Saturday 1 August 2015

1st of August

For some, the 1st of August is Yorkshire Day (have a look at Neil's blog for more information). So far, somehow I have never managed to be in Yorkshire for the day, even though I have been going there regularly every year since I first met my husband (a Yorkshire lad) in the year 2000. If you are new to my blog, you'll find plenty of pictures and descriptions from my days and weeks there by simply typing "Yorkshire" in the search box at the top left corner of this blog.

Of course, around the world, every day in the calendar has a different meaning in different places, although there are some that are globally recognized, such as Christmas (but even that can differ for the disciples of various churches) and New Year (again: Chinese New Year is months later than the 1st of January, generally observed in Western countries).

Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that the 1st of August is also National Girlfriends Day.
Did you know this? I only learned about it recently, when I heard about a campaign from Oscar Health Insurance Company I think that this post of mine matches the idea of National Girlfriends Day perfectly, so I wanted to write a bit about the day because it is important among friends (and strangers, too) to support each other, even in small ways.


My thoughts on this? OK, here goes:
For example, one of my friends and I regularly go to the gym together. We usually meet on Mondays and Fridays, as these incidentally are the days when both of us are the most flexible for when we can leave work; I often work from home then and can pretty much come and go as I please (a huge luxury, I know!).
With another friend, I go running once a week. We both enjoy those runs just as much for the catching up with each other chat-wise as for the exercise and good feeling it gives us after a long day spent at a desk.

Have I ever actively encouraged a (girl)friend to see her doctor for a checkup? Yes, definitely. And I try to be regular with the usual stuff myself (although not always successful), especially since I've had a few false alerts over the past 10 years or so, and in 2010 needed minor surgery when it was not a false alert.
Everything is fine now with me, healthwise, and I hope it to stay that way for many years to come. I never tire of stressing how important it is that we do our part to keep healthy; I am not a fitness fanatic, and I love my food (especially the "unhealthy" stuff such as bread and cheese, and chocolate), but I contribute to my own well-being in small, inexpensive ways. As a reward, now that I am 47, I am fitter and in better shape than when I was 27.

12 comments:

  1. Great initiative and blog post Mieke. Carol

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  2. I did not know about this, and now shared it on face book! A great idea........My friends and I are all at an age when we see our doctors several times a year and I believe we all keep up on all the tests.....I belong to a gym with a current channel to walk in, but I need to do it more often!

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    1. Thank you for sharing this with your friends, Kristi.

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  3. Each year when i get my regular exams, i do post letting people know i did, and encouraging them to make their own appointments if needed. If my stubborn self can do it, anyone can.

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    1. You are so right! It's a good way of encouraging your friends to not neglect their regular check-ups..

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  4. I try to walk in nature as much as I can and encourage everyone I know to do so. It is important to get check ups. My Dad is 88 now and is married to a registered nurse. That is a good idea too!

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    1. A good idea indeed, Kay :-)
      Yes, walking in nature - actually using your legs and feet and not just the four wheels of a car - is the best thing anyone can do to keep in good health, mentally as well as physically.

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  5. Whoever would believe that bread and cheese, and chocolate are not healthy foods? Not I, that's for sure. Okay. Perhaps chocolate isn't too healthy if you eat a bar a day. But cheese is definitely healthy. I have to believe that!

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    1. Some people consider all carbohydrates unhealthy; "low carb" or even carb-free diets have become on vogue over the past five years or so. Bread is, of course, high carb - and I love it! Cheese and chocolate - well, that's fat, and fat plus sugar (carbs!)... therefore, again unhealthy.
      But you know what? I don't care! I enjoy both, and I neither look nor feel unfit :-)

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    2. Meike please try to stop confusing me with facts and reality. I want to live in my own little dream world where these things are healthy. (And like, you, physically I'm not too bad for my age: I'm reasonably slim and my cholesterol and blood pressure are perfect).

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    3. I gladly join you in your dream world, Graham, where bread, cheese and chocolate are all good for you! Just look at us - we are the living proof of this being a healthy diet :-)

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