Matters of the Heart
Ah, February. The month of Valentine’s Day, World Day of Social Justice, Random Act of Kindness Day, Black History Month, and Heart Health Month. In these cold, dark days of winter, it’s easy to curl up and hibernate, leaving our hearts and minds on autopilot. But as Marc Parent said, “If January is the month of change, February is the month of lasting change. January is for dreamers…February is for doers.”
In this spirit, we wanted to share what we are doing at Action Mary to strengthen our hearts this winter, and heart-felt client work that inspires us.
Get our hearts pumping: Did you know that just 20-30 minutes of physical activity per day can have major benefits to your heart health? Johns Hopkins School of Medicine breaks down three types of exercise to support your heart, including aerobic (brisk walking, running, jumping rope, cycling), resistance training (lifting weights, push-ups, squats) and flexibility (stretching, yoga, tai chi). At Action Mary, Alexa Weber (Account Supervisor) takes her French Bulldog on walks and Chelsea Consolacion (Account Coordinator) loves cycling classes. From the client side, we work with Bowflex to raise awareness about the holistic benefits of exercise, and how we can all exercise more effectively.
Eat for our hearts: For the sixth year in a row, the Mediterranean diet was ranked the best overall diet by the U.S. News & World Report. This diet, which has been praised for supporting heart health, bone strength, and longevity, includes fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, olive oil, and favors seafood over red meat. Our team loves a Mediterranean meal, from Shawn Shirey’s (Digital Account Executive) famous lasagna to Pat Shanahan’s (Executive Vice President) exquisite herb-roasted salmon. For client work, we collaborate with the Global Seafood Alliance to give consumers the information they need to make healthy choices and guidance for selecting responsibly-produced seafood.
Give with our hearts: Recent studies have found that giving to others benefits us too, from lowering blood pressure to increasing “feel-good” brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin (Cleveland Clinic). Action Mary’s Roger van Oosten (Partner) gives back to the community through the Fulcrum Foundation, which provides financial support to students, and he also volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association and is on the board of several art museums. For clients, we’re proud to work with nonprofit partners such as The Campaign for Female Education, where we raise awareness about why girls education in sub-Saharan Africa is essential to thriving communities. We also collaborate with Mother Nation to increase leadership opportunities for Native and Indigenous women.
Create moments for heart-to-hearts: What is the secret to happiness? According to this decades-long study from Harvard University, it is the quality of our relationships that determine our level of happiness. And, to develop close relationships, we must create time to connect, whether seeing each other in person, talking on the phone, or sharing experiences together. At Action Mary, Bianca Mohn (Account Supervisor) organizes hikes with friends to catch up while getting some fresh air. For clients, we love working with Hunt A Killer, where we encourage everyone to put down their phones, immerse themselves in mystery games, and connect with each other.
Every action is meaningful, no matter how small or incremental. How will you give your heart some extra love this February?
