I Choose Me

As an ACS volunteer, I quickly embraced the new program Choose You that was launched last week with Ellen Pompeo as the spokesperson. Watch the video above...

The sobering statistic that 1 in 3 women will get cancer during their life got me. I need to step up.

With teaching colleagues, the people I meet with Relay, and the 'older' friends that I have, I recognize the importance of putting yourself first in life. Recognizing is different from taking action. I've decided to take action. I need to step up.

I'm a very goal oriented person. I set a goal; I make it. That's how I live. I need to step up.

Let's be honest, as we know, my life has undergone some major changes in the past year. I went from college student living a lovely life at the T & D Bed and Breakfast one week to a full-time elementary teacher living at home the next week. I gradually went from dependent to independent with the help of ya'll.

Now that my rookie year is coming to a close, I want to take action and set a new goal for myself. I want to start my 'experienced' years with the habit of 'choosing' myself first so that I can give back fully. I need to step up.

So, I just navigated the Choose You website. Beverly Anne, what will be your goal? So, I select the "I Choose to..." tab...Get Active-Check. Quit Smoking-Never had to, so that's a check. Get Regular Health Checks-Check. Protect My Skin-Check (I think the girls would say I'm anal about the sunscreen). Great...my goal has to do something with Eat Right!

Yup, that's my weakness. Crap. I headed straight for the 'Shop' section of the website although I already have the water bottle and shirt. Ok, Anne, go back and pick a goal. Oops, I just found myself eating peanut butter (thanks T!). Ok, Anne, go back an pick a goal. Oh, look I can destress and read a book for 20 minutes a night. Yeah right! I'll pick a goal with Eat Right!

I've yet to pick my goal. I'll do it tonight. I want to start tomorrow off right because it's National Choose You Day!

Moral of the Story: I believe in walking the walk and not talking the talk during the journey of life. I preach ways to be healthy, ways to prevent cancer, ways to help yourself. It's time for be to be an advocate for me. I choose me!

Relay For Life Moment: 4 Days!

All Relay For Life funds go to the American Cancer Society (ACS)

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation's largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org