Kent MacDonald: An End to a Means

Posted on Thursday, April 18th, 2013

I recently asked a group of staff and faculty to raise their hands if they believed that life would slow down in the coming years. The only response I received was a few quiet laughs and many rolling eyes.

I think most people believe our hectic pace will continue and that most of us also worry, from time to time, about what this reality is doing to our lives, our families, our efficacy at work and the overall health of our community. The irony in this dilemma is that most of us also understand what needs to be done to put balance back into our lives; we know that a more healthy lifestyle can help counter the stresses of our busy 21st century lives and can increase our overall level of personal and life satisfaction.

So the question is not, ‘Do we know what has to be done to create a more healthy lifestyle’, but rather ‘What are we prepared to do to enhance wellness in ourselves and in our College community’? It is certainly a question many others are better qualified to answer than I. Nevertheless, my story is actually a simple one. One that is grounded in a simple decision I made last winter to commit to a medium-term, achievable goal.

So with that introduction, I was asked to share my perspective to enhancing wellness, and I do so from the east coast of Mexico where I am currently on annual leave.

Last January, I set a goal to spend 12 days climbing the eastern mountains of this beautiful country. A commitment to eat and drink less while training more was made easier by establishing a realistic time line and measurable goals that were understood and supported by my family.

Although I feel somewhat inadequate in writing an article about wellness, my best advice to Algonquin staff and faculty who want to create a more healthy, balanced life is to look out 6-12 months, establish a stretch goal, something you would love to achieve, create milestones along the path to keep you on track and finally, commit to achieving your goal by sharing it with someone who can support you and push you along the way.

Enjoy Wellness Weak and good luck!


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