Publisher's Letter

By Barbara Day  

Making and breaking New Year's resolutions seem to be a national pastime. The good news is that most people are willing to make resolutions about their health, their relationships, their life and so on. The bad news is that many of the New Year's resolutions are broken within the month of January. With that said, I asked the KHF Editorial Advisory Board about their New Year's resolutions:

"My new years resolution is to focus more on the truly important things in life and be less reactive to daily hassles and stresses."
Paul Salmon, Ph.D.

"To stop and smell the roses once in a while. Gain more balance in life. I need to schedule time for myself and family." Carlos Rivas, M.S., C.S.C.S.

"To keep striving for peace of mind by treating each day as if it were my entire life and evaluating it in that light as preparation for the next day, if it comes..." Bryant Stamford, Ph.D.

"I am very focused on getting my eyes checked.  I think about this constantly, especially when I am trying to read the teleprompter on WHAS NEWS at noon.  I guess I have hit that age when they just start going fuzzy.   So eyes checked and more fruits and vegetables every day." Kirby Adams

"Get back to a regular running/exercise schedule after having twins (a boy and a girl) this Christmas." Julie Snowden, P.T.

"My New Year's resolution is to work out four days a week (not including golf)." Scott Kuiper, M.D.

"To continue to work hard and play hard." Stacie Grossfeld, M.D.

"Write those articles Barbara has asked me to write." Vaughn Payne, M.D.

"My New Year's resolutions are:
1) Be a better husband, father and doctor
2) Be more patient with others
3) Win the Lottery (ha ha)" Greg Potts, M.D.

I must confess, I am not really great at making New Year's resolutions. In fact, I try to keep myself as balanced as possible every day, but sometimes I find that task virtually impossible. It's hard to find time to spend time with family and friends, work out and do all the things I need to do to keep my household and business running efficiently. But I am trying to become more organized and prioritize more effectively. I strive to do things that I have a complete passion for, where I feel I am making a difference in people's lives and not just letting life pass me by.

WHAT'S NEW IN 2004 FOR KHF MAGAZINE?

My New Year's resolution for KHF is to continue to bring our readers credible, easy-to-read stories that will help keep them healthy and active throughout the year. I have asked John Mandrola, M.D., with Cardiovascular Associates, to become a member of the KHF editorial advisory board. Not only is John a fabulous triathlete but he's also an exceptional cardiologist. John has already written a number of excellent articles for KHF.

KHF will provide more health advice columns for men, women and children. We will be doing more outdoor columns, more columns about active lifestyles and healthy lifestyle makeovers. In addition, we will be asking our readers to write stories from time to time about special trainers/coaches in our community, a new activity that's available to our readers or a story that they think would be valuable to our readers.

Our recipes will continue to be easy and great tasting. This month, we have a new Cooking for People on the Go columnist - Sallie Niehoff, R.D. Sallie is a dietitian and chef, as well as the food service manager and cooking class instructor for Floyd Memorial Hospital in New Albany , Indiana . Sallie will be writing the column every third month.

Shape Up Kentuckiana will be a monthly column with a menu, recipe and the nutritional information. As a dietitian I don't promote the Atkins' or the South Beach diets. I think eating a balanced diet, which includes adequate nutrients, is the only way to go for the long haul. So the menus and recipes will reflect that approach.

KHF is now being printed at the Evening News in Jeffersonville . That gives us the possibility of more color and better quality printing. We will be offering insertions into the magazine for the first time. Many advertisers have requested this option.

BURNING CALORIES - THE HARD WAY

Recently, I had the opportunity to keep my grandkids, Kennedy, 3, and Reece, 18 months, for two days while my son, Geoff, was interviewing for a medical residency program. His wife, Brandi, went along for the interview process. Sitting actually was a group effort involving my son, Jon; his fiancé, Melissa; PaPa Day and me. We played, colored and danced, and the children got into all of the drawers in the house. (Forgot to childproof them!) Kennedy found where I store my fast-food books and squealed when she saw my picture in the book. She was delighted. She pretended to read the book saying she was studying. (Her dad has to study so she knows what that means.) She found a calculator and started storing numbers like her dad does on his Palm Pilot.

I had forgotten what it was like to manage children that age. I had my pedometer on, and I was walking about four miles a day from just running after the kids, up and down the steps and around the house. Plus, I was weight training when carrying them up and down the steps. It's grand to be a grandparent.

Story ideas are always welcome. For reprints of stories, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: KHF, P.O. Box 436387 , Louisville , KY 40253-6387 . You can e-mail comments, suggestions or story ideas to me at: bdaykhf@aol.com or fax them to 502.245.4098. If you have pictures you would like to contribute to our Hot Shots page, please mail them to the P.O. Box above. Be sure to include the names of the people in the photos and the name of the event.

Remember - eat more of the best and less of the rest. Be bright and eat right! Be wise and exercise. And, have miles of smiles.

2001 NAWBO Woman Business Owner of Distinction

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