For All the Moms

This weekend we celebrate Mother’s Day.  As both a mother and a cardiologist, I see both sides of the equation. As a mother, I experience the joys of caring for – and caring about - the people I love. My children and their extended families, my husband, my mother, my sister, my large and wonderful group of in-laws, my friends, the people that I work with... I also love my career - as both a medical doctor and founder of a company designed to eliminate my medical job!

But, as a cardiologist, I also see so many women, just like me, who love their families and who take care of – and care for – all the people in their lives, often while also managing a demanding career. 

And what I have observed, both in myself and in my patients, is that self-care is truly challenging – especially when there are so many competing priorities.

Which is why I routinely advise my female patients to be a little selfish. It requires a degree of selfishness to attend to one’s own health – to make time for exercise, to eat in a way that supports health. Instead of just going with the flow. 

I discovered physical fitness at the tender age of 54. This required me taking an hour out of my day to focus on myself.  And I would tell you it was REALLY HARD. Because every minute I was spending exercising was one less minute I was spending taking care of others. 

But at some point, if we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t be capable (or even around) to take care of others. 

Here’s the important thing I learned as part of this journey – that by taking care of myself, I could actually be there MORE for my family and my friends. 

We can’t be perfect at this every single day, but we can remind ourselves – every single day - that we are also deserving of love and caring.

So on this Mother’s Day, I urge every mother reading this blog to be a little selfish. To consider their own needs on par with the needs of everyone we are trying to support.  We need to be strong for our family and our friends. 

But we can only be strong if we give ourselves room to build that strength.

Happy Mother’s Day!