Blog # 14

One of the many challenges women face daily is finding a balance in their personal, professional, and educational lives. Coinciding with that challenge is developing a strategy that works, and then consistently maintaining it to keep our minds sane, staying on track to achieve our goals, and having some fun in the process. Staying focused on the demands of a hectic and demanding lifestyle, which many people lead in the busy world of life, is the key to any balance and inner harmony. This is similar to the domino effect, for if our inner self is not in harmony, everything else becomes askew and disrupted.

Setting priorities in all areas of our lives is the first step in establishing short and long term goals. Knowing what is important in each area of our life allows this process to be easier and balance more attainable, while keeping focused on the result of our efforts. Using a daily planner is an excellent tool to help guide on a daily basis. A journal is a wonderful companion to the planner to evaluate what is working and what needs fine tuning. Often times we are not aware how much our daily activities, and the choices we make effect us until we sit down and take the time to write about what we are feeling. Most importanly is taking healthy care of ourselves in mind, body, and spirit. Live well, laugh a lot, and love much is a motto that has helped me keep daily life in peespective and in balance.

Michelle Dukes

DB # 13

The admission that an individual has a problem, an unhealthy habit, an attitude that needs adjustment or an issue with drugs or alcohol shows strength and courage. This applies especially to women who continue to be stereotyped as the weaker, emotional sex. The realization that something is interfering with how one feels, functions, and handles life’s challenges shows that the person is thinking about the choices made, and the consequences of those decisions.
Women who have a problem with alcohol and drugs are not weak, quite the contrary! However, the decision to use these substances to cope could be viewed as such.

Using chemicals of any kind, whether it be alcohol, drugs, or prescription drugs has the potential for abuse. Women, especially those who feel they must be the "power" force of their family, and are high achievers, and have high expectiations of themselves are at high risk for using and abusing alcohol and drugs. We live in a fast paced society and want immeditae results, and instant gratification. When we don't have those things we often feel it is a reflection on us .

Michelle Dukes

Blog # 12 Eating Disorders

What to do if a freind is suspected of having an eating disorder and denies it?

" Take PRIDE in how far you have come, and have FAITH in how far you can go."

Blog # 11

If peple were more fututre minded I believe many changes would be made to live a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately many people live their lives in a level of denial believing that disease and health problems only happen to others. Because of this somewhat stunted way of thinking poor choices regarding sexual behavior, food choices, and certain habits and addictions may develop often at an early age.

How many times while growing up does one hear the consequences of what will happen if you don't eat your vegetables, smoke cigarettes, stay out in the sun without using a SPF, and drink and drive, to name only a few of the endless list presented by parents? As adults who hopefully have learned valuable lessons from expereince, how many risky and unhealthy things have we done with little regard to developing disease, cancer, or some other chronic health problem? If we are honest I would bet quite a few.

Being future minded is a liefstyle choice just as dieting, exercising, the decision to stop smoking, or any other behavior that needs to be changed to ensure a healthier and quality filled life. The question that comes to mind as I write this is whether more people would be mindful of current health habits that have a direct impact on future health if they were more educated and informed on health issues. My own habits and behaviors have changed as a result of staying current on the benefits of physical activity, making healthy food choices, and developing healthy, positive, and supportive relationships.

Michelle Dukes

" Do not lose your inward peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset."

Blog # 10

Academic institutions especially those of higher learning such as TWU can play a pivotal role in addressing disease prevention for women. Incorporating health fairs is just one option that can be used to address a large audience. I realize that TWU does conduct health fairs for students, however I would like to see more of them through out the school year and even during the summer months. I have been to a couple of these forums and while I have learned basic information on various health topics, I would like to see more health issues addressed to the particular needs of women. Issues such as breast cancer awareness, osteoporosis, menopause, and other health conditons specific to women would be especially beneficial.

Instituting a campus health committe to develop student surveys on what their particular needs are and what they want would be a good place to start when deciding what types of activities or programs to offer. I participated in an optional health program last semester that involved weekly assignments and challenges. Prizes were randomly given weekly to participants which was a motivating factor to follow thru on the assignments. This is just one option that was fun to do as well as offering continued activities to pursue at an individual pace once the program was complete.

Academic institutions can also address disease prevention issues by introducing more lecturers who are experts in their fields on a particular health topic. I have found these to be very informative and beneficial as most of the time they offer more in depth information that I would not necessarily get from from reading Women's Health, or getting info from WebMD.

Michelle Dukes