No matter how you define wellness, one thing is clear: It's a choice. The decision to make choices toward a healthy and positive lifestyle is active, ongoing, and personal. In other words, it's not just a one-time event, but rather, a manner of being.

Here's your chance to affirm what "wellness" means to you. Or you can simply share how you incorporate wellness into your daily life. Doing either one will help you to reinforce and clarify the reasons that your own well-being is so important. In addition, your declaration can provide encouragement and support to others as they embark on their wellness journey.

In developing your own personal wellness statement, you might find it helpful to consider these questions:

• Do you have an activity or ritual you use to enhance your spiritual, vocational, financial, or health wellness?
• How has your life improved as a result of adopting a wellness mindset?
• What important reasons make wellness a "must" for you?

To share your Personal Wellness Statement, click on the button below and complete the form, entering "Personal Wellness Statement" in the subject line.

What's Your Personal Wellness Statement?

"While riding the train to and from work each day, I always read job-related books."

"I don't buy processed sweets or snacks. I always keep cut-up veggies and fruit on hand for when my kids are hungry between meals."

"I made simple changes to incorporate more fiber into my diet - brown rice, whole-grain breads, wheat pasta."

"I started to teach Sunday school to revive my relationship with God. I'm amazed how children have reminded me about the wonder of Christianity."

"I decided to stop eating lunch at my desk at work. Instead, I take a break at lunchtime, even if it's just a short one. I come back more energized and ready to face the afternoon."

"I 'brown bag' it every day now. I estimate that it saves me $120 a month."

"I am committed to maintaining a healthy heart, both for me and my kids. I eat lots of green leafy veggies and avoid saturated fats, and I exercise at least three times a week."

"Each member of my family takes the opportunity at dinnertime to thank God for one thing that happened that day that we're sure He had a hand in."

"I can't wait to get to my yoga class every week. It helps me to access an inner peace and tranquility that puts me in a positive frame of mind for days."

"As far as I'm concerned, you can't possess anything more important than your health. Not physically, anyway. So I make it a point to meet my friends at the gym two to three times a week."

"My grandson is a little dynamo - just a bundle of energy. Becoming more active myself and eating better gives me the energy to keep up with him and enjoy our visits more."

"Learning about saving, budgeting, and planning for retirement has given us greater peace of mind about our finances. Now my husband and I can afford to be more generous when it comes to sharing our blessings with the less fortunate."

"Kids pick up on everything we grown-ups do. The kind of language we use around the house, our habits, everything. So I want to give my daughter a blueprint to follow that's going to help her in life. That means me doing what's right, not just what's easy."

"Probably the best thing I did this year was to start volunteering with a local mentoring program. You can't put a dollar figure on the huge spiritual reward you get from helping out. Plus, I made lots of incredible new friends."

"Wellness at work means taking advantage of all the training opportunities my job offers. I know that the skills I learn will help me to stand out as a valuable employee."