Chasing the Wrong Kind of Success + My Latest Peri/Menopause Interview!
I personally love entering a new year having reflected on the year before. I have two new resolutions—new to me, that is. The first is to wrap up work and personal projects by dinner so that I can spend quality time with my husband and boys, and savor some "me" time. For years I have fallen into the trap of believing that I have the energy and time to dive into a work project, check my email or plan a family trip after dinner perhaps, and certainly after my boys go to bed. But my boys are older now and getting to bed later. It's just not working. After listening to Aviva Romm's insightful interview with Jennifer Wallace on success (more below), I decided I want to spend more time reading for myself and with my family (cozy!), and to develop some other interests other than acupuncture and parenting (). The new year got off to a rocky start with this resolution, with my mind nagging at me to finish "just one more thing" before I could relax, but my husband and I share this resolution and are helping each other stick to it. It's getting so much easier and the whole family is enjoying a new evening vibe. But it means letting some things go, like publishing this "New Year's" newsletter at the end of January. I have to really use my time wisely during the day, and not expect so much of myself in a 24-hour period. Can you relate?
The other resolution revolves around fitness goals. I know, this is so typical for a New Year's resolution but I almost never set fitness goals. I've had pretty chronic back pain for decades and never wanted to set specific fitness goals for fear of not being able to rely on my body to reach those goals. My mindset shifted in a pretty big way at the end of this last year when I hosted the menopause book club with my dear friend Beth Dorsey. Reading all the research about how peri- and menopausal women can protect their bones and brains during this transition and beyond was so inspiring. I am now lifting heavy weights and adding sprint interval training into my workouts, and I have a goal of skiing with my family, for the first time in over ten years!
Mark your calendars! The official email to register for my upcoming webinar series will be sent soon. Look out for these lunchtime sessions:
Hormones in Harmony: Lab Testing for Fertility - 2/26 12:00-12:30pm
Hormones in Harmony: Acupuncture for Fertility - 3/5 12:00-12:30pm
Hormones in Harmony: Lab Testing in Perimenopause - 2/26 12:30-1:00pm
Hormones in Harmony: Acupuncture in Perimenopause - 3/5 12:30-1:00pm
Peri/Menopause Myth-busting with Amelia Foster and Rebecca Hazelton
Last month, I invited Rebecca Hazelton and Amelia Foster to discuss their recent peri/menopause myth-busting workshop. In this discussion, available on my Youtube channel, they challenge common misconceptions around fitness and nutrition, covering popular topics such as cortisol, cardio workouts, weight lifting, protein and fasting. If you don't know these ladies, Amelia is a pelvic floor therapist and women’s health coach practice based in my clinic and in Pleasure Point. Rebecca Hazelton is a holistic nutritionist and owner of Functional Health based in Santa Cruz and offers virtual consultation. I hope you will give this fun interview a listen, these women are a wealth of knowledge and so generous with their insights!
Are We Chasing the Wrong Kind of Success?
This is the podcast that sealed the deal on my no work after dinner resolution. My husband had a listen too and we've been sharing podcasts and insights about "success" every since. In this thought-provoking episode, Aviva sits down with Jennifer Wallace, journalist and author of Never Enough, to dive into the toxic achievement culture that’s shaping our lives—and the lives of our kids.
Questions? Let's Chat!
If you’re a potential new patient—or if it’s been a while since your last visit—and you have questions about my practice, you can:
Reply to this email with your questions.
Stop by to browse my new lending library and say hello (Mon/Wed/Fri, 9 AM–1 PM).
For more insights into my practice and how I can support you, follow me on Instagram @arrivesantacruz for a behind-the-scenes look.
