A Positive Community
By Judy B. Rosener Ph.D. (topic expert: Community)

"Friends help friends stay fat" was a headline a few months ago. Seems the New England Journal of Medicine found that friends effectively sabotage each other. They influence each other to avoid breaking from their normal eating and non-activity behaviors. It was a sobering study and when I bring it up in talks, everyone nods their heads, "yes, it is so true."

We've all experienced the vicious cycle of overeating, lack of exercise and the seemingly never ending psychological downward spiral. At WalkStyles, we've started the virtuous cycle, where one good thing leads to another. Maybe it sounds a little hokey (and a little like Star Wars), but I've always believed in the positive side of the force.

Clearly, negativity is permeating throughout our economy now. But, I for one, am getting extremely tired of it. Turn on the car radio and all you hear is all the depressing thing happening in this community, this country, this world. You'll hear political factions bashing whomever is in power just because saying news bites is easier than rolling up their sleeves and figuring out what is best for the people. You'll hear about CEOs who made zillions of dollars and refuse to take responsibility for their poor actions. And, finally, you'll hear of the recycled "brilliant" Wall Street titans who caused the problems and are now getting new high paying jobs to solve the issues. Okay, I've vented and from now on, let's be positive!

How do we start? From today on:

• Smile at everyone we pass on the street. Yes, we'll find (and you know this, too) that people smile back.
• Let at least one car ahead of us. Smile and wave them in. It will feel so good.
• Do one random act of kindness each day and don't tell anyone about it. (That will be the hardest part!)
• Reach out to at least one person in our lives that we haven't had time to connect with recently. It could be a two line email. It will brighten both of our days.
• Say hello to the mailman, UPS person, exterminator, or whomever comes by, and ask them about their day. And, we will actually listen to their response.
• Take at least one 20 minute walk with a friend, loved one (and that can be our dogs.) We will get outside and walk. If the weather is horrible, we will go to a mall or be side by side on treadmills, or just jog together inside. We'll find our whole day is brighter because of that 20 minutes. Our bodies will be happy with the exercise and we will have become closer to the other person.
• Spend 20 minutes just on us. If possible, we will take a walk by ourselves. We will focus on the positive things in our lives. We will look at the trees, the ice on the eaves, the water, the flowers, the snow, whatever and appreciate the beauty.

And finally, we will do the happy dance each day! I don't know where it started but every morning and several of times in the day, when something tickles me or someone needs cheering up, I do a crazy little jig. It feel young and fun and if there is someone else around they can't help but smile. Try it. Do the happy dance! If all world leaders happy danced more and shouted less, we would be at peace. Okay, maybe not, but I did say I lived on the positive side of the force. So, let's smile more, be kind more, listen more, walk more, and dance more. From now on, it will be such a positive experience being around "us!"