As I enjoyed my visit with a friend in Florida, it reminded me of how important it is to have social wellness and to take time out from my normal routine and work. According to the Six Dimensions of Wellness Model developed by Dr. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute (NWI), the social dimension emphasizes the importance of enhancing personal relationships and important friendships. We should seek ways to preserve the beauty and balance of nature. This really became real to me as I looked for shells on Barefoot Beach in Naples, Florida and visited the Everglades.
When we went to the Everglades, the balance of nature was very evident in the birds, alligators and other wildlife. For as long as I can remember ecology and the environment have been very important to me. It makes me happier in life
when I am able to help others and for years I have been a part of pet rescue and working with educating others on our wildlife. It is my way to preserve the beauty and balance of nature. I was privileged to be a part of Wolf Timbers in Bolivar, Ohio. Wolf Tim
bers provided an opportunity for the public to see the wolf in as natural habitat as possible so that the many fears, myths, and superstitions that have been attributed to the wolf for many years can be offered a chance to be put to rest. It has had a great educational program.
To practice social wellness, it is important to balance social, work and personal time. This is something that I work on daily. I tend to overwork, not giving myself the balance I need. I have started scheduling out my time and adding time for social and personal time. It is the habit that we have to get used to by taking little steps in the right direction. Being assertive, but not passive or aggressive is important. Most important is the ability to be yourself in all aspects of your life. Become engaged in your community and do volunteer work. Take time for yourself.
We need to talk to people. So introduce yourself, ask questions, tell stories, be interested! I heard a startling recommendation: if you want to find a romantic partner, you should talk to five new people a day! I intend to start this and see what happens.
As I moved to a new location several years ago, developing friendships and social netorks for myself has been important. I had a supportive network of family, but tended not to venture out of it. Now two of my favorite networking activities are my monthly book club and weekly breakfasts. Activities should be fun. Dance…What can you do to increase your social wellness?…Add a comment and let me know.
We will be healthier if we contribute to the welfare of others and live in harmony with others and our environment, rather than thinking only of ourselves. There are many studies on the health benefits of social support, but you need to look at the quality of the research by examining it closely. Some studies focus on short-term health benefits such as reduced incidence of colds and flu. While other research looks at longevity, correlating longer life with the number of friends we have. Have fun developing new friends and social awareness and enjoy those small steps. They are important. Safe journeys until our next week :).