“But there’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the dark
You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are…
She don’t see her perfect, she don’t understand she’s worth it
Or that beauty goes deeper than the surface
So to all the girls that’s hurting, let me be your mirror
Help you see a little bit clearer, the light that shines within
And you don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful.”
—Alessia Cara (from “Scars to Your Beautiful”)
There is no perfect. It is an elusive and unrealistic concept that many women strive to attain. For so much of my life I masked my inner brokenness, pain, and struggles . . . by looking outward. I largely focused on external goals that coincidentally tethered my very own health and well-being. I allowed others to validate my self-worth (as opposed to being self-actualized). Thankfully, over time I learned that by depending on other’s approval, I was effectively giving them control over my well-being.
It was not until my mid-40s that I recognized that health and wellness were not about perfect weight, the texture of one’s hair, or the smoothness of your skin, but the capacity to both love oneself and embrace a purpose larger than oneself.
Colbie Caillat’s lyrics in her song, “Try” describe the evolution or dance that many women face with their health and wellness.
“Put your make-up on
Get your nails done
Curl your hair
Run the extra mile
Keep it slim
So they like you, do they like you? . . .
Wait a second,
Why should you care, what they think of you
When you’re all alone, by yourself
Do you like you? Do you like you?”
While body, mind, and spirit are the three integral parts of health and wellness, the foundation for all three is built upon self-love, and not the quest for perfection. Colbie’s lyrics say, “So they like you, do they like you?” The fact is, unless you understand yourself, and who you are, then who likes you does not matter.
Our pages explore Health and Wellness . . . from different perspectives, whether the anecdotal stories from our Inspiring Women interviews, or our article on India’s culture, art, minimalism, and beyond.
Take for example findings from our Inspiring Woman Dr. Tabassum Mir, a renowned plastic surgeon in New York City and Miami, Florida, who is known worldwide for her innovative, noninvasive procedures. In this issue, she authentically shares that the success of surgical procedures is often measured by the emotional expectations of the patient. In the business of wellness, accomplished Kim Powell, the owner of Woodhouse Spas in four states dedicated her professional career to the transformational wellness of others. Yet, she attributes her personal success to purposely maintaining a body, mind, and spiritual balance.
While the body and mind are said to control one’s destiny, the spirit is also integral to wellness. Much like the lyrics by Alessia Cara “The light that shines within,” in India, the connection between women and the spirit is so important that it is represented by an ethereal immortal: Apsara, the celestial being in Hindu and Buddhist culture. That light is the spirit within each one of us.
Art is also a conduit of the mind to the soul… and from his paintings, color, and movement, French artist Claude Monet fills this issue with individual experiences sought to inspire. Called the Father of the Impressionist Art Movement, Monet transcends time and space, thereby touching one’s soul.
inimalism in architecture and design is a dramatic play of color, line, surface, and texture that simultaneously requires the least amount of detail and “visual clutter.” We explore just why simple but strong themes in design feed the soul, body, and mind.
Self-love . . . seeking a larger purpose…unbridled self-actualization . . . Mind, body, and soul connection and balance . . .
Unlike the quest for perfection, these aspirations challenge us to evolve into a gentler humanity, one filled with kindness and compassion for ourselves and others. As we embark upon our own exploration into wellness, our hope is that this issue might awaken a part of ourselves and trigger our individual quest to search and seek . . .
In this Health and Wellness issue, we thank you for sharing the journey of transformation.
With much love,
Karen Floyd
Publisher
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