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An Empowered Approach to Health & Wellness for the "Sandwich Generation"
by Diane Brown
Nutritional Consultant, Reliv International |
Fifty years ago, women were told we COULDN'T have it all. Thirty years ago, we were told we COULD have it all. Today, we have it all. And we're exhausted! Many of us have jobs and families and communities. We work, we volunteer, we carpool. We may care for a spouse/partner, our growing children, our aging parents. We're called the "Sandwich Generation" because we shoulder the responsibility for loved ones on both sides of our own age group. But, like sandwich fillings, we're getting a bit squished by the pressures. Even if we willingly take on these roles, the stress can build. And stress is more than a mental or emotional challenge; it's the root of many diseases.
 "Making healthy choices" is the watchword of our times. But it's easier said than done when faced with so many conflicting choices and demands. As flight attendants say, "Put the oxygen mask on yourself and then assist those next to you." But unless there is an emergency, we often skip that all-important first step. We're deaf to that voice inside ourselves. Instead we attempt to go about our lives without the healthy foundation we need to maximize our value to others as well as our own productivity.
We often talk about women being true visionaries and empowering ourselves to branch out into new entrepreneurial ventures or to make a transition in some aspect of our lives, work and world. But how do we empower ourselves when it comes to our health? What would it feel like to really rejuvenate and take control of our inner selves, our immune systems, and to truly flourish as we grow (and, yes, as we age)? As a former teacher and women's health counselor, I have found a new entrepreneurial passion to help others take charge of their health first, as the basis for all that they want to do and accomplish in their personal and public lives.
Learn more about Diane's approach to health and wellness at the Dream Factory Community Luncheon. |
