Welcome to March and possibilities
February, as the shortest month of the year, seemed to evaporate right in front of me. Perhaps I was too busy celebrating the gorgeous snow and unseasonably warm/cold temperatures to notice that it’s already March and the relationship between my To Do List and its cousin, Already Done and Conquered List, is showing signs of neglect.
I don’t make new year’s resolutions –I explore possibilities, and yes, it’s a matter of semantics but when I focus and execute, I am unstoppable. We all are. As we cross major milestones with the number of COVID deaths, the millions who’ve been vaccinated, the increasing number of homeless, unemployed, and hungry, let us move being kinder and gentler and helping our neighbors to the top of our priority/possibilities list.
Let us count our blessings and give thanks that we are yet alive, able to reach out and up, and can pay attention to things that matter, like our health and history.
March is Women’s History Month so please join me in celebrating the phenomenal women we know and descended from. My mother is still around, busy as ever, and the community treasure she has always been. She’s a retired teachers’ aide so she has 34 years of youngsters she’s touched and that she can’t always recognize when they greet her all grown up with their generations in tow. She is an amazing and phenomenal example of a community activist, dedicated servant leader, and a great molder of character.
She, too, comes from a long line of bodacious women–my grandmothers, aunts, great-grandmothers, cousins—the whole bunch—strong, resilient, adaptive—pick a word and we’ll find women who have shaped and molded our world.
Please take a moment, where possible, and remind them that they matter/made the difference. Whether it was putting you on the right path, helping you avoid dating/marrying the wrong person, offering timely advice—both solicited and not—reflect on all the ways they have given themselves to you and the world. We owe them big time.
You know what’s next—send a mushy note, a bouquet of flowers, whatever strikes your fancy, but let these dynamic and incredible women know they’re appreciated. If they’re not still around, send a gift in their memory to their/your favorite charity.
March is also National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is something we usually don’t talk about but because it can affect any one of us, we must. With almost every serious disease, early detection is the key. National Nutrition Month is also observed in March so these 31 days of awareness could make the difference in your quality of life.
According to www.ccalliance.org, the number of screenings plummeted with the pandemic but the Alliance urges screenings, particularly this month, for those who are 50-75 years old. If you are younger or older, obese, inactive, or have a family history, consult your doctor about risks and benefits.
Start with prevention. Controlling your risk factors is a good place to begin-decreasing your red meat and increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a no-brainer. Cutting back on fats, salt, and sugar can also help with weight loss, and as spring approaches, get your shoes ready to walk or do some physical activity five to seven times a week.
Knowing your family’s mental and physical health history is critical to your good health since many things are hereditary.
Paying attention to warning signals, getting regular checkups, watching my weight, and entertaining positive thoughts are on my possibilities list. What’s on yours? Share your list with me at #drbondhopson on Twitter and Facebook!
Looking for inspiration, empowerment, uplift, straight talk, an encouraging word to brighten your day? You’ve arrived! Meet Dr. Cynthia Ann Bond Hopson, best-selling author, educator, inspirational speaker, sistergirl–she’s all that and more. Now listen to her new podcast, “Three Stores, Two Cotton Gins, One Remarkable Life: The Journey from There To Here,” and meet her favorite family and friends as they share laughter and heartwarming life lessons. Look for it on this page or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
