Linda Fleshman regularly champions wellness in her personal and professional life. As a member of the Champion Leadership group, she was instrumental in researching, selecting, and teaching Microsoft Teams as the remote meeting technology we need to support our Champion network as we continue to grow. Thanks to her efforts, we’ll be able to meet remotely, participate in conference / video calls, and use the chat feature to connect with one another and brainstorm ideas.
Linda also models wellness in her everyday actions by staying active, growing and eating healthy foods, and avoiding chemicals – she even makes her own sunscreen!
Linda, you’re a great example of making wellness a daily priority. What are some ways you incorporate wellness into your routine?
I live by the words, “Work hard, play harder!!” I work every day at trying to keep as many chemicals out of my life as possible!
I grow a huge garden. I have strawberries, raspberries, grapes, asparagus, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, several herbs and much more. I preserve as much as possible by canning, dehydrating, fermenting or freezing. I cook almost everything from scratch. It takes longer but it is totally worth it.
Last winter we tapped our maple trees for the first time and processed the sap to maple syrup. YUM!!
I forage too. I always pick blackberries, elderberries, some types of wild mushrooms and more. Be careful foraging – be sure you know what you are picking!
I am a label reader. I do not buy things with Trans-fat (labels are sneaky about hiding this) or high fructose corn syrup (be careful with this one – they are using some new names now).
I make lotion, deodorant, sun screen and more.
My husband and I kayak, canoe, paddle board, fish, bow fish, hike, swim, bike ride and we love to go camping! We camp as often as possible. We play yard games like corn hole and bocce ball. We target shoot with guns, bows and cross bows.
I live a very active lifestyle!! I do not sit still much and watch almost zero TV! Even when the TV is on I am likely ignoring it!
I start my work day walking around the campus with weights. Generally I get 2-3 miles in. I lift weights each morning as well. It is a great way to get the blood pumping in the morning!!
My job is active as well. I am a desk side computer tech. I am all over the East end of campus every day. I try to break 10,000 steps while I am still at work each day.
Linda, thank you so much for sharing your story and for inspiring us to focus on our own health and well-being everyday.
If you’d like to learn more about the Wellness Connection Champion network, check out our website: hr.wustl.edu/wellness-connection/champions/.