Harmony & Boundaries - May

It’s been a little while since I’ve written a formal blog post as May was a full month. There were lots of events at work and in my personal life so this got deprioritized. I did share a post summarizing April that can be found in my featured section of my LinkedIn profile. I'd encourage you to check it out!

It’s now June and the official start to summer is right around the corner. I feel like for many that means less schedules, more time outside and kids home from school. It’s really easy to throw every intention we set out the window. Whether it's taking care of ourselves or keeping our boundaries, that relaxed summertime attitude tends to permeate every aspect of our lives.

I've certainly an advocate for fun in the sun and am learning to embrace relaxation more. I also think it's important to keep our intentions top of mind. What I learned in the month of May is that trusting myself to know what's right in a specific moment is key. It's aligned to my value of harmony and means advocating for myself even if it's uncomfortable.

Since January, I’ve been seeing a rheumatologist for symptoms that present as an autoimmune disease. Some of my symptoms include tight hands, joint pain mainly in my knees and lack of energy. It's like solving a complex puzzle with one hand. Six months in and I feel like with have a path forward, which is making me less anxious.

Our healthcare system isn't set up for success and you have to be your best advocate. That means unlearning behaviors like trusting the latest fad on Instagram versus trusting your own intuition. It is not easy work and I am thankful for the community I've surrounded myself with - many of whom assured me that I'm not crazy and that something doesn't feel right.

It is a continuous journey and how you take care of yourself should evolve as you enter different life phases. All of the doctors I've seen commented on how well I take care of myself in a holistic way. It is because I am in tune with my body that I knew something was off.

As I reflect on May being Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to offer you two ideas to keep top of mind as we head into summer:

#1: You bring you everywhere you go: This means that when you step inside a doctor's office or into a conversation at work, any limiting beliefs you have about yourself will step inside too. As women, I think sometimes we're taught not to use our voices, not be so much, so loud all the time. My advice is to do the opposite: Speak your truth even if your voice shakes, even if people question your sanity. If you know in your bones that something isn't right, don't stop until you have answers.

#2: Figure out what relaxing, taking mental health breaks and being in the moment looks like for you. For me, that's being on the softball field at least one night a week and committing to therapy at least twice a month. For others, that might be a vacation without social media or being in the pool with your kiddos.

Whatever it is, make sure to prioritize YOU this summer too so you can feel your best!