Fitness
3. Love & Support
4. Stress Reduction

- See more at: http://www.ornishspectrum.com/

What lifestyle plan works well for you and for what reasons? I notice they all offer some options that ring true for me.

I know for sure that the responsibility for my food choices, exercise routine, and lifestyle patterns rests with me. I also know that my actions are influenced by my mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional health. That's why I work to reduce stress and increase motivation to stay on a health-promoting track by meditating and doing yoga. I need and ask for love and support from a higher power and choose to be in relationships with people and groups that cherish me. I've learned to stay away from negativity. I'm grateful I've adopted self-care practices that work and are respectful of my mind, body, and spirit, yet am open to learning new things that may work better in the years to come. 

The quotation for today:

“Embrace each challenge in your life as an opportunity for self-transformation.”

― Bernie S. Siegel

This post was shared at Plant-Based Potluck Link Up # 7