When it comes down to it...

Happiness is what matters. Period. The End. 

Ian Alexander Cohn as Mr. MacLaren!

What a week. First of all, I wrapped up one of my biggest events of the year last Saturday! Second, our son was in his high-school play (if you are not familiar with high school musicals, I can only say that 15 hour days leading up to the production is customary)...and third, we're full steam ahead with planning the wedding! (oh, you may not know about this, but we'll be hosting a wedding mid-May at our home! More details in a future post!)

Today I had a chance to breathe, to sit for what seemed like a moment and think about what really matters. As a family, we work hard to create a safe, welcoming and accepting home. We talk openly at our dinner table about many topics including religion, sexual orientation, and politics. We laugh, we contemplate each others thoughts and reasoning's and more than anything else, we listen to and respect each other. Because...well...we're family.

Mackenzie Cohn as
The Happy Cat Lady!

This week I watched my young adult children form and appreciate their own versions of "family" and carry on our tradition of welcoming and acceptance. From my daughter being welcomed into her best friends family and being kissed on the cheek by "grandma" celebrating her 73rd birthday, to my son sharing heartwarming stories of the bonding of the cast and crew he was able to be a part of.

Happy is not an emotion that all know. I find comfort in knowing that we have given the gift of happiness to our children. They seek it and appreciate it...but first and foremost, they know it.

Mr. and Mrs. Cohn as Happy :)

Because, really, when it comes down to it, happiness is what really matters. How do you find your happy?

Be healthy, be well,
Meredith
www.primalwellnesscoach.com

A day late, and hey guess what? I'm short!

Me and my guys at the 33rd Annual
Capital Region Heart Ball!

What's up, everyone? If you are keeping track, for the second week in a row I'm late with this blog. For those of you who know me and/or have been following this blog for a bit you may know that I work full time as a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. This past weekend was my biggest event and so I'm letting myself off the hook and not beating myself up about being a day late with this post.

So that explains the first half of the title, the second half and the real message of this post has to do with body image and the importance of self love. When it comes to wellness I don't think I can be more clear with my message of self-worth and self love being just as important as what you put in your mouth and how often you move your body!

I pack a little over 100 pounds on a just about 4' 11" frame (and ladies I say a little over 100 pounds because I could say 103 or 108 and depending on what time of day it was I would be absolutely correct!) I consider myself petite, in great physical shape, and highly confident. But for some reason I've taken note over the past few weeks that there's been a handful of individuals that have made it their responsibility to remind me just how short I am. From a complete stranger who walked by me just the other day, looked at me, shook his head and utter the words "man, you're short"...to somebody that I have been corresponding with via phone and email for the past several months saying, when we finally met face to face, "oh my goodness I didn't realize how short you were!" My reaction to the first scenario was a bit of confusion and then of course I laughed it off. To the second scenario, I had a witty comeback saying something about how my big personality makes up for my small stature. I again, ended up laughing it off. (I'll spare you the you look like a little kid, she's not a dwarf, and the you must be shrinking, stories!)

Me, making my son take a picture of
me next to this tiny door so I could
make short jokes about myself!

So, you may be thinking right now, "she is just sensitive", or "lighten up",  or "have a sense of humor",  so maybe I should have prefaced this post by saying I am in no way sensitive to my height. I have been 4' 11" since I was 12 years old. I embrace it, to me it's one of my signature features (like my loud, mildly annoying voice)! I wasn't made fun of in my most impressionable years and I don't have a Napoleon complex. I often make jokes about running though peoples legs vs. fighting my way though crowds and how I'm an expert at warning people that they have "bats in the cave"...I have the best view for it. 

But what if I was sensitive? For whatever reason? 

I guess my point is that we all come in different shapes, sizes and colors. We all have different physical attributions, different hair colors or even no hair at all! People will take note of (and even comment on) things about you. Most of the time, it's a neutral observation or even a well intended joke. The bottom line is that it's YOUR job to be confident with who you are. There's a saying, "It's none of your business what other people think of you", and I completely agree! So rock your 6' 8" body, small boobs, gray hair, bodacious booty and unique style!!! Make it your signature feature! You do YOU, like no one else can!

Be healthy, be well,

Meredith

www.primalwellnesscoach.com

Lessons from a 45 year old.

Family is everything. Happy Birthday To Me!

On Friday I turned 45. They say that age is just a number, and I agree to some extent, but I also think you need to appreciate how much you’ve already gotten out of life and how much there still is to get. For me, both reflection and planning my future helps me live happiest, in the present moment. So as much as I hate the term “Mid-Life”, I’ll except that I’m here. And since I’m here, I’ll wear the badge of experience and knowledge. Here are just a few lessons I’ve learned…so far:

Mortality - we’ll start with this one to get it out of the way…but the older I get, as great as I feel, I understand that our time on earth is limited. It can be taken away at any time, without any notice. We need to appreciate every day we’re given. Some days are tougher than others, but every day is a gift. Tell the people in your life you love them, give your time to those who need it and find gratitude in every day.


Humbleness – it’s ok to be proud of your accomplishments, to take care of yourself, and to believe that your potential is limited by only your own thoughts and beliefs, but seriously, nobody likes an arrogant, self-absorbed, blow-hard. (haha, I love that word.)

Birthday Dinner! I'm so lucky to have these people in my life.

Your body needs to be taken care of - At 45, I may be in the best shape of my life. I am not as skinny as I was at 22, but my body is strong. This didn’t happen by chance. I work out hard 3-4 times a week. I do my best to avoid ingesting chemicals by eating a whole foods, plant based diet. I get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. If I ever get off track (and I do!), I feel it. Everything we do to our bodies and put into our bodies has an impact on our health...maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually. Treat it right, you have just one.

Love yourself first – I am in love with the saying, “you can’t pour from an empty cup”…and I seriously believe this. If you are not happy in your life, if you are not taking care of you, how can you give to others fully? Taking care of you can be anything you feel gives you a recharge. For me its exercise, for others it may be 30 minutes by themselves sipping their favorite tea. It may be a massage, a pedicure, a shopping trip with your girlfriends…whatever it is, do it, and do it often.

My Loves.

Dreams don't come true unless you make them - just thinking about wanting something doesn't mean you'll get it. Sure, it’s great to dream, to imagine greater success, more money, better relationships, a healthier body, etc…but unless you are willing to set goals, break them down into manageable bite size tasks and do the work…you will get nowhere.

Sometimes the same thing that makes you cry will later make you laugh – stomach bugs, when your dog chews your favorite shoes (or the sofa, or the wall, or your niece's cell phone), an argument, falling in the mud, burned dinners, a flat tire in the rain. Sometimes it’s an hour later, sometimes a week, sometimes it takes years…but to find humor (or at the very least a lesson) in the “downs” of life is key.

Love isn’t always the answer – no matter how much you love someone, or they love you, there needs to be more. There needs to be mutual respect, understanding, forgiveness and communication. If any of these are missing from the equation, it may be best to walk away. This goes for friends, family and your partner.

There is no secret – happiness comes to those who chose it, whatever the circumstance.

Be healthy, be well

Meredith
www.primalwellnesscoach.com

Better Late than Never

This is how I felt On Sunday :(

Hi all….so whether you’ve noticed or not, I’m a little late with this post. You see for the past 2 months I’ve been adding weekly posts on Sunday evenings…but this past Sunday I was suffering from a stomach bug and just didn’t have the energy to write and publish a post. I’m not yet at the point where I have content developed and ready to go in this type of situation, but I hope to soon. Apologies to those who wait with baited breath! J

But seriously, this got me thinking. I could have tried to pull something mediocre together Sunday afternoon, typing in between…well, you know (being otherwise occupied, aka: puking), or I could have skipped the week entirely.

And then this got me thinking even more…we’re all faced with “hiccups” in our life. If you’ve read any of my recent blogs, you know about some of mine! We all have obligations and emergencies (both big and small) that can creep up at any time. We are tired, sick, stressed, overworked, pressured (externally and internally). We have every excuse in the world not to do what we need to do to put ourselves first and move our dreams forward.

Why do some people bounce and others have a hard time pulling themselves back together? It would have been so easy for me to skip a post, wait a week and chalk it up to “it is what it is” (I HATE THAT SAYING!!)…but for me, it’s a promise that I made to myself…a promise I made to you. 

Whatever our goals are, they start with the willingness to make a plan and stick to it. So tonight, feeling much better, I’m getting back on track and putting another message out there about wellness. It all goes back to consistency. It’s never too late to get back on track.

And if you think this doesn't have anything to do with health and wellness, read again...or don't.

Be healthy, be well

Meredith

www.primalwellnesscoach.com   

I’m sorry I pissed you off…

We're so quick to judge, right? We think the world is against us...that every negative thing happens to us because the universe is plotting to make us as miserable as possible...but what if it wasn't the universe? What if it was your neighbor, your co-worker, what if it was me?

I’m sorry I pissed you off…

I could have been the one going too slow in front of you on the highway today…I may have forgotten to use my blinker…I think I heard you honk, I may have seen a finger go up at me…

Or was I the one honking at you because you weren’t moving fast enough?

Perhaps I was the woman who rushed in front of you at the grocery store, sorry that made you mad.

Was I the one that pressed the wrong button on the elevator? We had to make 2 extra stops that day. 

You were late to your appointment, weren’t you?

Was I the one that took too long talking to the guy at the toll booth?

Maybe I was the one that needed some extra time at the deli counter.

I’m sorry I pissed you off…

You see, I was busy, in my own mind.

Waiting....

I was caught up in worry about my children…do you know how much I worry about them?

I was thinking about my job, and how if I don’t reach my goals I could potentially lose it…are you ever stressed about your job?

I was bringing a cup of coffee to a friend who was waiting for her husband to get out of surgery…I’m sorry if I seemed inpatient.

Or maybe it was the week I was waiting for my lab test results to come back, you know, the kind of results that could be life changing?

I was late for work.

I was lost.

I was trying to impress a client.

I’m sorry I pissed you off…

50 Years of Healthy

February 5, 1966

In April of 1965, Alexander Malachowski proposed to Theo Ashback and she said yes! The following February they were married. 50 years, 3 children, 8 grandchildren and countless extended family member and friends later they celebrate their love.

We had a wonderful evening at my parent’s favorite restaurant. The food and service were exceptional!

What started out as a cheeky “Not so Newly-Wed” game, turned into a sincere question and answer session where my parents shared some great lessons in love. There was a lot of laughter, and some sweet tears. My parents talked about acceptance, love and patience.

August 2015

Some of the grandchildren honored their grandparents and thanked them for countless rides to after school activities, and unconditional love and support. My brother in-law, on behalf of both my husband and my brother’s wife, thanked them for being a role model and in some instances a parent. It was a wonderful tribute.

I know that their lives together couldn’t have been easy all the time, but the example that they have set is being carried on. My brother, sister and I will all celebrate 25 years of marriage over the next year. Their grandchildren also see that lasting love is possible with hard work, dedication and yes, love.

So what, you may ask, does all of this have to do with wellness? Everything! You see, it is my philosophy that health and overall wellness comes from all areas of life.  Happiness in your career, spirituality, money, family, friends, leisure time, and yes, your life partner, all determine your overall wellness. Having someone support you, encourage you and want to help you makes all the difference.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Be healthy, be well,

Meredith
www.primalwellnesscoach.com

Confidence, Courage and Commitment...

I had a whole big post waiting to go today, but after seeing a recent Facebook post from my 22 year old beautiful daughter, I have put that aside and will highlight her story.

In a nutshell, Mackenzie, our first born, was a healthy infant, toddler and pre-teen…then, like so many teens, she struggled. She loved her Doritos, ice cream and fast food. Some of her friends could binge and not gain a pound. Some of her friends ate minuscule meals at school while she sat by and felt terrible that she was eating a “full lunch”. We never pressured, protested or pushed her to look a certain way. We loved (and love) her for exactly who she is. No Matter what.

I cringe when I think about my daughter’s challenges through high school.  We’ve talked a bit but I’m sure she has many more cringe worthy stories. The teenage years are rough. Enter college and…well, we all know that health and fitness are not a priority for most. 

But, through talks and positive influence, we made it less about “skinny” and more about “healthy”, I think when you put it in that perspective, it becomes a little easier. What do you want your quality of life to be when you get older? (Cuz you’re gonna get older)…What is your motivation for being healthy? Being able to dance all night at the clubs? Keep up with the hiking group? Running after a toddler? What? The minute you define WHY you want to be healthy, that’s when you can begin to make permanent change.

Here is our beautiful, confident, sassy daughter (both then and now), feeling and looking so healthy. This didn't happen overnight, ...30 pounds were lost over the course of a year. She had her ups and downs, she stuck with a plan. She didn't use potions or pills, she ate healthier and moved more. This is what 22 should be. This is what every age should be. You have the power to take control.

Cheers to you and your journey...It's a marathon, not a sprint. Smell the roses!