Creating a Culture of Health Where We Live, Work, and Play
I’ve just returned from a women’s wellbeing retreat that I led in Canaan Valley, and once again I am struck by the power of community and environment on personal wellbeing.
My role on this retreat was to facilitate experiences and create an environment where participants could uncover their own innate wellbeing. I led yoga, meditation, and hikes, made sure we had healthy food, and guided group interactions. Every woman there chose to participate in these experiences, and each contributed to the vibrant and wholesome culture created over the weekend.
Seeing the impact of this retreat on myself and the participants reaffirmed my belief that we should be intentional about valuing health in our society. In 1948, the World Health Organization defined healthas “a state of complete physical, mental and social WELLBEING, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.” But 1948 was a long time ago.
Why then don’t our cities, schools, and workplaces create environments that encourage physical and mental wellness? Why does our society spend so much money treating of disease and so little on creating spaces and places where human beings can flourish?
The answers to these questions are complex. Perhaps a better question is:
Whose role is it to create a culture of health in our homes, workplaces, and communities?
I believe that each of us can foster cultures of health. As human beings, we continually look "out there" for answers. Looking within, and assuming responsibility for what we find there, is a necessary starting point for prioritizing wellbeing. To take charge of your own life and health means taking calculated risks. It means recognizing that you have choices and are willing to brave the consequences of those choices.
Being the first in your family, workplace, or community to take responsibility and actively advocate for healthier environments, interactions, and experiences can feel scary. Doing so from the space of compassionate care—knowing that you can better love your loved ones, do a better job at work, and be of greater service in your community—is an empowered approach that’s bound to have a ripple effect on others.
If you’re ready to take a step towards prioritizing health, I’d love to support you. In addition to the classes and events below, more options to help you create a culture of health where you live, work, and play:
Take the Wellness Inventory: An Assessment of Your Wellness Behaviors and Motivations
Host a Wellness Workshop for your school, workplace, or friends
With love and gratitude,
Colleen