Thanksgiving is a few days away, and everyone is thinking about: 1) how are they going to clean their house and cook a meal for a houseful of people in three days and 2) what are the things – big and small—to be thankful for. Luckily, my in-laws are hosting Thanksgiving dinner so I can spend more time thinking about #2.
The big things I am thankful for are what most people say–family, friends, shelter, good health, a job I enjoy, etc. I am also thankful for little things like my neighbor’s new car muffler which replaced the old one that served as my 6:15 a.m. wake up call!
I started thinking about healthy things I’m thankful for too. Here’s a sample:
- Indy Parks. Over the years, I have been to so many Indy Parks, and I love the playgrounds, pools and classes they have. Indianapolis is very fortunate to have the park system we have.
- Fun programs like the Hoosier Outdoor Experience . As I mentioned in my September blog, this is the best family event of the year to me. You get to try all kinds of outdoor activities for FREE. My family has tried archery, shooting activities and horseback riding at this one event.
- Friends/family who sometimes “guilt me” into doing something healthy. For example, if I go out with friends and they order water, I order water. And I never would have tried the egg white omelet at Le Peep’s if my sister would not have nudged me to give it a try.
- Uber-healthy friends who are still normal. One of my BFFs, Crystal, is a yoga instructor, whereas I struggle to stick with a regular exercise class. She’s doesn’t treat a healthy lifestyle as some sort of religion in which she has to convert me and get me to try fad nutrition programs or the “fitness program of the month.” She’s about wellness and she encourages me to be a better person, inside and out. Plus, she she doesn’t make me feel like a slacker!
- My dog Jett. Honestly, some days I wouldn’t go for a walk if he didn’t look at me with his soulful, big brown eyes, begging me to take him for a walk. A recent health study showed that people with dogs walk more — there must be other dogs who have “the look” to get their owner’s off the couch.
- Fruit salad. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t resist a fruit salad. I like colors and the mix of flavors. I can go to a family gathering or holiday party and fill up on a fruit salad.
- Volleyball. In the past, my daughter has not had much interest in sports. This year, she tried volleyball and she’s darn good at it. It’s good to find something your kids enjoy so you don’t have to keep finding active things to do to try to get in 60 minutes of exercise.
My healthy list is pretty simple. What healthy things are you thankful for?
Tags: Hoosier Outdoor Experience, Indy Parks, kids activities, kids sports
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