EDITORIAL

Have you ever been on a mountaintop and taken in a deep breath as you gazed across the stunning horizon? If so, you have probably experienced the power of a simple breath of fresh air. The clean mountain air and the stunning landscapes combine to create a positive mental and physiological impact. You actually feel a physical relaxation and a mental satisfaction as you take it all in.

The late author Stephen Covey wrote about the importance of self-renewal in his best-selling book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” What he called sharpening the saw many others refer to as healthy coping mechanisms. Activities such a prayer, meditation, physical exercise, or simply enjoying the splendor of nature go a long way in reducing stress. If we don’t take time to recharge our batteries, our daily responsibilities can become like trying to saw a log in half with a very dull blade.

Mental and physical health have always been important, but never more so than today. High demand, fast paced lifestyles can result in poor dietary and exercise habits. Some perceive themselves as too busy to engage in healthy self-renewal activities and regrettably slip into unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with stress and anxiety. America is plagued with an epidemic of childhood diabetes. Heart disease and strokes afflict far too many of our friends and family members. We know that healthy diet and exercise habits can combat these afflictions, but healthy coping mechanisms are also incredibly important.

Just as individuals suffer when they do not live healthy lifestyles, organizations also suffer if they have unhealthy cultures. The “Culture of Caring” at Weatherford College is love in action. Our faculty and staff go the extra mile for our students in a kind, caring manner. We do more than provide our students with employable skill sets, we genuinely care for them and help them to become even better human beings.

The Weatherford College employee wellness program is designed to help those who help our students. Our employees are encouraged to live healthy lifestyles and to schedule annual vacations. These vacations can be powerful supporters of mental and physical health, especially when coupled with a healthy diet and regular exercise. An occasional vacation, when paired with healthy daily habits, increases our ability to be productive employees and citizens.

We make time for what is important to us in life. Few things are more important than our personal health and our ability to positively impact the people around us. Perhaps we could become even more productive and positive if we collectively paused occasionally for a deep breath of fresh air. 

Tod Allen Farmer

President, Weatherford College