“What
we learned is that walking just 30 minutes a day can singlehandedly decrease
50% of your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, even Alzheimer’s and
dementia. We know that walking is the
single most powerful thing that a woman can do for her health, so we knew we
were onto something.”
--T.
Morgan Dixon, CEO of GirlTrek
I like
to watch TED talks several times a
week. It is a cool way to learn about
new ideas and interesting people doing good things. TED (Technology, Education, Design) talks started in 1984 as a conference;
the nonprofit foundation’s stated agenda is “to make great ideas accessible and
spark conversation.”
Recently, I watched a TED talk called “Walking as a revolutionary act of self-care” with T.
Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison (May 2017). Dixon and Garrison started an organization
called GirlTrek to encourage and support black women to walk for the health of
it. Dixon was a history teacher in
Atlanta who left teaching and partnered with her best friend so they could figure
out how to make a difference in the lives – and health – of black women. They became aware of how the poor health outcomes
of black women were largely due to obesity and diabetes. They also knew that women had the power to
heal not only themselves but also their communities, if only they could
prioritize their own health.
While
listening to their TED talk, I was reminded of the message I hear every time I
fly: “If you are travelling with small
children, put on your own mask first.”
It
is time for women to step up and take control of their own health in order to
be healers for our families and our communities. We can no longer afford –literally
and figuratively - to postpone our own health care. As women and mothers, we must take care of our
own health in order to protect the health of our children. Reversing the childhood obesity epidemic
depends on the health of women. This is
our time and the world is waiting for our greatness.
For
more information about GirlTrek, go to www.girltrek.org. Let’s empower our children. The first step is empowering women. Get ready, get set, walk!
With
love and gratitude,
Nancy
L. Heinrich, MPH
Founder,
Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.
