Hello VEHI PATH BLOG friends! We’re excited to announce we’re back to posting. Starting today we’ll be posting at least once a week on Wednesdays.
Who are we? What are we?
We’re still PATH, VEHI PATH, serving Vermont school employees for over 22 years. Our mission is to help you live your best life in a vibrant working community and at home. Why do we have such a mission? Together we strive to help Vermont schools stay strong and dynamic. The healthier our school staff, the stronger our schools both in financial stability and in efficacy.
Our posts?
We’ll keep them energetic and informative. Our plan is to bring you a little motivation backed by science and some practical application each week. We also hope to share your stories of how you’ve made changes over the years to stay strong and vibrant.
So let’s get to it…
This month we enjoyed National Walk @ Lunch Day sponsored by our friends at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont. A small group of us at VSBIT / VEHI journeyed out to Berlin Pond and walked a good clip. It was interesting to note a few tidbits…
There was a prize involved! We who walked didn’t know that would be so but were enthused along the route to learn the news. Why does swag romanticize an event? Free stuff has power for the same reason souvenirs matter. A token of reward allows us to savor our accomplishments and prolong the celebration. It’s about good memories being solidified and made available to be called upon in needier times.
Oh and why is it called swag? The jolly swag man was the fellow who stopped by to pick up your trash in old England. He’d put it to new uses. Hence the saying, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” This also applied to our Walk @ Lunch Day. Our walk around the pond was a gift and joy to us–gorgeous warm day, glistening water, blue sky, great company. For others who didn’t make it out, it would have been misery. We found ourselves wishing with all our might that this will change one day for everyone left behind. Everyone deserves the healing powers of brisk walk outside! Maybe one day they’ll walk past jolly swag man’s tinker tent and see a shiny trinket they never thought could exist among cast out rubbish. You never know.
Walking decreases bad cholesterol, increases good cholesterol, burns calories (in many cases as much if not more than running at the same speed), reduces blood pressure, stabilizes blood sugars, decreases inflammation, increase brain capacity and increases mood. That’s a pretty powerful package. Oh, and did we mention it’s free?
So spring has sprung and the rebirth of the VEHI PATH blog is here. Tell us your tales of wellness and let us share your inspiration. We’ll be the jolly swag man of today, repurposing your healthy moments into inspiring stories of healthy delight.
See you on the PATH Ahead!
Gillian and the VEHI PATH Team