By Jennifer Rawlings, Your Better Health Choosing Guru

Like everything in life, health and wellness are made up of the hundreds of small decisions we make every day. Whether you choose to spend 20-30 minutes a day working out or spend most of
your time sticking to healthier food choices, every choice makes an impact on you, your mood, and your interactions with others. Here are some simple, yet effective, ways to make your health a priority!

• Make smart healthy food choices – more fruits and vegetables
• Physical activity for 25-30 minutes each day
• Drink plenty of water
• Get 7-8 hours of sleep nightly
• De-stress daily
• And REPEAT

It’s not about cutting everything out that you love to eat or about going to the gym for an hour plus a day. And it’s not about saying yes to everything that comes your way. It is about BALANCE!

Balance means taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. Living a balanced life allows you to have an understanding of yourself and your needs as well as knowing how to show yourself
compassion like you do for others.

“WHEATHER YOU THINK YOU CAN, OR YOU THINK YOU CAN’T–YOU’RE RIGHT.” HENRY FORD

Living a healthy life is not a destination, it’s a journey! Don’t compare your journey to someone else’s. Comparison can be the thief of joy. Next time you start to feel like you are lacking joy, look to see if you
are comparing yourself to someone else. And remember this is your journey. Your chapter. Your goal. Your life. Your valley. Your peak. Your race. Your pace.

By Weldon Tisdale, Chaplain

July 4, 1776 was the greatest and most important date for the United States of America. It is the day the original 13 colonies declared their independence from the British Empire and became independent states. It is the date we celebrate, annually, as “July 4th – Independence Day.” For enslaved Africans there was no such celebration until the final slaves were freed in Texas on June 19, 1865, more than two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. A day we now know and celebrate as “Juneteenth.”

As we celebrate our independence and freedom, we must also remember that more than 2000 years ago believers were set free from sin by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Given these facts, we all have great reason to celebrate our varied freedoms. However, freedom has its limits. We are limited by the laws of the land, the laws of nature, the laws of morality and the Word of God.

Paul records in Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (NKJV) It was for freedom that Christ set us
free, but… Paul also tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.’ I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.” (NIV)

In other words, though I have the right, freedom, and independence to do anything, not everything I choose to do is beneficial, safe, moral or good for me. While Paul is dealing primarily with the
types of food being eaten and sexual immorality, the overarching theme covers our entire existence.
Though our lives can be lived independently, we each should follow the guidelines outlined in the Word of God to manage our lives for His glory. Each of us should also erect guardrails to limit our access to unlawful and harmful thoughts, actions, activities, and behaviors.

In the final analysis, our independent existence is totally dependent on a loving and all-powerful God. We must recognize as we celebrate Independence Day that independence and freedom has its limits. And though Jesus secured our freedom more than 2000 years ago, I believe that He desires us to live Independently, Dependent – upon Him.

By Bonnie Polak, VP of Philanthropy and Community Engagement

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Tell me and I forget; teach me and I may remember; involve me and I
learn.” This is the perfect description of the Trinity Woods philosophy on lifelong learning. We know
our community members bring rich stories, experiences, and expertise to this community. Lifelong
learning has become a part of the culture and community members have really embraced sharing
their knowledge and their expertise.

Whether pursuing personal interests and passions or chasing professional ambitions, lifelong learning
can help us achieve personal fulfillment and satisfaction. It feeds our natural drive to explore, learn
and grow. It even encourages us to improve our own quality of life and sense of self-worth by paying
attention to the ideas and goals that inspire us.

As a way to give structure to the sharing of knowlege and expertise, the Trinity Woods Summer School
program began. Each year, since 2017, we have offered a variety of classes that allow community
members to expand their education and their passions.

“I am really excited about the classes for this year,” said Irene Brown, Life Enrichment Coordinator.
“This year’s classes, we hope, will offer something that piques an interest for everyone. We want
community members to embrace these lifelong learning opportunities.”

A special thank you to the Summer School instructors, all of whom live on the Trinity Woods campus,
for sharing and bringing excellent learning opportunities to this dynamic and curious community. “It
is truly wonderful to watch neighbors share their experience with each other to increase awareness
and personal growth,” said Irene. For more information about Summer School classes, please
contact Irene Brown at ibrown@trinitywoodstulsa.com or