Your Heart Matters

July 30, 2009

Something terrific happened this morning while Grace and I were enjoying our morning walk on the ditch.

Two women approached us, coming from the opposite direction. I had seen them several times in the past, typically in the afternoons, but that was before summer arrived. They walk at a fast pace, as intent on the exercise as they are in the animated conversations they share. One of the women looked as though exercise was a relatively new habit, while the other appeared fit and as though she is the “cheerleader”.

I had not seen them for a couple of months, I realized. I noticed immediately that the woman who just months prior was seemingly new to exercise had clearly lost weight and changed her shape! She looked marvelous!

As we met up on the trail, we exchanged pleasantries about the cool morning temperatures, how hot it would be later in the day, and crazy Grace with the soccer ball imbedded in her mouth. I commented with exuberance over the changed appearance of the new walker, and she with well-deserved pride told me that she had lost over 30 pounds by eating well and adding in a routine physical activity program. How fantastic.

The cheerleader then said “You’re Robin, aren’t you? Your business is HeartMatters”! Surprised but pleased, I confessed to her acknowledgment and I asked how she knew about me. Excitedly, she recounted that she had heard me speak twice in the past few months—in early Spring, I had presented at a Soroptimist luncheon, and more recently, the Nevada County Association of Realtors had invited me to speak at their quarterly business meeting. This woman had happened to be at both of those presentations!

The focus of the program for the Soroptimist group had been bringing balance into our lives; women tend to take care of others first, allowing themselves to be last on the priority list. I discussed the opportunity to shift this way of life, as well as strategies to find time during the busy day to sit quietly and create a state of relaxation, to choose real foods that support physical and emotional health, and to establish a routine physical activity program.

The Association of Realtors presentation had a different theme; called Your Heart Matters, I addressed the opportunity to decrease risk factors that lead to disease states (cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes to name a few), and focused on behavior change. The key elements were deep breathing to increase mindfulness and relaxation, positive affirmation, and small step goal achievement.

Back to the conversation with these two fellow walkers… the woman who in the past had seemed to be a newbie to walking, excitedly offered this, “Oh yes, she [her walking mate, the cheerleader] told us all about what you said, about breathing, about setting small step goals, about eating real food…”; “Yes”, said the cheerleader, “you gave us great information and each day I breathe to relax, and to lower my blood pressure! It’s been very helpful.”

I was truly touched, not only by the recognition, but more so by the fact that I had been able to impact the life of a Nevada County community member. What an honor it is for me to share my knowledge with others, and to know that in that sharing comes a motivation, a forward movement towards optimal health. For that opportunity, I am grateful.

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Robin Mallery

Robin Mallery is passionate about food! Starting from where and how it's grown, to how far that food travels to the dinner table, to how it is prepared and savored...Robin blends shopping, cooking, and eating tips with her unique Kitchen Zen and mindful meals approach to enjoying real food.

While you are waiting for her to finish the upcoming book, "Kitchen Zen: The Journey to Nourish Body and Soul in Our Changing World", you can find Robin's sporadic blog posts here or on FaceBook.