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WELLNESS COUNCIL
With sincere gratitude and thankfulness, the Wellness Council presented each of our Colorado County 911 Operators a gift card to Lamberto’s Italian Restaurant and a plaque with the 911 Dispatcher prayer today at our monthly meeting. These dispatchers play an invaluable role in our community, and because November is the month to be grateful, it seemed most appropriate to honor these ladies. They are quite literally the first to respond. They are the first person someone speaks to when they have an emergency, and these intelligent, dedicated and professional operators are the calm voice in the storm for anyone who is seeking help, whether it be for a medical emergency, fire or a need for law enforcement. They may never meet the people they help, know the outcome of their emergency or ever receive a thank you, but rest assured they are there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week utilizing their experience to save lives. We are so grateful and thankful for their service!
Our speakers shared their experiences on how our mind, body and souls are positively impacted when we make gratitude and thankfulness a regular part of our lives. Patsy Hodge from The Columbus Education Foundation talked about being part of a scientific study that measured the chemical and physical changes in the brain when being thankful. She shared that people setting aside 10 minutes a day to be grateful report sleeping better, feeling more relaxed, less anxious and are more aware of the little things around us that we often take for granted.
Natalie Keen, PT from Columbus Physical therapy helped us understand how focusing on making eye contact, actively listening, en- gaging with people and taking care of our bodies through good nutrition and exercise are expressions of gratitude for others and ourselves. These actions create a ripple effect for ourselves and all the people we come into contact with.
Deacon Andy Nunmaker from St Roch’s Catholic Church shared with us the thankfulness he found for Jesus in his life by imagining being present in scripture as a bystander. He explained how journaling those experiences and prayer has a positive impact on our souls. Give it a try. Be thankful!
The Wel lness Council announced at our monthly meeting on Nov. 13 that we are donating $5,000 to the Columbus Education Foundation. Our hope is that this donation, coupled with matching funds, provides financial assistance to deserving students seeking advanced education in trade schools, colleges and universities. Advancing these students’ goals has a long-term impact on the overall wellbeing of the community. We are pleased to be a part of the efforts of the Columbus Education Foundation and encourage the community to check out their website and learn more about how you too can contribute: columbuseducationfoundation.
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