Let me ask you a question! What is your most prized possession? Is it your TV? Your car? Your iPod? Some other piece of technology that you just can’t live without?

Let’s just say that it’s your car. So, let me ask you this: Would you put diesel in the gas tank, when it really wants unleaded? Do you change the oil and replace it with beer? Do you drive it fast, and slam on the brakes at every stop light?!

I’m going to guess that the answer to all of these questions is “no!”. You probably are thinking- I would never treat my car like that, it needs clean oil, premium gas, and a gentle touch to run at peak performance!! Am I right?

Tell me- why do you treat your body like that? Why do you feed it junk food, when it runs best on vegetables and lean protein? Why do you attempt to rehydrate with sugary sodas and toxic alcohol? Why do you burn the candle at both ends, running yourself ragged until you simply crash?!   Don’t you think that your health is more valuable than your car?

My body is my most prized possession.  Sure, sometimes I hit the brakes too hard, but generally, I try and treat it like the fine oiled machine it wants to be!

This week- ask yourself- what is my body worth? How much would I pay for good health?  Sure, fresh fruits and veggies might cost a little more than a box of Mac-n-cheese, but the money you save by not being on cholesterol meds, and long term health care needs, but just even that out. Think about it.

This morning on my way to work, this song came up on my iPod (admittedly- it was the GLEE version). I found myself inspired by the opening lyrics, so much so that I replayed it so that I could really listen to them a second time.

“When you wake up and don’t want to smile, if it takes just a little while. Open your eyes, and look at the day, you’ll see things in a different way!”

Some days are just plain, good days. Other days, you have to choose to be happy! You say to yourself, “I’m not going to let my boss get to me today”, or “I’m not going to let the 3 brownies I ate yesterday, make me feel fat today!”. Choosing happiness is about setting aside what happened yesterday, and getting back on track today!

What are some things that can make you happy today? Remember to be realistic in your happiness expectations. For example, I would LOVE it if the sun would come out today, but I have no control over the weather.  I do know that eating right makes me happy. So today I’m choosing to eat healthfully, and tomorrow, my pants won’t be too tight. I also know that working through my pesky “to do” pile on my desk, makes me feel so much better about work. Getting through it today, will make work easier tomorrow.

Now, you make think to yourself “eating a giant piece of chocolate cake is going to make me SUPER happy!”… but later, when your feeling guilt from your gluttony—it’s not really making you happy! It’s about making a choice to do/say/be/eat something that’s only going to be positive when you think about it later.

So, make choices that make you happy. As far as tomorrow goes, “it’ll soon be here! It will be better than before, yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone!”

I have this quote written on my bathroom mirror.  I don't know where I first saw it, but over the last couple years, it has become one of my favorites. It is a piece of advice that can mean whatever you want it to.

Here's what it means to me... It means that I strive to live a life full of these words : Unite, Hope, Volunteer, Give, Educate, Love & Inspire. These words are also written on my bathroom mirror, so that I am reminded each morning to be  a better person.

Being a better person... this phrase has been going through my head a lot in the last week, with the news of Harmon Killebrew ending his fight with cancer, and in his passing yesterday. Michael Cuddyer was quoted saying, "Harmon makes you want to be a better person", and he did! Harmon is the reason I got involved in the Miracle League, and ultimately what drives me encourage people to volunteer. And I am a better human than I was 4 years ago because of it.

So this week, I ask you to find what it is that you belive in! What do you think you need to do to make yourself a better person.

My new motto is: Be More 3! When my time comes, I hope that someone says that I inspired them to be a better person. The world would be a much better place if we had a few more Harmon's!!

It's finally May. If you live in MN, you probably just wanted April to get over with, it was snowy, rainy, cloudy and cold most of the month! Yuck! I'm ready to move on!

I have had most of the last week off from work. Originally the plan was to celebrate my birthday and the Royal Wedding! It seemed like the perfect time to take some vacation. I'd hoped for lots of meals on patios and time with my kindle. I only got one patio meal, and only a few hours of Kindle time on the couch (which also equals snuggle time with my cats). However, what I really got out of the 5 days of no work, was rejuvinated!

I got to do basically, whatever I wanted for 5 days! I had one or two events planned for each day, but the rest of the day was mine. I got to spend time with some of my favorite people, doing my favorite things!

I also had time to figure out just how I'm going to move forward in life. I've dedicated May as a month to focus on Dandy LIfe. Promising to spend a little time EACH day to get it to a better place.

This week, I'd like YOU to spend just a few minutes each day on yourself.  Do something rejuvinating! Go to the gym, make a fun meal, play with your kids (or pets), make a lunch date... do something each day that reminds you that life is not about keeping a schedule, it's about sharing the time you have with people or things that make you happy.

Welcome to Wellness Wednesdays! Each Wednesday in 2011 you will find a Wellness Tip posted in this blog.

My hope for you (and this blog) is that you will do the "chore" listed each week, as a way to guide you toward personal wellness in 2011.

Wellness comes in many forms, Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual. I think you will find that though many of the tips have a nutritional (physical) base, most of them will spread to the other forms easily.

Please feel free to add comments or questions about how each week turned out for you! Sharing you troubles and successes is all part of the process.

See you on January 5th for your first Weekly Wellness Wednesday Tip!

Tonya

p.s. Following this blog would make a GREAT New Years Resolution!