31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful: January 3: Health

Consider this a toast! "To health, wealth, and happiness...", the joyous tones of a well-wisher ring sweetly upon the ears of its recipients, for these are truly the blessings we search for in life.

Most of our time and effort on this Earth is spent in pursuit of wealth in one way or another. We get an education so that we can get a job, hopefully one that will bring a certain amount of money that will allow us to live a comfortable life. Wealth, as it goes, is a subjective term and one I choose not to delve into with this post.

Health, as it seems, is in many ways quite a tangible asset. Health is measured by how we FEEL: in other words, how we are reacting to our bodies and our environment.

Today I am taking the opportunity to express my thanks for my health. Each morning I wake up with the indescribable blessings of sight, hearing, smell, and touch. I can rise up and walk on my own two feet. I can reach out my hand to turn a faucet, and the delicate neurological pathways that are so perfectly intact allow me to have the (often unacknowledged) ability lift up a glass of water and take a sip. Sure, I have to take some allergy medications...and OK, so my belly occasionally protests my choices of cuisine, but the good far outweigh the bad in the health balance sheet of my life.

While my own health is an asset to me, the health of my friends and family should not go unmentioned. They have their ups and downs, and as I get older I find myself hearing more stories of illnesses, cancer, accidents, and a bevvy of other health concerns. Each time an ordeal arises, the opportunity to treasure my friends and family presents itself in earnest.

So, today I am thankful for the my own health and well being as well as the health, wealth, and happiness of those I love.

"Early to bed, early to rise, makes you healthy, wealthy, and wise."

January 13: Wendy McCabe of Go Red for Women

"Lucy, you have to hear about this event...", that's what I heard from my friend Leigh-Anne, and that's how I was introduced to Wendy McCabe and Go Red for Women. A young stroke survivor herself, Leigh-Anne had been volunteering for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Fashion Show and generously thought of bel monili when the discussion of vendors at the show arose. Leigh-Anne passed along Wendy's contact information, and shortly thereafter I had the pleasure of meeting with Wendy to discuss the fashion show, Go Red for Women, friends, family, business...I liked her right away. I am thrilled to say that bel monili had the distinct honor of participating in this year's Go Red for Women Fashion Show as a vendor, and we even had the chance to create special red dress flower pins (sold for $10 each, with 50% of each sale going to Go Red for Women in Pittsburgh).


Go Red for Women red dress flower pin
$10 each (50% goes directly to the cause!)
www.belmonili.etsy.com

 Wendy McCabe is the Go Red for Women Director for the American Heart Association in Pittsburgh. On any given day, you will find her working diligently on an event, promoting Go Red for Women, or educating the community on heart health, warning signs of heart attack and stroke, and teaching preventative measures women can take to decrease their risk of heart attack and stroke. She is one of those people who leaves a trail of positive energy and inspiration wherever she goes.

Wendy McCabe (left) looking beautiful in RED!

Since 2004, Go Red For Women has captured the energy, passion, and intelligence of women to work collectively to wipe our heart disease—the No. 1 killer of women.  Today, they want millions of women across American to take heart disease personally.  

On Friday, February 3^rd celebrate National Wear Red Day.  On this day, wear red, tell women you want them to live and help stop heart disease. For more information about Go Red for Women, visit GoRedForWomen.org , find them on facebook at American Heart Association – Pittsburgh Metro, and follow them on Twitter.