By Michelle Allen
Even though my boyfriend’s cooking could win awards (and maybe some waistband battles), I try to honor my body with good choices: mindful eating, daily vitamins, and regular visits to doctors who know me beyond my chart.
Several years ago, I had a partial hysterectomy and later underwent breast reduction surgery—a journey that led to an unexpected diagnosis: atypical ductal hyperplasia. Since then, I’ve become a diligent student of my own body. I show up. I schedule. I scan. I listen. Breast exams, mammograms, 3D MRIs—each one a chapter in a story I’m writing with courage.
I’m not a fitness influencer. I know I could be more active, and on some days I should be. But movement looks different for each of us. For me, the most transformative exercise has been writing—releasing the emotional weight that health challenges carry and finding spiritual strength through storytelling. Whispering Willow was born out of this need to heal and connect.
These days, I’ve come to understand that well-being isn’t just physical. It’s trusting your instincts. It’s honoring your experiences. It’s letting a hot cup of tea and a quiet page be just as powerful as cardio.
🔍 Strategies I use to maintain my health and well-being:
- 🥗 Intentional Nourishment: Choosing meals that fuel my body but still make space for joy (and boy, does Dan deliver on the joy).
- 💊 Routine Care: Daily vitamins and supplements that support hormone balance and breast health.
- 🏥 Medical Monitoring: Annual breast screenings, follow-ups, and open conversations with providers I trust.
- ✍️ Emotional Expression: Writing isn’t just therapy—it’s a sacred ritual for me.
- 🫂 Connection: Sharing my journey with others. Building bridges through stories. Listening deeply.
- 🌸 Grace: Letting go of “perfect” and embracing progress. My journey is mine, and it’s unfolding beautifully.
So I ask you, dear reader: What does well-being look like for you right now? What anchors you?
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