It seems that I’m always on a journey to set new health goals and challenges, so that won’t necessarily be a new thing for me. But, I hope to achieve new goals that I’ve already set and perhaps learn a little bit more about myself in the process. Some other things I want to achieve include:

~ Cooking more at home, and making those meals more family-oriented, healthier and yummy!

~ Becoming a better housekeeper/homemaker, especially now that sports is over for the family…at least for a while.

~ Getting more involved in my personal Bible study time, devoting more time to study and retention. That’s always good.

~ Spending more silly time with the kids. They love that. It’s important to be a silly parent at times.

I know that each of my goals won’t necessarily be achieved right away, but I’ll work at chipping away at them a little at a time. What about you? What’s your game plan for 2012?

Sometimes, when we look at our kids and see our posterity and how their future depends on us and how we take care of them, our perspective and approach to life changes. Why is that? I think because it’s at those moments that we feel the surge of responsibility towards that child build up in us. We want to take care of them. We have to take care of them. It is up to us to provide them with the things that they need and equip them with the skills to navigate in life. Yes, it is at those moments that we realize just how much is dependent upon us and the need for us to be at 100% optimum working conditions in order for us to sufficiently provide for our children.

Have you ever experienced those feelings? Did you ever feel a surge of responsibility when you became a new parent?

Kenneth never really shared with me what his apprehension was about going to the doctors, or asking questions about his health. I suspect it was because of the various tests they do at certain ages or for certain ethnic groups. Really, I can’t much blame him because who does like to be poked and prodded, right? I still swoon at the sight of my own blood being drawn. I still sway and hyperventilate when I see the nurse or technician come into the exam room in their medical scrubs. So, I do get it, but it’s something (checkups) that have to be done.

If life were easy and if doing the responsible thing was effortless, then everybody would do what they needed to do. If doctor visits were a pleasant thing, then the majority of husbands and men (not all) would have NO trouble going to get their checkups or taking care of themselves when they’re sick. My own brother even shared with me once how he got sweaty hands when he went to the doctor. He said the techs in their scrubs and uniforms from http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/ didn’t bother him so much, but he fretted over the waiting room and not “knowing” what he could expect once he got back there!

Our lives are one-offs. That means we only have one chance, one shot. So, I suggest living it to its fullest BUT doing so in good health. Start living the good, healthy life by taking care of yourself and getting regular doctor visits. You and your posterity will be glad you did!

Post contributed by Fletcher Vargas

I seriously need a vacation. In my dream world, I would even forget where I work. I would watch cable tv all day, with my dog by my side. Go out for a run and cook healthy meals. The most stressful part of my day would be deciding what to cook! It sounds like heaven to me. Most people I know like to go to exotic destinations for their vacation. And I get it, I do. But I’m a very simple person. Some people my say boring, I give you that. But what’s so bad about being simple?! I don’t have many vacation days at my job at all, unfortunately. So, I have to save them for my friends wedding and such. One of my friends wants everyone to take a full week off of work for her wedding. Can you say DIVA?!