By MP Wilkerson

Dr. Marji Mengedoht’s photograph smiles down from the bulletin board in Bishop Gadsden’s Wellness Center as if blessing those exercising on the NuStep, a machine that exercises both arms and legs. She has received the Center’s Spirit of Wellness award, which honors a person who exemplifies Bishop Gadsden’s wellness philosophy, which she does through her positive attitude, determination, and the encouragement of others.

The Spirit of Wellness, a new award, is the brainchild of Wellness Manager Nathan Calhoun and his staff. Given four times a year, the award honors a person who exemplifies the many aspects of wellness, shows how exercise is beneficial for everyone regardless of age or physical limitations, and encourages others within the community to explore new activities on their wellness journey. The award recipient serves as a “wellness ambassador” of sorts. The first Spirit of Wellness award was given this past spring to Dr. Jack Hisley, whose positive attitude, ability to navigate challenges and personal commitment to health and wellness earned him the recognition.

According to Nathan, “Wellness is not about perfection, strict rules or participating in activities that are not enjoyable. It is about acknowledging and gaining an understanding of all the dimensions of health and how it relates to one’s wellness journey.”

Dr. Marji has faced challenges head on and her commitment to health and wellness during these times is a testament to the benefit of exercise in difficult situations. “Wellness means feeling good to be alive,” said Dr. Marji, “and the way to achieve that is through exercise, exercise, and exercise and eating properly. It is easy to say but hard to do, especially if you have one of the aging processes happen in your body. These can be shocking and gradual but devastating. You enjoy living and suddenly things start changing and you have to deal with it”. This happened to her in 2015 when her heart stopped five times in four hours. “I thought this is it but it wasn’t. God had another plan. I figure if he didn’t take me I needed to figure out what to do to get better so I can see what his plan is”.

So Dr. Marji started going to the Wellness Center even though she believed her life was almost at an end to see how she could benefit. “I started with the NuStep and as I grew stronger, I added classes and other machines and activities to my program,” she said. “The Wellness Center and the exercise programs for me to participate in made me feel good, that life was worth living. And perhaps that is the plan, for me to help other people grab hold of what they have to overcome and meet crises that arise, and find out how exercise can do wonderful things.”

• Physical Wellness refers to your body’s health.
• Emotional Wellness pertains to your ability to recognize, process and express your different emotions.
• Intellectual Wellness involves mental stimulation and lifelong learning.
• Spiritual Wellness relates to your sense of purpose and connection to something greater.
• Environmental Wellness focuses on your surroundings and how they impact your well-being.
• Social Wellness involves healthy relationships and social connections.
• Occupational Wellness is about community living, committees and volunteering.