The holidays are here and the turkey needs its stuffing, the braciole needs to be rolled, and the pies need to be baked. The yummy foods, thoughts of family and friends, and the rush of it all can stack our plate too high and make our to-do list too long to remember what this time is really about - thankfulness.

Because of these many challenges, our physical and emotional health can be at risk and we too often listen to the words of others, or our own negative self-talk. The words we hear, speak and say to ourselves often are "not facts but evaluations and judgments entwined with emotions - some positive and helpful, others negative and less so," according to the Harvard Business Journal article, "Emotional Agility."

Yet somehow, we become so familiar with these words that without knowing it, they become our mantra. I am always late, I am too fluffy for all my clothes, my aunt is always mean at Thanksgiving dinner, I never work out enough during this time of year so here comes the 10 pounds, I always overeat at parties, I am not meeting the mark.

Words, whether spoken or unspoken, need to be filtered, and then you need to determine what belongs to you and what doesn't. At our house, we call it the "mail." Some mail has your name on it and some of it doesn't. Put the mail back in the mailbox that doesn't belong to you.

For example, if you know that it is hard for you to work out at this time of year, come up with a plan ahead of time to work out. It might be for a shorter time frame or a different time of day, but don't just give up on it and be your old thoughts. If you know that certain party situations make you vulnerable to overeating, then possibly eat before you go, or allow yourself only one small plate of food with minimal portions.

Remember that not everything you think is true. Your aunt is not always mean and you are not always fluffy. So let all the thoughts and feelings at this time of year wash in and through you, and don't get caught in the web of believing that they are all true.

This is the first step in caring for yourself: recognizing what you really need and what is fiction. Our physical health is so important, and sometimes it is the last thing on our list and the first thing to go when we are stressed. It has been proven that how we take care of our physical health in this decade will directly affect the next decade - or our life.

So accept your genetics, your big thighs, your glasses and the sleeve you wear every day, and then make a commitment to the next part of your life. If the past talks to you about how you used to overeat too much or never had to exercise to look good, just take it for what is and then commit to a new direction and a new plan. New plans are never easy, but you have to make a daily choice to achieve the goals you want for the things you value the most in life.

So as you enter this holiday time, remember to have a heart of forgiveness for the past and a mind full of thankfulness - and a box of chocolates to share with everyone along the way.

Sheree DiBiase, PT, and her staff at Lake City Physical Therapy wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. Please contact us in Coeur d'Alene at (208) 667-1988 and in the Spokane Valley at (509) 891-2623. We want you to make a commitment to your health during this holiday season - and for life!