Woycik: No matter your age, have a heart

As Heart Health Awareness Month winds down, please make sure you and those you love are keeping very good care of yourselves.

What you eat and drink, how much you exercise, eliminating stress and staying happy all are so important to our heart health. No matter your age, keeping your heart in good shape adds happiness to your daily living.

Be kind to yourself. It seems we all have more stress in our lives than is necessary, so when stress is building up, breathe deeply and laugh. Those who love you want you around for years and years, so have a heart.

As February also is Black History Month, I have read many articles about the contributions many Black Americans have made to our country. One of my special friends probably will never be in the headlines, but he is sure a wonderful example to all of us. His name is Terrell White, and he is one of the most caring and kind young men I know. He has a hug for everyone, is ready to help anyone who needs it, is soft-spoken, a hard worker, a beautiful person full of love and always has a smile. In all the years I have known him I never have seen him angry.

Terrell is someone we should all strive to be like. He is my pet person of the week. Thanks for your love, Terrell.

What a beautiful and blessed evening was spent by more than 600 beautiful ladies and gentlemen, dressed in their finest, Feb. 12 at the Valparaiso Nazarene Church. It was the Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine prom for people with special needs and their buddies.

After being crowned as a king or queen, every attendee, along with their night’s buddy, walked the red carpet, which was lined three deep with their cheering and clapping “public.” They were the stars, and that moment in time was the best ever. So many volunteers, so much food, so many activities, so much dancing and dining, so much fun and laughter, there were so many memories to last forever.

Sponsored by the Nazarene Church, Pastor Eric Wood and his parishioners planned an amazing evening for amazing people who could take a ride in a limo, enjoy delicious food donated by area businesses and restaurants, watch a movie, be a karaoke star, get their pictures taken and dance the night away.

Here was an elite event where no alcohol was served, no inappropriate behavior was visible, no arguing or fighting took place — it was just a wonderful evening illuminated by God’s angels and love. I so often think our friends with special needs have far more to teach us than vice versa.

The next day, several of our Special Olympics teams traveled to Mishawaka for a basketball tourney, and our athletes still were shining and remembering their perfect prom. A million thank yous and accolades to the Nazarene members, the many businesses and restaurants, the buddies and all those involved in a night to remember. You are all pet persons.

I don’t often have nice things to say about Mother Nature, but I sure am giving her a high-five for this weekend. It will be so much easier to go Polar Plunging with an expected temperature in the 40s than really freezing. If you have the time Saturday, come on over to Valparaiso University about 1 p.m. and witness all the wild and crazy plungers as they raise much-needed dollars for Special Olympics.

I hope you have a great day, because you deserve it. Thanks for reading. Fly your flag.

Lorrie Woycik is a freelance columnist for the Post-Tribune.