NOVEMBER
is
ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS
Month!
Environmental Wellness is the ability to recognize our own responsibility for the quality of the air,
the water and the land that surrounds us. The ability to make a positive impact on the quality of our
environment, be it our homes, our communities or our planet contributes to our Environmental Wellness.
Dr. Charles Parrott enjoying a bike ride
Lee Brown enjoys the Kirby gardens
We may not think much about Environmental Wellness as part of an overall wellness plan, but our
environment and how we feel about it can have a huge impact on the way we feel overall.
Environmental well-being includes trying to live in harmony with the Earth by understanding the
impact of your interaction with nature and your personal environment, and taking action to protect
the world around you. Protecting yourself from environmental hazards and minimizing the negative
impact of your behavior on the environment are also central elements.
Leading a lifestyle that is respectful to our environment and minimizes any harm done to it is a
critical part of environmental wellness. Examples of environmental threats include air pollution,
ultraviolet radiation in the sunlight, chemicals, noise, water pollution, and second-hand smoke.
Achieving Environmental Wellness
Environmental wellness involves a number of different aspects of personal and societal
responsibilities, including:
•
Being aware of the earth’s natural resources and their respective limits
•
Living a life accountable to environmental needs, both in the present and in the long-term
•
Understanding the impact environment has on well-being, positively and negatively
•
Realizing the effects of their daily habits on the world around them
Are you engaged in the process of environmental wellness?
•
Do I recycle?
•
If I see a safety hazard, do I take the steps to fix the problem?
•
Do I volunteer time to worthy causes?
•
Am I aware of my surroundings at all times?
If you answered “No” to any of the questions, it may indicate an area where you need to improve
the state of your environmental wellness.
Here are a few ways to improve environmental wellness?
•
Turn off water tap - stop unnecessary water flow
•
Turn off electrical appliances when not in use - unplug to conserve and save money
•
Do your part to recycle and purchase recycled/biodegradable goods products
•
Go green and use more “green” cleaning supplies and natural pesticides
• 8 •
The Pinecone
|
November 2014
Faye Webb
Congratulations
emp l o y ee o f t h e mon t h
Faye is always busy on her assignments. She has a very warm and pleasant personality.
Faye anticipates the needs in her area, and then gets started working on a solution long before
she is presented with the opportunity!
Faye makes excellent, proficient use of her time. When she cleans rooms, she wipes down
the equipment without being asked. Many employees could learn from her example on how
to be organized and plan ahead like she does! Faye makes everyone’s day go smoother as she
is also the quintessential example of what “doing it right the first time” truly means!
-
Daniel Longstreth , Director of Environmental Services
