Wellness Wednesday - Professional Wellness Month

Fitness Fun

Do not attempt to adjust your screen and don't be alarmed. You are really seeing what you think you're seeing...me in the flesh. By flesh, I mean, the soft substance of muscle and fat, that I'm working to improve. The month of June is recognized as Professional Wellness Month.

The purpose of Professional Wellness Month is to emphasize wellness in the workplace. This is a time to focus on a healthy diet, good sleep patterns, and exercise routine to kickoff your journey. Professional Wellness Month does not have to be limited to the workplace.

Today I choose to focus on fitness. How do you create a fitness routine that you will stick with? Make it fun and set yourself up for success. When are you at your best? What is your most productive time of the day. Schedule your workout for a time you know you will push throughit and not put it off.

In my virtual fitness class, we hold ourselves accountable by taking a photo at the end of class. It's only for our benefit, nothing we have to share with the world...unless you post it as I did today. Taking goofy pictures makes the end of the workout fun for me.

Don't turn your back on fitness - make it work for you

For the rest of the month focus on wellness at work and at home. If you work from home, bonus for you.

What will be your first move toward wellness this month?

Motivational Monday – African American Music Appreciation Month

 Music stirs emotion, sooths the soul, and relaxes you at the end of a long day. African American Music Appreciation Month is observed annually in June. It was initiated as Black Music Appreciation Month by Jimmy Carter in 1979 (Wikipedia). The commemoration was given it’s current name by former President Barack Obama in 2009.

Did you know that African American music gave birth to jazz and rap? The beats and sounds of these genres influenced rock, soul, gospel, swing, be-bop, boogie-woogie, and other genres of music. Today I’d like to focus on the sounds of gospel.

How many black singers can you name who got their start in church? Take a few minutes to think about it before you read the answers, which I will reveal in the next sentence.

Here are some of the artists who can “trace their musical roots from the Lord’s house to the top of the charts (Biography.com).”

Aretha Franklin

Whitney Houston

Otis Redding

Marvin Gaye

The Staple Singers

The Emotions

Donna Summer

Stephanie Mills

Faith Evans

John Legend

How many did you identify from this list? Feel free to share other artists not listed here.

I find comfort, inspiration, and hope, through gospel songs. I attempted to fine just a couple of my favorites to share with you, but that was difficult to do because there are so many. I found two songs, then I came across a R & B Gospel Mix, that has a collection of songs.

Beverly Crawford - He's Done Enough

YouTube Video Credit: JahalQ

Richard Smallwood - Total Praise

YouTube Viedo Credit: GospelMusic TV 

YouTube Video Credit: Gutter Free Hip Hop

Disclaimer: I don’t own the rights to any of the songs presented in this blog post. I hope you find inspiration through some of the music presented or by exploring other artists during African American Music Appreciation Month.

Fun Friday – Make Happiness a Habit

 

Happiness is…

How would you complete that statement? For me, happiness is…finding the funny wherever I can.

I miss my son when he is away at school. The house just isn’t the same…it’s clean. He came home one day in the middle of the week, and I said, “While you’re here, can you cut the grass for me.”

Perhaps I used a poor choice of words, my son huffed and puffed like the Wolf in the story of the Three Little Pigs, then said, “You’re spoiled Ma.”

“You drove an hour from your plush college apartment with a gift of dirty laundry for me, but I’m spoiled? I’m sure if you Google search the word spoiled, there is a picture of you.”

You would have thought I asked him to cut the grass blade by blade with kiddie scissors. Hmph.

My son and I often banter back and forth with humor. When he was in high school, my son visited a friend who was well to do. He came home and said, “Ma, Sam is rich.”

“It’s okay…we’re funny.”

I’ve heard it said that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Let’s go with that number. For the next 21 days find things that stir up happiness for you. In your happiness quotient include humor:

·         re-tell funny family stories.

·         send a funny card to a friend.

·         watch a comedy show.

Register Here

Just because you visited my blog, you’re invited to a virtual Comedy Showcase (Monday, June 14, 7pm Eastern). I’m in the line up along with several funny friends. Join us for this free event. Register now to reserve your spot.

Happiness is…laughter.

Happiness is…whatever you want it to be.

Happiness is…a component of your well-being.

Make happiness a habit.