Buddha is credited with stating that every human being is the author of his own health or disease. In other words, the choices we make, or do not make for that matter, determine our level of health and general well-being. We should all strive to live healthy lifestyles, yet I will be the first to admit that finding the time to attend to these important matters is absurdly difficult despite how important it is. One of the reasons for this struggle is our tendency to create excuses. My personal favorite is that there is no time left for me to engage in physical activities.

Our societal roles demand our attention and hinder our motivation to exercise, and knowing how to eat healthier foods or attending to spiritual and mental health is a challenge given our daily pace of living. However, it is possible to move towards positive change, especially when there are resources at our disposal to assist us. The first step is to rid the tendency to make excuses.

It is inevitable that at some point in our lives we may encounter stress in some form or another. Personal problems as well as anxiety provoking situations may cause us to feel overwhelmed, yet help is definitely available. For instance, our Counseling Center, a subdivision of the Health Services Department, provides assistance for a variety of life issues including help with time management, dealing with anxiety or depression, improving academic performance, and giving assistance for eating disorders, substance abuse and relationship problems.

For those that want to engage in physical exercise, the Beacon Fitness Center is the place to go. Membership is free to all students, the hours of operation are convenient, and personalized guidance is available by staff members to help you get started. If you are looking for general health information, our student electronic magazine, Health 101, is packed with up-to-date information about many health related topics that affect people in college. I encourage you to go to the health services website and sign up to receive the magazine via email.

Lastly, the General Medicine Department provides primary care, women’s health services, and a limited number of specialty services to help with health maintenance or existing medical conditions.

The time to start is now. The benefits are plentiful. Decide that today is the day that you will take the necessary steps to improve your quality of life. We often ignore the present, preferring instead to dwell in the past or ponder things in the future at the expense of the only moment we ever have, the precious now. Buddha also taught, “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment”.

Decide today to create healthier lifestyle choices and utilize the supports available here at UMB.

Remember that living a healthy lifestyle is a choice. You are the author of your health; decide wisely.