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As published in People Magazine

When Renee Zellweger graced the red carpet at the 21st Annual Elle Women in Hollywood Awards two months ago, the tabloids were all reporting about her changed looks…speculating that since her last movie in 2010 she had plastic surgery.

Personally I just thought she looked healthy, happy and beautiful which is exactly what the actress told People Magazine in a recent interview. She denied the plastic surgery rumors…stating that she is living a happy and fulfilling life and if there’s any change to her looks it’s due to her healthy lifestyle.

Yay, Renee! We should all be so blessed to be living the life of our dreams.

Thankfully the tabloids have moved on to better (or at least different) topics.

The Renee Zellweger not-so-news got me thinking…

Is it possible to be healthy, happy and beautiful?

In an age of plastic surgery, Kardashians and numerous reality TV shows like Housewives of Atlanta, Beverly Hills and New Jersey, it’s challenging to look in the mirror and see our own beauty. It’s hard to think that our lives are as interesting as the people we see on television and magazines. And it’s almost impossible to go out to eat without someone at the table mentioning the latest lose-weight-in-90-days-with-shakes craze. In spite of all these distractions I still believe that we can be healthy, happy and beautiful.

Three ways you can be healthy, happy and beautiful…

  1. Focus on yourself. It seems counterintuitive to say that after mentioning television shows and reality stars that solely focus on themselves, but that’s how we gain our internal compass that brings us to our own reality. HealthyTravelingStop looking at what others have or want and look inside yourself. What is your passion? What kind of people do you want to spend time with? What are your personal and professional goals? Focus on YOU and not the celebrity gossip.
  2. Get healthy. If you’re like most Americans you’re not getting enough sleep, are eating processed foods and are stressed about work and home life. Take time to reassess your priorities and get healthy. Drink more water. Establish a bedtime ritual. Put boundaries on work and personal obligations. Make time for loved ones. Be more physically active. Give yourself the gift of health.
  3. Pursue your passion. Have you always wanted to travel to New York City for a long weekend of exploring all it has to offer? Do you want to take a public speaking class? Do you dream of going to college or grad school? Now is as good a time as any to pursue your passion. Connect with people that want to pursue their passions and figure out how you can assist each other. Make your heart sing when you’re doing what you love or what you’ve always dreamed of doing.

Being healthy, happy and beautiful means living a life of purpose whether it’s away from the bright lights of Hollywood like Renee Zellweger or focusing on your own passions and dreams. Take the first step and let us know how you feel!