A little about me
Hi, I am Janelle. I started out as an immunology major, guided my way into public health, then unexpectedly found community health; and now define myself by the daughter, wife and mother that I have become. My choice to work for health was a passionate one; and although it started off as a ‘career’ choice, it has brought me through a journey that has revealed it to be much more; it is a ‘lifestyle’ choice. Of course, my journey has only just begun and I am determined to make the most of it!
LyfeStyle Matters
I have learned that our health as individuals and in turn as communities, is largely determined by various social factors around us. Positively influencing these determinants relies on making small but crucial and impactful changes in our individual lives, particularly through our personal choices and the habits we develop. I have also learned to recognise the crucial part my personal and family choices play in the overall health of our community and society. Hence, the need to make personal lifestyle changes as well.
In reality: Old habits die hard and change is a process, requires conscious effort; and has had to go beyond challenging my personal choices of just deciding what baby products to use on my kids. I have needed to examine my own family life, our daily routine, our habits and ultimately our choices and actions. Much contemplation has also led me to believe that most, if not all, of these habits and choices are largely influenced by our home, the spaces we live in, the ambiance we surround ourselves with, and even the frame of mind we begin each day with. In short, Lifestyle impacts Health; health at home and health in society.
So what can we do about it? This brings me to where we are now…
Join me on LyfeStyleMatters, where I explore how health and home are interwoven through my attempt to uncover my own family’s lifestyle-matters. To add to the obvious influencers like nutrition and exercise, let’s look at home design aspects that quite often get overlooked and determine if and how these affect our health and well-being. I hope to address the little details of my home-management from the inside-out and eventually take this exploration beyond my home. Because Health begins at Home; and it doesn’t end there. Lifestyle does Matter!
Our Logo
All my experiences thus far have taught me the efficacy and relevance of addressing health from a holistic, preventive, empowering and promotive perspective. And before trying to become a catalyst for change in the health and well-being of our loved ones or acquaintances (be it personal or professional); it is essential that each one of us ‘becomes a catalyst for change within ourself first’. Our logo represents this exact progression; of how lifestyle choices matter because healthy choices and health begin at home (represented by the yellow home at the centre of the logo) and in turn produce a positive ripple effect (represented by the orange concentric circles around the home) in influencing healthy positive choices and outcomes among our loved ones, friends, colleagues, community and eventually even our environment and planet.