Last week, in Vermont, we went on our annual prize patrol.
This is one of my favorite days! We gather up awesome party fixin’s and a hefty gift certificate for outdoor gear. One lucky school employee out of 17,000 in this particular PATH group will win that certificate and we must move fast to surprise her.
Oh what a fabulous surprise it always is! Once I was nearly tackled by an ecstatic thank-you. Let’s face it, though, people don’t sign up for this wellness program because of the odds of winning.
People honestly do this for the community, the accountability and the joy of it all. The prize is the icing and my chance to spend time with our participants in their happiest moments. Here are some highlights of what I’ve learned…
First, we must choose to believe the best about people. Every winner over the past 20 years has been extraordinary, profoundly deserving. All are deeply committed to wellness and sincere in trying to achieve their goals; as opposed to shirking the system for free swag or points. Odds are that means most participants are equally dedicated, deserving, and resolute.
Second, efforts to live healthy create meaningful stories everywhere we go; in work or in the personal journey. My favorite this time was from Sharon Davison (Ms. D), a Kindergarten teacher at Allen Brook school in Williston, Vermont. She told me she now has a station in her classroom where kids can go and do “stretchy band” exercises to get re-centered or recharged. She said, “It’s so interesting when you introduce a cool new tool that hits with people (even at 5-6 years old) and suddenly, quite simply, it just becomes what we do.”
It’s what we do. And it’s infectious.
After the prize was awarded, we hung out to watch employees partake in a kick-off of a new program called “Have a Blast.” The program offers ideas for 15 minute blasts of exercise, eating well, or breathing (de-stressing) for more energy; the brain-child of the school district’s staff wellness champion, David Peckinpaugh. It included 15 minute recipes. I had to escape being trampled by working moms grasping for these like free floating $100 bills. They told David their barriers to wellness, he listened and acted, and they showed up to give it a try. There’s that village notion again.
It’s what we do. And it’s a revolution.
Vermont’s not perfect; our obesity rate grew over the past 20 years just like every other state in America, but the rate has been slower and remains well below others. Dare I boast more? Okay. According to CBS news and the CDC, we are the skinniest state in the nation hosting the healthiest US city (Burlington). Yeah, it’s even who we are.
These are exciting times! We do it and live it because we care. That same morning, at a breakfast meeting, Vermont’s attorney general, William Sorrell spoke: “They say the next generation will be the first to end up less healthy than their parents. By 2050 over 80 percent of us will be overweight… If so, shame on us… We can change this… This is really doable — in our legislature, in our homes. The time is right now.” Thanks for all you’re doing Bill (check out his Healthy Weight Initiatives)!
From Kindergarten teacher to state’s attorney general, we’re on the move; however grand, however small. It’s what we do, darn it!
I’m so proud to be on that PATH with thousands of Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire school employees. Thank you for leading the future of our nation toward better health and an extraordinary new way of life.
See you on the PATH Ahead.