The Importance of an Active Lifestyle to Self and Community

Locally in The Woodlands, Texas, a master-planned community built around the concept of bringing nature and people together, an active lifestyle is always literally just outside your door.  Quoting from the web site of The Woodlands Development Company “With 131 forested parks and 205 miles of hike and bike trails, you can bike, walk, run, or just take the dog for a leisurely stroll whenever the mood strikes you.”  However, in today’s fast-paced and electronic world, it is becoming very easy for individuals to get “worn out” simply by the pace of the world revolving around them and forget to plan physical activity and communion with nature as part of their lives.  It is, and always has been, my strong belief that our community needs to continually support and make available opportunities for its citizens and visitors to become and stay active on all levels for the betterment of us and those that live around us.

A report released in April of this year by the Mayo Clinic confirms what is obvious to active individuals, that physical activity has positive impact on stress by increasing endorphins (“feel-good neurotransmitters”), having a calming effect by focusing your body on physical movement rather than the day’s irritation, and increasing self-confidence.  In a nut shell, physical activity is likely to make you feel better and have a better outlook on life and others.  As our community continues to grow, organized athletic activities (i.e. Ironman Texas, The Woodlands Marathon, 10 For Texas, CB&I Triathlon, Muddy Trails Run, Team Never Quit – Marcus Littrell 4 Miler and numerous other charity events) which promote year-round active lifestyles can have a short-term negative impact on getting around our community on the day of the event.  It is my hope and belief that the community would continue to support (and have tolerance for) such short-term inconveniences by not only looking at the good it does for those individuals in our community who participate and charities that benefit, but also the economic and image building benefits for our community.  Since its inception The Strong Firm and our employees have supported, through participation, volunteer hours and sponsorship events and activities which promote an active life style.  We believe an active community is a healthy community, physically, mentally and economically.

Bret L. Strong

Phone: 281-367-1222

Fax: 281-210-1361

[email protected]