Deciding what to write about for this column has been difficult. How do you write about the importance of health and fitness when we are all reeling from the effects of last week's tragedy? Are people really interested in a pep talk about the importance of exercise and proper nutrition right now?

At a time like this eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting a good workout are the last things on our minds! We are all still trying to process the shock, the grief and the fear that an event like this one causes, and everyday worries and routines fall into the background.

So this week, I offer some information that I hope will be helpful to my readers during this troublesome time. We have all been affected by this tragedy; even those of us who do not know anyone who has lost their lives are deeply impacted by the events of Tuesday, September 11th 2001.

It is important to find ways to express the feelings you are experiencing. Traumatic events take a toll on us, both physically and psychologically, due to increased stress levels. We all have different ways of dealing with our thoughts and emotions during such difficult times. Spending time with loved ones, talking through your thoughts and feelings, or writing in a journal are all ways that can help us sort through some of the confusion and start healing. Exercise is also a great way to release some of the pent up emotion and stress that has probably accumulated, and it has been proven to help alleviate and prevent depression.

For many of us, the ability to help those who are suffering and in need is a way to start healing. Doing something positive for others is a great way to work through your own anguish. The following are a few of the emergency and relief websites available as a way to help.

American Red Cross: "http://www.redcross.org/" www.redcross.org/

Salvation Army - USA:

"http://www.christianity.com/salvationarmyusa" www.christianity.com/salvationarmyusa National Relief Network: "http://www.nrn.org/" www.nrn.org/ Another website available is "http://www.specials.msn.com/special/help.asp" www.specials.msn.com/special/help.asp.

These websites provide the opportunity to help in various ways, and your donations can help provide money for grief counseling for families of the victims, food supplies for relief workers, survivors and their families or scholarships for children who lost loved ones. They also provide links to other sites and some of them offer articles and information that may help you deal with this crisis. There are also local chapters of the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army that will be able to provide information on how you can help.

Be sure to pay attention to your own needs and take care of yourself, physically and mentally. If you have lost a loved one, are struggling emotionally, or are having a hard time coping with the uncertainties an event like this stirs up, please get help. There are many counseling services available in Bermuda; be sure to seek out the care you need! As horrible as this tragedy is, the best way to move beyond it is to try and return some normalcy back into your life. So find a way to express your feelings, contribute productively by donating to the relief efforts if that will help you, and work on getting back into a healthy, balanced routine in your own life.

There is one thing that echoes in the back of my mind, gradually pushing it's way into the foreground: Enjoy each and every moment of each and every day because we never know how long we have in this world. Be sure your loved ones know how you feel about them, appreciate all the simple pleasures in life, and live every day to the fullest!