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Small Steps to Big Changes

I sure love spring—our hills are green, flowers are blooming, and freshness is in the air!

Spring is a time for “out with the old and in with the new!” It’s a time to pull those old clothes out of the closet, spiff up the garage, and even turn over the garden to plant summer veggies.

Yep, everything about spring says it’s time to live well, live large!

To help you on your quest to live well, HealthyMendocino.org just launched a great new resource guide called, “Small Steps to Big Changes.” The website lists local resources where folks can find ideas to improve their overall health and wellness. The main categories include Move More, Eat Well, and Be Creative. The information is online at healthymendocino.org/smallsteps and is designed to improve access to and engagement in health-building activities.

The idea is simple: provide opportunities for people to take small steps towards healthy alternatives. Over time, these small steps will add up to BIG changes!

North Coast Opportunities’ Nutrition Basics Program Manager Tarney Sheldon says, “Whether someone has decided to move more for the first time in a long time, or to add more fruits and vegetables into their meals, Small Steps to Big Changes will provide ideas for where to begin.”

The guide lists health and wellness resources from all over Mendocino County–everything from walking trails and healthy eating workshops to whale watching spots, fitness retreats, and dance classes. If someone is feeling stressed out and needs new ideas for incorporating more creativity and self-care into their lives, the resource guide has ideas for that as well.

As Tarney says, “There is something for everyone! The power of small steps is that they can take us to big goals. Each time we take a small step, we gain momentum towards creating healthy habits.”

A few weeks ago, I had a chance to preview this new resource guide. I hope you take some time to check it out, too.

Want to know where to go on a hike with the family? Or maybe where you can find a dog park or do a little disc golfing? It’s right there in the Move More section.

Want to take a cooking class or find out where to find a farmer’s market for healthy organic food? Or maybe you you’d like to find a local food bank. It’s all right there in the Eat Well section.

You may even be looking for great local music or live theater. Yep, it’s in there, too, in the Be Creative section.

Teacher Appreciation Week

Some of the people who help us all learn to take small steps for big results are our teachers and this week is National Teacher Appreciation Week. I did not want to pass up the opportunity to thank our teachers for their commitment to our community.

Lilly Tomlin once said, “I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.” During this week, this quote seemed especially relevant. When you think about it, few professions touch as many people in as profound a way as teachers.

We are fortunate here in Ukiah that, from kindergarten to junior college, our community hosts a wide array of educational opportunities taught by incredible teachers who devote their entire careers to helping our children develop the skills that allow them to achieve so many great things. 

I am truly grateful for the dedicated teachers within our community and National Teacher Day is a great time to celebrate the many contributions our educators make. So if you know a teacher, say thanks, because it is teachers who ultimately teach us that the biggest of journeys start with a single step.

As always, our mission at UPD is simple: to make Ukiah as safe as possible. If you have suggestions on how we can improve please feel free to call me. If you would like to know more about crime in your neighborhood, you can sign up for telephone, cell phone and email notifications by clicking the Nixle button on our website: www.ukiahpolice.com. 

By: Chris Dewey - Chief of Police


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