Several Charlotte organizations have scheduled activities throughout the week that are open to the public. The growing list includes:

• AL!VE, 800 W. Lawrence Ave.
  The Women’s Health Experience is free to the public Sunday, Feb. 26. Pre-registration is available atwww.hgbhealth.com. Plus throughout the week AL!VE will offer healthy cooking and fitness classes, as well as educational opportunities focusing on heart health.
• Charlotte Aquatic Center, 1068 Carlisle Hwy.
  The center is offering free water aerobics class samplers Wednesday, Feb. 29 and a free open swim Friday, March 2.
• Experience Art, at Evelyn Bay, 134 S. Cochran Ave.
  This community group is meeting Thursday, March 1, to talk about ways to inspire more art in public places, the growth of local arts-related businesses and the role of arts in community vitality.
• Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital, 321 E. Harris St.
  Its annual, free Health Fest is Saturday, March 3.
• The Eaton Area Senior Center, 804 S. Cochran Ave.
  Watch for more information on a health-related educational presentation.

Everyone is welcome! Additional activities will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Frequently visit www.hgbhealth.comfor more information and details about Community Vitality Week.

What is fit?

We don’t have a simple definition, but it’s something we know when we see it. We have assembled a crack panel of experts to help us out. If you think you are someone we would like to learn about, please enter! We’re looking for any individual between the ages of 50-59 who leads a healthy lifestyle. We’re looking for runners, cyclists, triathletes, body builders, and the spouse who finds a way to stay active and fit while juggling kids, family, a job and the PTA. There’s a world of fitness-loving individuals out there in the Lansing and Jackson area and whether you run marathons, or burn through an exercise DVD when you find the time, we want to hear from you.

The Fit Over 50 Features

The Fit Over 50 feature will appear in the April issue of Healthy & Fit Magazine. This special section of the magazine will highlight eight Lansing/Jackson area individuals who are living a healthy lifestyle, as deemed so by our panel of judges. This is not a contest. However, Healthy & Fit Magazine will only have room to feature eight (8) individuals in the magazine’s special feature. Our panel will determine which eight individuals are right for the section. Entries not chosen for the feature may be considered as used for the regular “Fit Feature” section of the magazine.

Download the entry form here.

Anyone who wishes to enter this contest must download the linked file and make sure to include a print version of a photo. This photo will not be returned. All entries must be received by February 20. No exceptions. All entries must follow the directions on the entry form to be considered. By entering, you’re allowing Healthy & Fit Magazine to publish the information on the entry form, as well as use the printed photo for the magazine.

How to enter:

1. Download and complete the official entry form here
2. Take a photo of yourself and mail it along with your completed entry form.
3. Mail it to: Fit Over 50, Healthy & Fit Magazine, 312 North Street, Suite B, Mason, MI 48854
4. Make sure it’s postmarked by Feb. 20, 2012. If it’s late, you’re not entered. No exceptions.
5. Read the April issue of Healthy & Fit Magazine to see if you, or your person who is nominated, is featured.

Meet the panel

David Hutchins • executive director, Fit Over 50
David Hutchins is a healthy lifestyle guru. He is an MSU graduate and is a health and life insurance agent at W.D. Guerre & Associates Insurance, in downtown lansing. He’s a strong believer in health and fitness for a better and more enjoyable life and one of the principals behind the Fit Over 50 panel. His motto: “Our bodies our are vehicles.”

Chris Johnson • author, On Target Living

Chris Johnson is a nationally recognized speaker and author. For over 25 years he has earned the reputation of providing lifestyle modification strategies with integrity and compassion. As the Director of Health, Wellness and Fitness at Sparrow Health System’s Michigan Athletic Club for over fifteen years, he pioneered one of the most successful personal training programs in the country. He holds a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology from Michigan State University, and certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine, National Academy of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise, along with over 16,000 hours of one-on-one personal training.

Karen Giles-Smith • freelance writer, registered dietician

Karen is a freelance writer and registered dietitian based in Mason, Michigan. She specializes in nutrition, health and wellness writing and business communications. She has written on the topics of nutrition and fitness, diabetes, distance education, child welfare, fly fishing and nature preservation for consumer and trade magazines. Karen’s writing has a warm, engaging style that has readers and editors asking for more. She is a contributing editor to Healthy & Fit Magazine.


Rebecca Klinger • co-owner, State of Fitness

Rebecca Klinger, co-owner of State of Fitness, is a certified athletic trainer and personal trainer. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Health Science from Alma College and Master of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University. Rebecca attended the Titleist Performance Institute to become a level two certified golf fitness instructor and certified golf medical instructor and is enrolled in the Gray Institute of Functional Transformation (GIFT) program. Her expertise includes healthy lifestyle management, rehabilitation of injuries, golf fitness and medical Winstruction, and improving sports performance of high school, collegiate, Olympic, and professional athletes.

Gabe Zussman • The Trainers Studio

Gabe specializes in golf fitness, general fitness and athlete development. Gabe has extensive experience as a group fitness instructor conducting boot camp and high intensity training classes for members in a large health club setting. He co-founded The Trainers Studio, LLC in 2003 with Walt Reynolds & Lisa Taylor and currently serves as a managing partner for the business.

Tim Kissman • Healthy & Fit Magazine

Tim is the owner and publisher of Healthy & Fit Magazine, which was started in April 2005. He is a former college basketball player (Hillsdale College) and current basketball and softball coach of his two daughters, Autumn and Sage. He lives in Mason where he is on a never-ending search on ways to get rid of belly fat.

Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/EastLansing/IRONDOG5k

Valentine’s Day is looming large on the horizon, and everywhere you look, commercials, magazines, store displays, and more are focused on helping couples plan the “perfect” February 14th celebration. Yes, if you’re in a relationship, it is important and enjoyable to celebrate your love on this special day. However, Todd Patkin has some advice for married couples especially: Romance, roses, chocolates, and champagne are only a small part of what makes up a marriage. The truth is, it’s the 364 days that surround February 14th that can make or break the quality of your relationship. So if you want to give your spouse the most meaningful Valentine’s gift of all, commit to putting daily thought—and yes, work!—into your relationship.

“I believe that many marriages simply deteriorate because couples allow their relationships to run on ‘autopilot,’ but still expect them to stay healthy and exciting, especially around holidays like Valentine’s Day,” explains Todd Patkin, author of the new bookFinding Happiness: One Man’s Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and—Finally—Let the Sunshine In (StepWise Press, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-9658261-9-8, $19.95). “But the truth is, like everything else in life, relationships don’t work that way. We must learn to put as much—no, even more—effort into our marriages as we do in trying to succeed professionally or keeping our gardens, houses, or cars looking top shelf.”

Furthermore, Patkin asserts that a happy marriage is the cornerstone of a happy life—if your marriage isn’t good, you’re going to have trouble feeling fulfilled in other areas as well.

“I know from experience that if you get it right here, it’s easier to get it right in all of the other aspects of your life, because the person who’s closest to you will be there to support you and will have your best interests at heart,” he adds.

“When you let your marriage just ‘sit,’ it’ll eventually get rusty and break down, just like your car would,” Patkin points out. “And that’s a terrible tragedy. We all should have been told growing up that you do have to work on your marriage every day, too, if you want it to stay exciting and great.”

If you’re ready and willing to do everything in your power to make your marriage a happier one (perhaps starting this February 14th), read on for Patkin’s nine tips:

Recommit yourself to your marriage every single day. Believe it or not, your marriage vows weren’t a one-time deal. No, you and your spouse probably aren’t going to stand in front of your loved ones and recommit yourselves to one another on a regular basis. But if you want to cultivate a strong and happy marriage, you should start each morning by making a renewed personal commitment to keeping your relationship healthy and rewarding.

“As I mentioned earlier, people work on their cars, their houses, and their gardens on a regular basis,” Patkin points out. “And just as these things need regular, constant attention to thrive, so does your marriage. Don’t let your enthusiasm for working on your relationship be short-lived. In order to give your marriage regular tune-ups, start by remembering what you said you’d do when you made your vows: Love your spouse. Honor her (or him!). Cherish her. Comfort her. Remain faithful to her. And do these things in good times and bad, in sickness and in health—every day of your marriage.”

Evaluate where your self-worth comes from. With very few exceptions, we human beings tend to base our sense of self-worth on the things that are most important to us. It’s common to hear people proudly say, “I’m a financial advisor,” or, “I’m the manager of my division at work,” or even, “I drive a Cadillac!” But how often do you hear, “I am the world’s luckiest husband,” or, “I have the best family in the whole wide world”?

“I understand all about being proud of your career accomplishments and of other things in your life, but I truly believe that the happiest couples draw a lot of their self-worth from their relationship with each other,” Patkin asserts. “So please assess where your marriage really falls right now on your list of personal accomplishments. Are you consistently relying on something other than your marriage, like your job, to make you feel good about yourself?”

Verbalize to your spouse the things you love and appreciate about him or her all of the time. Did you know that the things you think about and talk about influence how you experience the world around you? It’s true! So why not spend time thinking about how great your spouse is and then verbalizing those thoughts? Start by reminding yourself of all of the reasons why you fell in love in the first place, and then list how much more wonderful your partner has gotten since your marriage. Also, tell her (or him!) how much she means to you, how much you love her, and how beautiful she is ten times a day.

“Believe me, no one will ever say that they hear such compliments about themselves too many times,” Patkin promises. “And not only will this make your partner feel great in the moment, but consistently complimenting one another is the single greatest long-term vitamin you can each give to one another for your marriage. Verbalizing such compliments to your spouse is especially important today because most of us have a tendency to dwell on our mistakes while disregarding all of the things we do right. And we don’t normally hear compliments from our kids, our coworkers, or even our friends either, so over time, we start to feel small and unhappy. Thus, as a spouse, it is your responsibility to continue to make your wife or husband feel as great about her or himself as possible.”

Acknowledge the little things your spouse does, and return the favor. In a similar vein, constantly perform small but meaningful acts for your spouse, and don’t be surprised if he or she starts to do the same for you (if he or she doesn’t do so already, that is!). For example, if your wife hates unloading the dishwasher, make a point to get into the kitchen and put away the dishes first. Or make a mental note to wash the sheets on Friday afternoon so that they’ll be clean when your husband sleeps in on Saturday. Acts like this don’t take much time or energy, but they show your spouse that you are paying attention and that you care—and that is truly priceless!

“Also, it’s key that anytime your spouse goes out of his or her way to make your life better or easier, acknowledge that you’ve noticed and that you appreciate this expression of your partner’s love,” Patkin suggests. “Never let small acts go unnoticed. Saying thank you—and accompanying it with a heartfelt hug or kiss—starts a cycle of giving and getting. It’s when you don’t acknowledge your spouse’s efforts that he or she will begin to feel taken for granted and ignored. And usually, things will only go downhill from there.”

Learn—and then do—what makes your spouse feel most loved. Say, for example, that you love to receive gifts. Whether it’s a big-screen TV or a lowly fridge magnet picked up during a friend’s travels, you feel acknowledged and appreciated whenever you’re handed a wrapped box. So whenever you want to let your wife know that you’re thinking about her or want to boost her mood, you bring home a gift: flowers, a CD, or a book by one of her favorite authors. Only problem is, what your wife is really craving is a nice, long hug.

“Don’t assume you know what makes your spouse feel the most loved,” Patkin advises. “While any expression of love is, of course, a good thing, the fact is that we all feel loved in different ways. So it is important that you find out what makes your spouse feel the most loved. Simply ask the question, ‘What have I done in the past that made you feel the most special?’ Some people might want a date night. Others might need to be told verbally that they are the greatest. It’s always a good idea to ask your spouse what makes him or her feel most loved—and then include those actions or words into your regular repertoire. You’ll notice a big difference…and you’ll probably find that your spouse reciprocates, too.”

Don’t let resentment build. When you live in fairly close quarters with another human being, it’s inevitable that sooner or later you’re going to annoy each other. (In fact, at times you’re probably going to want to kill each other.) While it’s not a good idea to nit-pick with your spouse each and every time you feel a teeny bit put out, it’s also unhealthy to let issues and negative feelings build up and fester.

“Always, always make it a priority to keep the lines of communication open,” Patkin advises. “Even if you have to go for a walk to clear your head first, be sure to express your grievances in a calm, constructive way—preferably before you go to bed angry. Also, remember that this is a two-way street. When your spouse is upset with you, make every effort not to fly off the handle and to fairly consider what you’re hearing. Marriage does involve compromising and modifying your behavior for another’s well-being—and believe me, your mutual happiness is worth it.”

Take responsibility and stop trying to fix your partner. There’s a lot of finger pointing going on in marriages. After all, it’s easy to identify and list all the ways someone else is getting it wrong. (Plus, it just feels good to be “right.”) But how much good does all of this complaining and accusing really do? After you finish berating your spouse for yet another of his or her supposed failings, does the quality of your life actually change? Probably not. According to Patkin, it’s time to take a break from blaming and instead work on yourself. While both partners do need to be willing to compromise in order to help the other, it’s always best to look at how your own behavior could improve before you try to change your spouse’s.

“The more time you spend trying to change your spouse, the less time you have for improving yourself,” Patkin points out. “As far as I know, there has never been such a thing as a ‘perfect’ husband or wife! And I bet that when you begin to take responsibility for areas in which you may have been dropping the ball, the dynamic of your marriage will change. Perhaps your spouse has been trapped in a cycle of negativity that has been fed by your own less-than-helpful attitude. And remember, people unconsciously begin to mirror the people they spend the most time with. This happens for the good as well as for the bad! So if you start working on yourself, your spouse will most likely do the same.”

Figure out what your strengths are and play to them. As much as possible, you and your spouse should each play to your strengths within your marriage and back away from your weaknesses. If, for example, you’re great with words but don’t have much of a math brain, don’t take on the task of making sure the bills are paid and the accounts are balanced each month. Instead, take the lead in dealing with teachers, repairmen, etc. When you force yourself to do something for which you have little aptitude, you only frustrate yourself and, by extension, the people with whom you live.

“I’ll be honest—I’m awful when it comes to doing projects around the house,” Patkin admits. “I have very little mechanical understanding or skill, and I have no patience for these types of jobs. For years, though, I’d try tackling these sorts of projects around the house. And then when I failed to put the pieces of a new desk together, for example, I’d feel like less of a man. Well, I’ve finally accepted the fact that I will never be Mr. Home Improvement, and I don’t waste my time or energy on that type of task. Thus, I get much less frustrated, I’m happier,and the people around me are happier too! I’ve learned that it’s definitely a good idea to ask your spouse for help or pay to have the job done if neither of you feels confident.”

Date your spouse again. When you’re newly in love and in full courtship mode, you do everything you can to spend every free moment with your partner. Eventually though, work, kids, responsibilities, and life in general tend to get in the way of your relationship with your spouse. The two of you stop doing fun things with only one another, and it’s easy to go weeks at a time without having any serious conversations that don’t revolve around work, money, or kids. That’s why it’s imperative to set aside time to date your spouse.

“Vow to take the time to invest in the romantic part of your relationship,” Patkin advises. “It may not seem important, but this is the cornerstone of a good marriage. Without that so-called ‘spark,’ the other parts of your life, like work and kids, will suffer too. Try to act like you did when you were both in the infatuation period of your relationship: Bring home flowers or other small gifts. Plan a special date night (maybe involving a babysitter this time around!). Get tickets to the reunion tour of a band you and your spouse loved when you first began dating. Basically, get back to the essence of how you fell in love in the first place!”

“I hope that once you begin celebrating, respecting, and loving your spouse as I’ve just described, as well as prioritizing your marriage every day, you’ll find that the whole dynamic of your relationship changes,” Patkin concludes. “I hope that you’ll begin smiling more, feeling better, and experiencing more ‘spark.’ It’s true: Everything—and especially our own happiness—really is, to a huge extent, about our relationships with other people. And I think Cupid would agree!”

# # #

About the Author:
Todd Patkin grew up in Needham, Massachusetts. After graduating from Tufts University, he joined the family business and spent the next eighteen years helping to grow it to new heights. After it was purchased by Advance Auto Parts in 2005, he was free to focus on his main passions: philanthropy and giving back to the community, spending time with family and friends, and helping more people learn how to be happy. Todd lives with his wonderful wife, Yadira, their amazing son, Josh, and two great dogs, Tucker and Hunter.

About the Book:
Finding Happiness: One Man’s Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and—Finally—Let the Sunshine In (StepWise Press, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-9658261-9-8, $19.95) is available at bookstores nationwide, from major online booksellers, and atwww.findinghappinessthebook.com.

“How to choose a weight loss method” will be offered at 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26, at AL!VE, 800 W. Lawrence Ave., Charlotte, Mich. During the class, participants will be able to assess their readiness to begin a successful, weight-loss journey – whether they want to lose 20 pounds or 200 pounds.

The session, presented by Dr. Kimberly Johnson and Sherlyn Hogenson, registered dietitian, will discuss the health risks of obesity, the benefits of losing weight, examine lifestyle changes for successful weight loss and evaluate various weight-loss programs and methods. Plus participants will have an opportunity to take a body composition test and sample easy, healthy recipes.

The class participation fee is $12 and includes a free body composition test. Participants who want to take the test should arrive at 5 p.m. Call 517-541-5800, option 1, to register for the class.

Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital has been the community’s choice for health care for more than 75 years. HGB is committed to working together in health to provide quality care and enhance the vitality of the community. It has expanded its vision beyond providing traditional hospital services to one that promotes health and well-being through AL!VE. Learn more about HGB atwww.hgbhealth.com and AL!VE at www.myalive.com.

Every year more than 480,000 American adults die of a heart attack or its complications.  About half of these deaths result from sudden cardiac arrest, an early complication of some heart attacks that can occur within seconds – even before emergency personnel arrive. Too many times victims die from these complications because bystanders don’t know what to do.

The HGB EMS Department and the American Heart Association can help you be prepared through the CPR and First Aid class taught from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the HGB Trumley Education Center. Participants only need to register for one of the classes held Saturday, Jan. 14, or Saturday, Jan. 28.

Participants will learn adult, child and infant CPR, and use of the automated external defibrillator, as well as emergency actions for sudden illness and injury. The cost for the course is $45. A two-year American Heart Association certification card will be issued. This course meets State of Michigan requirements for those who work in childcare and group homes, or who need professional certifications for job requirements.

To register for either date for CPR and First Aid or for more information, contact Dan Sowles at dsowles@hgbhealth.com or call 517-541-5912.

Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital has been the community’s choice for health care for more than 75 years. HGB is committed to working together in health to provide quality care and enhance the vitality of the community. It has expanded its vision beyond providing traditional hospital services to one that promotes health and well-being through AL!VE. Learn more about HGB at www.hgbhealth.com and AL!VE at www.myalive.com.

“If the grief is fresh, holiday cheer can seem like an affront and celebrations may underscore how alone people feel,” notes Dr. Michael Miller, editor in chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter. The following strategies, explored in depth in the December 2011 issue, may help people who are grieving to cope with the holidays.

• Start a new tradition. During a holiday dinner, place a lighted candle on the dinner table, leave an empty chair, or say a few words of remembrance.
• Change the celebration. Go out to dinner instead of planning an elaborate meal at home. Or schedule a trip with friends.
• Express your needs. People who are grieving may find it hard to participate in all the festivities or may need to let go of unsatisfying traditions. It’s all right to tell people you’re just not up to it right now or to change plans at the last minute.
• Help someone else. It may also help to volunteer through a charitable or religious organization. Make a donation to a favorite cause in memory of the person who died.
• Give yourself time. The grieving process doesn’t neatly conclude at the six-month or one-year mark. Depending on the strength of the bond that was broken, grief can be life-long. Nevertheless, grief does usually soften and change over time. With time, the holidays will become easier to handle.

“Most of us have mixed feelings about the winter holidays,” says Susan Apollon, author of Touched by the Extraordinary, Book Two: Healing Stories of Love, Loss & Hope (Matters of the Soul, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-9754036-9-3, $24.95, www.HealingStoriesOfLoveLossAndHope.com). “On one hand, we look forward to the festive atmosphere and the spiritual rituals. On the other, we dread the stress and expense, not to mention the unresolved grief that manifests this time of year. And running through it all is the sense that the holidays should look and feel a certain way.”

According to Apollon, the holidays really can be, if not greeting card perfect, then at least, rich and rewarding in their own very real way. But first, you’ve got to learn to manage your expectations and live each moment to the fullest. Read on to learn some of Apollon’s tips on how to defuse your seasonal dread and infuse your holidays with joy and peace.

Love and forgive yourself unconditionally. This may seem like an odd way to begin, but Apollon says self-love and forgiveness—which may be thought of as two sides of the same coin—are at the heart of everything. Before you can make peace with, say, the emotionally abusive mother you dread seeing at your Hanukkah get-together, you must first make peace with yourself. The adage is true: If you want to love others unconditionally, you have to first love yourself. And loving yourself is really the key to resolving deep-seated feelings of pain and guilt that surface during the holidays.

“People tend to be very hard on themselves,” says Apollon. “We must all learn to accept the fact that right now we are exactly where we are supposed to be on our spiritual journey. That doesn’t mean you should stop striving to improve the aspects you know need work. It does mean realizing you are human. Allow yourself time to relax, to rest, and even to cry if you need to. By simply allowing yourself to feel the way you feel, the emotional load on your back will lighten.”

Of course, it’s easy to say those two little words—forgive yourself—but most of us don’t really know how to do it. Apollon recommends an eleven-step process for finding this elusive sense of inner peace. It can also be used to help you forgive others or to simply relax and center yourself before a stressful holiday event.

Choose to forgive others. If you are holding a grudge against the cousin who excluded you from her wedding invitation list, you will dread seeing her at the big Christmas dinner. Apollon says the bad feelings that arise whenever you think of this slight are a sign that you need to forgive her. Doing so will dissolve the tension between the two of you and will make the event far more pleasant. And remember, you’re not doing it for her—you’re doing it for you.

“Forgiveness is a function of love,” insists Apollon. “It is vitally important that you learn to forgive the people who have wronged you. Remember that everyone on earth is walking their own path and is trying to do the best they can. The strongest choice you could possibly make is to let go of any unresolved anger and choose to forgive them. It is not easy, but it is deeply rewarding. The choices you make have different energetic vibrations, and forgiveness and love carry with them the highest resonance. When you don’t forgive, you deny yourself a higher energetic payoff.”

But what if there’s someone in your life you are simply not ready to forgive? That’s okay, says Apollon. Just accept that there is a price to be paid in terms of your own peace of mind. It’s okay to avoid holiday events if you are absolutely not ready to see these people. But because life is about constant growth, know that one day you may be better equipped to let go of old grievances. Until then, continue to love yourself unconditionally and treat yourself well.

Know what you can and cannot control. Learning that you can control only your own actions and feelings is vital to becoming a happier person. Many people cannot forgive others and move away from past pain because they don’t understand this fact.

“Control struggles are huge emotion and energy drainers,” says Apollon. “The moment you understand that you can manage only your own feelings and thoughts, you will find power you didn’t know you had. When you continue to hold someone accountable for a past grievance, you allow her to hurt you all over again. But when you choose to simply let it go, you give yourself permission to heal and you release the ghost that was holding you captive.”

Another way to look at an old grudge is to remind yourself that everyone is simply doing the best he or she can do under the circumstances. Perhaps your parents didn’t always make great choices when they raised you, but they did the best job they could at the moment. Remind yourself of this fact when you see your grumpy Aunt Eunice eye you critically as you help yourself to seconds at dinner. Focus on old memories that you shared with Aunt Eunice before a rift grew between you. You will find love in those memories and they will give the two of you common ground. By choosing to love Aunt Eunice or anyone else who once made your blood boil, you are actually empowering yourself and saving valuable emotional energy!

When grief rears up, learn to “Face, Embrace, and Replace It.” If you’re dealing with grief at the holidays—perhaps due to a death in the family, an estrangement from someone you love, or a divorce—don’t try to deny your pain. Rather, make a conscious effort to work through it. Apollon’s mantra on dealing with grief is “face it, embrace it, and replace it.” In other words, the only way to “get over” sadness is to experience it. Grief can take on many forms, especially around this time of year.

“If you need to cry, cry, even if you’re at a party and have to leave the room,” says Apollon. “You might even set aside an evening to get in touch with your grief. Fix the cocoa you used to drink with your mother or go through your photo albums. It’s healthier to feel the sadness and loss than to detach yourself from it. It’s right and normal to grieve; just don’t make it the dominant part of who you are.”

Don’t over-commit to the holidays. Most people vow that this year they won’t stretch themselves too thin (physically, emotionally, and financially), but somehow they spend the holidays exhausted, frazzled, and broke. It is hard to feel joyful and loving when you are exhausted from too many parties and you’re out of cash. It really is okay to choose only a few special events to attend—and don’t feel guilty about skipping out on your in-laws’ personal-drama-filled party in favor of a quiet evening baking cookies and wrapping presents with your kids. It’s your life, and you get to live it your way.

“Also, don’t overspend,” cautions Apollon. “The true meaning of the season has nothing to do with presents and price tags. You can still give thoughtful gifts to your family and friends without racking up a huge, stressful credit card bill. A batch of homemade salsa or even a heartfelt letter can be more appreciated than a $100 blouse, and it also helps you feel responsible, calm, and in control of your finances.”

Get in the joy zone. In order to be ready for the impending holiday cheer, you may need a little inspiration. Not everyone starts off the season in a joyful mood. Some people, perhaps even most people, need a little boost to get there. You can rev up your level of good cheer by doing something that makes you feel great.

Indulge in a sinful dessert or sleep in sheets with a high thread count to feel pampered. Listen to your favorite holiday album, sip eggnog, or attend temple to get in a seasonal mood. Remember that peace and joy are contagious, so if you put it out there, chances are very good that you will get it back! Also, keep in mind that others are watching you and will see how empowered you become just by being happy.

“You can also seek happiness by committing random acts of kindness,” says Apollon. “It can be something as small as saying, ‘Have a blessed day’ to a stranger or donating money to a charity. The act does not matter; it’s the love behind the act that counts.”

Do a practice run before the dreaded event. Before going to a holiday function, you can actually “rehearse” the event to help you get in a positive frame of mind. (You might try this during the eleven-step “peace process” Apollon recommends.) Chances are that at any holiday get-together, there will be at least one person you don’t really want to see. Think of this person and begin to surround him or her with love and forgiveness (if need be). You can visualize yourself approaching this person and speaking with love and kindness. When you fill yourself with love, you will be able to enter the party with the proper frame of mind—and you may find that being kind and spreading holiday cheer is a little easier than you had expected!

Stay in the moment. “Think about the vast amount of time you spend dwelling on the past or worrying about the future,” says Apollon. “You may realize that you spend very little time actually existing in the present moment! This is very unhealthy. In fact, it is the source of virtually all anxiety and depression. Your energy is far more powerful when it is there with you as much as possible.”

At holiday parties and events, it is especially important to stay in the moment. Don’t let your feelings of dread, anxiety, or anger take over. You are responsible for and are in control of your thoughts, and with a little effort and practice, you will find that it’s easy to be serene and even lighthearted in situations that may have once made you uncomfortable.

Use the Law of Attraction to create joyful experiences. (A.k.a. “Acting as if.”) Every morning when you wake up, the ball is in your court in regards to how you want to spend your day. If you exude bitterness, anger, or self-pity, then you can’t really expect others around you to feed you good cheer by the spoonful. Remember the law of the universe: Like attracts like. This is a very valuable lesson that is easy to apply to the holidays, says Apollon. Even if you don’t necessarily feel charitable or joyful, put a smile on your face and intend to feel better and you might surprise yourself by actually feeling better. (Or as some self-help gurus like to say, “Fake it till you make it.”)

“If you would like to bury the proverbial hatchet with family members or friends you know will be around during the holiday season, make a conscious choice to surround those people with love,” she advises. “By being the bigger person and greeting them with a heartfelt, ‘Happy Holidays!’ followed by, ‘I’m so glad to see you!’ you can set the tone for the holidays, as well as change your energy and the energy of those around you. Don’t wait for someone else to take the initiative—sometimes you just have to take the lead.”

Take care of yourself. You’ll look and feel better. Make sure that you get enough sleep to survive all the events that will be coming your way this time of year, advises Apollon. Eat well so your body will stay strong. Avoid the urge to overeat at parties—you will just feel sluggish and cranky afterward. Spend some time each day alone and quiet to help you regain your inner balance. And try to find time to exercise each day, even if it is just a ten-minute walk or some gentle stretching in the mornings. Oh, and a flattering new holiday outfit wouldn’t hurt, either.

“When you take the time to look your best, you will feel your best,” says Apollon. “That means allowing enough time before the party to apply your make-up, fix your hair, and find the perfect accessories for your new little black dress. As all women know, sometimes a new outfit or a new hairstyle is worth more than a month of therapy!”

Manage your expectations. Remember that the holidays almost never turn out like a Norman Rockwell painting or a sepia-toned greeting card. It is important that you accept that the holidays probably won’t go off without a hitch. Still, this time of the year can be pretty darn great if you seek out loving feelings toward your friends and families. Happiness can come only from embracing unconditional love as often as possible. If you work toward finding the love in every situation, you will be delighted to find how much joy the holidays really can hold.

“Around Christmastime and Hanukkah, it is important to remember that everyone is seeking peace—this quest is universal,” concludes Apollon. “If you allow the season to be polluted with anxiety and sorrow, you are actively disconnecting from the exquisite peace the holidays offer. Make a real effort this season to focus on loving feelings. Follow the love you feel. It will lead you away from painful memories and fears that cloud your day-to-day existence. Find the unconditional love that has survived in your heart, and you will be amazed at the new and joyful places it will lead you.”

HGB is one of only two hospitals in Michigan that made the Top 100 list, along with Clinton Memorial Hospital in St. Johns, Mich. The top 100 scored best on the Hospital Strength Index, which compares hospitals based on financial, value-based and market-driven performance.

According to the index, a “Strong Hospital” has:

• Dominant market share with growing demand
• Less direct competition in the local market
• Outstanding quality and safety programs
• Loyal, satisfied patients
• Efficient and appropriately priced services
• Strong balance sheet with surplus capital

This was the first year smaller, rural hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals, were included in the assessment. Critical Access Hospitals are acute care facilities certified to receive cost-based reimbursement from Medicare.

The MCRH Patient Safety Award recognizes initiatives that best exemplify effective application and effort to improve patient care delivered within Critical Access Hospitals. This is the first year MCRH offered this award. It is the third year MCRH offered Quality Improvement Awards of Excellence. These awards acknowledge quality improvement efforts in inpatient clinical performance in the care and treatment of heart failure and pneumonia; outpatient clinical performance in the care and treatment of chest pain; and improving care related to emergency department transfers.

“Hayes Green Beach has shown exceptional commitment to providing their patients with high quality health care,” said John Barnas, executive director of the Michigan Center for Rural Health. “We are pleased to sponsor this award and recognize the dedication of hospital staff to provide the right care to the right patient each and every time.”

“These kinds of recognition validate the efforts HGB makes to ensure consistent, quality care is delivered 100 percent of the time,” said Matt Rush, FACHE, HGB president and CEO. “It takes every single person on our team to carry out our goals to promote a healthy, vital community.”

Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital has been the community’s choice for health care for more than 75 years. HGB is committed to working together in health to provide quality care and enhance the vitality of the community. It has expanded its vision beyond providing traditional hospital services to one that promotes health and well-being through AL!VE. Learn more about HGB atwww.hgbhealth.com and AL!VE at www.myalive.com.

Currently, more than 75 percent of the sodium we consume comes from packaged or prepared foods, and sodium levels are high in many restaurant foods. Statistics presented in the CDC report underscore the urgency of reducing sodium in the U.S. food supply. Experts agree that people in certain population groups, such as those who either have high blood pressure or who are at high risk of developing it, should aim for a sodium target of less than 1500 mg a day. Ninety-eight percent of the people in the highest risk groups, which include African-Americans, older adults (51+) and persons with hypertension, diabetes, or chronic disease, are not achieving that goal.

“However, we believe this CDC report is too conservative in its suggestion that only 47.6 percent of American adults fit into the population group that should be consuming no more than 1500 mg a day of sodium,” says Gordon Tomaselli, M.D., president of the American Heart Association, and the Michel Mirowski, M.D., professor of cardiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. “With the direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular disease already at $444 billion a year and rising, and with high blood pressure the single largest driver of those costs, this suggestion doesn’t go far enough to address either the human or economic burden that our excessive intake of salt costs. Other countries have realized this and are addressing it aggressively.”

The American Heart Association believes that many more Americans should heed a target sodium intake of 1500 mg a day or less. “Given that most of us — as many as 90% — will develop high blood pressure with age, we all should be consuming less than 1500 mg a day of sodium, unless your healthcare provider has told you that this doesn’t apply to you,” says Clyde Yancy, M.D., former American Heart Association president and the Magerstadt professor of medicine and chief of the division of cardiology; Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine; Chicago, Illinois.