News briefs:

• This Sunday’s edition of the Raleigh News & Observer had a feature article about some of the things employers in the Research Triangle are offering to help employees stay fit. From gyms to instructor-led classes to softball leagues to disc golf, these companies sponsor a wide array of activities, often on the company’s site.

I hope and expect that this trend will grow. Smart employers, large or small, should recognize that attending to their employees’ wellness is in their enlightened self-interest. It can pay off in terms in terms of health care savings, productivity, employee retention and overall morale.

• I’m a little late in reporting this news, but right now (September 24-30) is Take A Child Outside Week. Maybe, given the lovely early-fall weather we are having, the week could be extended a bit. T.A.C.O. Week was launched a few years ago in response to concern that children have too little unstructured outdoor play time. The goal of T.A.C.O. Week is to foster understanding and appreciation for the outdoor environment, and encourage exploration of nature. (In other words, taking my daughter to her soccer practice this evening doesn’t really count.)

So take a child to encounter the outdoors and get a little dirty. If no actual child is available, just take your Inner Child.

Shalom y’all,
John

John James, M.A.
Research Analyst
Clergy Health Initiative