The Panhellenic Creed includes the phrase for guarding of good health as one of the main tenets by which we strive to live. Indeed, our early NPC leaders had vision to place good health as a focus area.
How did good health make the list? Why is good health important to sorority women?
Good health means different things to different people; however, we can all agree that good health contributes significantly to happiness and overall well-being. It encompasses the wide range of things — physical, mental and emotional functions — that play into our lifetime success and accomplishment. With our health in good order, we can live up to our fullest potential.
NPC member organizations have inter/national philanthropies that either support local charities or national causes. Several of our NPC member organizations support causes related to women’s health. Here are just a few examples:
- Alpha Epsilon Phi supports Sharsheret, an organization that supports young Jewish women in their fight against breast cancer.
- Alpha Gamma Delta supports members and individuals living with diabetes.
- Alpha Omicron Pi supports research and education on arthritis.
- Alpha Phi supports projects in all areas of women’s heart health.
- Delta Gamma supports organizations that promote sight preservation.
- Delta Phi Epsilon supports the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD).
- Sigma Kappa supports studies on aging and addresses needs of the elderly, with an emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease.
- Zeta Tau Alpha devotes efforts to breast cancer education and awareness.
All of these noble causes raise awareness and bring to light the need to do more to assist in research, education and support to benefit women’s health.
One such organization that seeks to elevate the issue of women’s good health is DiabetesSisters. Reports indicate 13.4 million women have diabetes, which is also linked to high blood pressure, kidney failure, heart disease, blindness and stroke, among other health issues. Founder and CEO Brandy Barnes was diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager and found little information about services for women when her journey took her through a high-risk pregnancy. Her experiences culminated in forming DiabetesSisters in 2008. She contends that emotional and peer support are vitally important to coping with this disease.
Emotional and peer support are just what sorority women can offer one another as well as other women in need. It is not uncommon for sorority sisters to sit with others in hospital waiting rooms, accompany a friend on a doctor visit or specialized treatment or provide meals for sisters and their families. Whatever and whenever the need arises, sorority sisters are there to provide comfort, encouragement and support.
Ways to guard good health:
- Make healthy food and drink choices.
- Visit your doctor regularly.
- Do self-exams, and be aware of changes in your body and appearance.
- Know your family history. Some diseases are hereditary.
- Make time for exercise and form fitness groups with other women — running, water aerobics, walking, Zumba, yoga or Pilates.
- Model life balance with rest, work and play.
Guarding of good health requires that we tune into our bodies and become more knowledgeable about prevention and maintenance. Good health equates to increased work productivity, social engagement and ultimately, lifetime fulfillment. More than ever, as sorority women we are charged to uphold this portion in our creed and apply good habits to our daily lives.
As we approach the holiday season, let’s give thanks for good health.
Resources:
National Institutes of Health — Orwh.od.nih.gov
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention — cdc.gov
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