Posts tagged Stay Healthy
Why I Had Open-Heart Surgery At 39 Years Old

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22 When that heart was operated on during open-heart surgery, that cheer and gratitude hits differently, let me tell you! So, a few days ago in an introductory post I made on Instagram, I mentioned that I started to study content creation while recovering from open-heart surgery in Summer 2020, and my Instagram sis, Michele, asked whether I’d mind sharing more about my open-heart surgery. I’m happy to share my story, and honestly, I think my story is far less dramatic than it sounds. “Open-heart surgery” … I know it sounds major and scary… and it is, but at the same time, if it is a planned surgery rather than an emergency surgery, you can feel a bit more prepared and at ease. So, going back to my early 20s, I recall a primary care physician (PCP) telling me that I have a heart murmur and that heart murmurs are quite common. Nevertheless, he sent me to a cardiologist for a more thorough examination of my heart, and the cardiologist confirmed the murmur and said that I should follow up with him annually. I didn’t.

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Strawberries, Cruising, and 2020... Oh My!

Anyone having strawberries with breakfast today? In looking through photos from my recent 40th birthday photoshoot, the strawberries that top my birthday cake, as well as these chopped strawberries, remind me of how much I miss cruising. Yes, you read that right! Sure, it could also be that cruising is fresh in my mind because, a few hours ago, I cancelled our planned Spring Break cruise for March 2021. It could also be that I celebrated my 40th birthday in a very low-key way here in New York City when had there not been a pandemic, I probably would’ve been flying or cruising somewhere. Really though, these strawberries remind me of cruising and how much I miss it because, during our cruises, we would have fresh fruit daily! While I can arrange to have fruit at our house by grocery shopping, it’s a whole different vibe when I don’t have to buy fruit and other groceries at the supermarket for a week, nor do I have to figure out breakfast, lunch, and dinner… that’s the deal on a cruise! Honestly, in my daily life, I am blessed to have a husband and mother who both help tremendously with meals; however, when we cruise, we usually do so together, so that my hubby and my mom also get a break from meal-planning and meal-prep. We simply go to our favorite restaurant onboard the ship and eat. We haven’t had a break like that in over a year! Cruising and all-inclusive vacations provide this freedom that we look forward to as an escape from our daily grind. I know I’ve read the saying about creating a life that we don’t need a vacation from, and I agree with it, but

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