Here's to 2010, health, and a place to discuss it all

So, here it is, my inaugural health post for Justmeans. I'm excited to be getting started, particularly in a category that is both the subject of intense public debate and interest, as well as a hugely personal issue that affects each person in the world. Hopefully, my colleagues and I will be able to illuminate health topics on both levels.

And with that, here are some personal tidbits about myself: I'm an Oregon native, and grew up in a small town there before heading to Los Angeles to study print journalism and history at USC. Since then, I've worked at a syndicate and a local newspaper, while also pursuing my own writing projects. I was also a member of the women's cross country team in college, and have been a distance runner for most of my life. I've found that, far better than cigarettes or alcohol (both typically used by journalists to cope with the pressures of a deadline-driven life) or other vices, there's no better way to relieve stress, induce a sense of personal accomplishment even if you've been sitting around the rest of the day, and generally brighten the day. I've never run a marathon, or even really wanted to, but I might tackle a half-marathon in the near future if I can give myself enough of a push to step up my training.

That being said, I certainly have my share of unhealthy habits, among them: a tendency to worry about things excessively and unnecessarily, a deep love of salt, an affinity for fast food, and an aversion to drinking water. Other than several broken bones in my childhood (not all at once), I've been fortunate enough to avoid any serious health calamities so far in life - knock on wood. That's the thing about health, however: Your circumstances can change at any moment.

Another Justmeans health writer, Ano Lobb, wrote a great post about sustaining healthy resolutions in the New Year. I don't usually create specific resolutions, but I will offer some of my goals, which I hope you all will help hold me accountable to: running farther and faster - when I feel I'm able to - than my usual routine dictates; being more conscious of where my food is coming from; incorporating more variety into my diet; and helping my friends make healthier decisions whenever possible.

These are the things I plan to keep in mind when searching for health-related topics to tackle, or debates I'd like to foster. No one can stay healthy entirely by himself or herself; it is often a collaborative process that involves joint effort, learning, discipline, and consideration. But it's certainly possible, and indeed, often requires only some tweaking of our daily routines and a little creative thinking. So, here's to 2010, health, Justmeans, and having a place to discuss all of these things and more.