My maternal grandmother, we called her Nana, was a woman of modest means and regal countenance. Her home was small, but well appointed, complete with a crystal chandelier over the mahogany dining table, real silverware that actually required polishing, fine china, elaborate mirrors, decorative vases and paintings of picturesque European villas displayed in gold leaf frames adorning the den.
Christmas Eve at Nana’s was the years most anticipated event in our family.
Sparkling lights outside set the tone for the magic waiting for you inside. Wonderful decorations, magnificently wrapped gifts, tempting aromas, happy voices and a bountiful assortment of homemade pastries and horderves fired the spirit with anticipation of the dinner feast and the exchanging of gifts that was to follow.
Nana has been gone for over 35 years now, but her memory, her spirit and the tradition she established in our family is as alive today as ever.
Christmas Eve is still the most anticipated event of the year and, almost every year since she left us, my parents, my 3 brothers and all of our families gather at our home and have a party Nana herself would have been proud to host.
When I think of Nana I remember the time we spent together; long conversations at the kitchen table discussing everything while we pasted S&H Green Stamps, helping her tend the flower garden she was so proud of, driving her around after I got old enough to drive, and of course, helping decorate the house and prepare for Christmas Eve.
Over 22 years my grandmother gave me hundreds of gifts and, except for a set of dishes we still use today, I can’t remember a single one. What I do remember is the wonderful time we spent together and I remember it well. The time we shared is a priceless treasure, a gift that, 34 years later, is still rich with meaning and flowing with love; a gift I will cherish always. How could there possibly be a better gift? I believe there couldn’t.
Every Christmas when my thoughts turn to my grandmother, while memories are sweet, to some extent I still mourn her passing because she died so young, (age 68), from a disease, (heart disease), that could have been so easily prevented.
Her memory influences my behavior still today, not because I long for the past, but because I thirst for the future; an important goal of mine is to be around for the people I love and care about, having fun, sharing time and creating happy memories for a long, long time.
One of the things that make having fun, sharing time and creating happy memories possible is your own good health. When your health is good, the world is your playground and everyday is a day rich with possibility, a day perfect for making memories.
If my grandmother had taken better care of her health she may have easily lived another 20 years. If she had stopped smoking, changed her diet and started exercising, in all probability, she would have had the chance to spend time with most if not all of her 8 great grandchildren and their lives would have been richer for it.
Why people make the choices they make is sometimes a mystery; but one thing is certain; the choices you make every day regarding diet, supplementation and lifestyle have a powerful influence on you health. And your quality of health has a powerful influence on the quality and quantity of time you get to spend with the people you love and care about.
This holiday season I invite you to think about the most precious gift you can possibly give to those closest to you, the gift of them being able to share their lives and spend time with a happy, healthy you for many, many years.
Years after our final Christmas Eve together at Nana’s I completed my Ph.D. in nutrition and authored a program called 5 Steps to Optimal Health.
Memories of my grandmother and the recognition that she could have had so much more time with us all if she had taken her health more seriously was a big part of my motivation in researching and writing the 5 Steps Program.
My purpose with 5 Steps was to produce an authoritative program, easy to understand, easy to follow and filled with information and facts that would give any grandmother or grandfather, Mom or Dad, son or daughter, brother or sister, aunt or uncle, or any friend or relative an excellent, easy-to-follow health strategy they could easily follow to lose weight if they need to, improve every important health indicator and become stronger, healthier and more energetic.
Since publication in 1999 thousands of people have benefited from 5 Steps to Optimal Health. Many have sent letters, email or made phone calls just to let me know how following the 5 Steps Program lead to weight loss, improved health, greater energy and a better quality of life.
No one ever gets into excellent health by accident. It only happens by choice and on purpose.
Great health is the result of; 1) taking diet, nutrition and lifestyle steps that support good health, (not as simple as it sounds); 2) avoiding diet, nutrition and lifestyle things that may damage your health, (also not as simple as it sounds), and perhaps most importantly of all; 3) developing a knowledge base and a mindset that makes healthy choices easy to make.
The greatest gift you can give yourself or anyone you love is YOU being in GREAT HEALTH, looking good, feeling good, and living life to the fullest.
Great health makes the world your playground and sets the stage for wonderful memories.
Having great health is a choice only you can make.
My goal with www.DrRussellsHealthAndWeightLossBlog.com is to get you excited about your own good health and to give you information and strategies you can use to get yourself into excellent health and get about the business of creating wonderful memories.
Much of the information discussed in the blog is covered in much greater detail in the 5 Steps Program. If you love facts, reasons and actionable health strategies that make a real difference in the way you look, feel and function… more information on the 5 Steps Program can be found here: www.5StepsToOptimalHealth.com
Be sure and subscribe to the Blog and visit often and please help spread the Good Health Is A Choice Only You Can Make message.
Share this information with your friends and family, tell them about the site and let them share in the good news about how easy it is to develop GREAT health.
Happy holidays!
Warmest regards,
Russell J. Martino, Ph.D.
Joyfully Bringing You Health… At The Speed Of Life!
Written by Dr. Russell J. Martino, Ph.D
The Voice Of Health
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