Since 1964, when President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first proclamation, February has been dedicated as “American Heart Month.” Johnson was one of the millions of Americans to have suffered a heart attack. Today, cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death in America. According to the CDC, every 34 seconds one person dies from cardiovascular disease; that’s 1 in every 5 deaths. But you can still do a lot to protect your heart by practicing self-love.
In February much of the focus is on Valentine’s Day and sharing love with others. It’s also okay to practice self-love, too. Self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that
support our physical, psychological, and spiritual growth. This can be a challenge to many, but it’s easier than you think to show your heart love each day.
Self-love means taking care of the spirit, mind, and body and making yourself a priority in your life. Some examples of some simple things are:
• Physical activity – a brisk 30-minute walk a few times a week.
• Cooking meals that are low in sodium and unhealthy fats.
• Getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
• Managing stress through activities such as yoga, meditation, and prayer.
• Spending time with good friends, or quiet time with a good book or funny movie.
• Grabbing fruits and veggies when hunger strikes and keeping well hydrated.
• Managing health issues such as diabetes and hypertension.
• Taking medications as prescribed and keeping medical appointments.
• Being grateful rather than holding resentments.
Remember, each day is another opportunity to succeed. It may require the help of friends, family, and health providers but the efforts are worth the gain. Loving yourself is worth the effort. Visit HeartTruth.gov for resources and tools to help you make heart healthy lifestyle changes.
Category: Health
Heart Month: Time to Love Your Heart
Pickleball, What Is It?
By Don Neuhaus, Pickleball Enthusiast
About six years ago, before I moved to Trinity Woods, I had no clue as to what pickleball was. A couple of members piqued my interest and after giving it a try, I became very interested and now I love it and I’m a regular player.
So, what is pickleball? Pickleball is a simple paddle game that is played using a perforated slow-moving plastic ball over a tennis type net on a badminton sized court. The rules are simple, and the game is easy for beginners to learn and can be played by the young and especially older adults. It has become extremely popular with resorts and retirement communities alike.
A great deal of information, as well as videos, is available online by simply searching the word “pickleball”. There are several major health benefits to playing pickleball including lowering your risk of heart disease and reducing the risk of blood clots along with improving the health of your feet and legs. In addition, your hand/eye coordination along with balance and reflexes may improve.
We are always looking for players. I must emphasize that experience in playing this sport is definitely NOT a requirement. Everyone who plays is at a different skill level. We pride ourselves on helping each other learn and improve. If you are unsure about playing, I invite you to come to the court to watch and talk with the players.
It is a friendly group of people both men and women. I appreciate the current pickleball players for their friendship, encouragement, and participation. I look forward to more Trinity Woods members starting to enjoy this activity and taking advantage of our state-of-the-art court as well as the exercise, social aspects, and overall enjoyment of this sport. Please check out the monthly Wellness Calendar for days and times, or feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
Be Well in the New Year
by Jennifer Rawlings, VP of Wellness
What if your health and well-being were your job? What if it was your top priority? It is the time
of year when most people set their goals and then want to see instant results.
I encourage you to resist the temptation to give up, especially if you don’t see immediate results after the first two weeks. Your health is a work in progress. You must find what works for you. Your success is built upon failures and trials. Never quit when you are struggling; you only fail when you quit. As long as you are working toward your goal, you are making progress. It doesn’t matter how slow or how fast you are going as long as you keep going. You are
worth it!
If your health is something you think about every day or even if it is something you only think about when you have to, you are still making progress by thinking about it at all. Your health is the product of small choices you make every day. Remember skipping one workout or eating one dessert doesn’t make you unhealthy and doesn’t derail your goals. However, skipping a workout more often than not and fueling your body with processed foods will take you farther and farther away from your healthy goals for wellbeing!
Make your health a priority to make your life better. Being well is not a punishment to your body, it is something you are doing that is good for you. Celebrate, embrace, and be proud of being well. It’s all about your mindset.
Love yourself and allow the struggle to help you grow. Enjoy the process; remind yourself of the small wins and focus on where you want to go. You owe it to yourself to do the best you can and invest in you!
Leave it Behind and Move Forward
by Weldon Tisdale, Trinity Woods Chaplain
The beginning of a new year is an opportune time to start afresh. Don’t let 2022 just be another year
of moving forward – make it a year of leaving some things behind. Past hurts, failures, pains, decisions…
are often weights that hinder our ability to move forward. Even good things that are energy drainers could potentially need to be left behind. If you have done something you thought was meaningful without getting meaningful results, maybe, it’s time to leave it (or them) behind as well.
Actually, any unnecessary weights or baggage should be left behind. Sometimes that includes individuals who have become baggage by occupying too much of your time, space, and energy, unnecessarily. Leave them behind and
love them from a distance.
Ultimately, the most difficult thing to do is move forward when you are totally focused on the past.
As one who was intimately aware of hurts, pains, beatings, and shipwrecks in life, the Apostle Paul teaches us the importance of forgetting past things and moving forward. He encourages us to press on towards a greater prize.
Just a reminder: faith is the key element for moving forward. Your heavenly Father did not create you to live a life of mediocrity – you were created to live life in the faith lane. The faith lane is not to be mistaken for the ‘fast lane’ because often it is just the opposite. Patience will be required as you embark on the new.
There is so much more ahead of you than behind you. Like Paul, let it go, leave it behind and move forward.
Trinity Woods Opens Medical Clinic on Campus
Trinity Woods is excited to announce the opening of a new medical clinic on campus.
“We are very pleased to announce a new phase in the partnership between Trinity
Woods and the OSU Center for Health Sciences for the clinic,” said Steve Dickie,
CEO.
The clinic is located on the bottom floor of the Crestwood building just outside the
Spann Wellness Center west entrance. The location, which used to be the salon, has
been completely renovated to accommodate its new purpose. In addition to primary
care visits, the space will be used for lab draws, Podiatry and Audiology.
“The area has been remodeled with new walls, doors, lighting and plumbing,” said
Jesse Stark, Trinity Woods, Project Coordinator. “The new space includes a private
reception area that is spacious and quiet, an exam room, and a private physician
consultation room.”
Along with the clinic we are pleased to introduce Dr. Marinn Rank, D.O. as the
new physician on campus. Dr. Rank earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology
graduating with honors from OSU. She attended Oklahoma State University College
of Medicine and did her specialty training in the Oklahoma State University Family
Medicine Residency Program. She is Board Certified by the American Board of
Osteopathic Family Physicians. Dr. Rank serves as Assistant Clinical Professor of
Family Medicine in the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Family
Medicine Residency program.
The new clinic will officially open its doors later this month. The central location
will provide easy access for all community members. The clinic will be open from
1-5 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. To schedule an appointment
or learn more about utilizing Dr. Rank, contact Lupina Fry at 918.346.6618.
Spiritual Wellness – An Important Part of a Healthy Lifestyle
What exactly is Spiritual Wellness? Simply put, it’s about being connected to something greater than yourself. One of the amazing things about spiritual wellness is that the pursuit of it is unique for each person. Spiritual practices should support who you are and give you a framework for navigating each stage of life. Many people prefer to practice kindness and gratitude, while others exercise their creativity or are mindful about connecting with nature and others. And for many at Trinity Woods it includes faith and religious practices.
“Whether it’s organized religion or belief in a higher power that brings comfort, spiritual wellness fills an important role for many people that goes deeper than just attending worship services,” said Weldon Tisdale, Trinity Woods Chaplain. “It’s an opportunity to socialize, learn and grow, as well as gain comfort through some of life’s more difficult moments.”
For Trinity Woods, spirituality and wellness are woven deeply throughout the fabric of the community, connecting residents with a sense of “belonging.” The common ground and relationships fostered help heal broken hearts, soothe the mind, bring warmth and caring relationships, and even have an impact on individual health.
“Different stages of life bring different needs, and things we didn’t have time for while managing careers and family can become more important. Many times, we put off spiritual wellness, but it really is an important part of a healthy life,” said Weldon.
At Trinity Woods there is a strong focus every day for community members and employees to practice the seven dimensions of wellness. Putting spiritual practices into place now and making sure you have spiritual support will go a long way toward helping you age well in mind, body, and spirit.