Public health is many things. It is clean air and water, safe schools, mental health, emergency preparedness, addiction treatment, and prevention. The pandemic has brought attention to some aspects of public health, however there is so much more. Contending with an unyielding virus for the past two years has triggered change in how we work and play and live our lives. Change can be uncomfortable. Often, as we look back at change we see growth, and sometimes change lifts us to a better place.
One of the things I have learned the past two years is to use the quiet periods—times like this with few active cases locally—to prepare and do the work of prevention. Now is the time to fill our cups. Move more. Eat healthy. Practice self-care. Make sure you are up to date with vaccinations. This is a great time to think about how we move forward as families and communities. We can move forward literally as we commit to an active lifestyle. We can move our community forward as we embrace the principles of public health that promote healthy, resilient communities.
I feel gratitude for the many ways we have come together to support one another and strengthen our communities during this challenging period. There have been many individual and collective acts of kindness. I am also appreciative of the opportunity to reflect on the simple, essential parts of living a healthy life. I am especially grateful for a team and community that continues move forward.
