“Cancer was a blessing and through the diagnosis my prayers for freedom from stress were answered.” Josi is a woman in wellness.
Cancer is one disease to overcome but heart disease is still the #1 Killer in women than all cancers combined. According to the American Heart Disease Association, today every 80 seconds a woman dies from heart disease, where as one year ago AHA reported every 60 seconds heart disease took the lives of women. This demonstrates more and more women are taking charge of their health and wellness and living to their optimal potential. According to the The AHA’s Go Red Campaign that is honored around the world has inspired, encouraged, and support women to choose healthy alternatives to live in balance in their circumstances than the fatal contributing factors of stress a woman takes on daily.
Like Josi, and other women who have heart disease, women in wellness today are single moms, professional women on the go, the bread winner, entrepreneurs, senators, wives, sisters, godmothers, aunt’s, grandmothers, and best friends. In order to live to your full potential as a woman in wellness you must be willing to consistently take full responsibility of your actions and discipline disappointments. Choosing this way of life many women share is not easy, it takes faith, a positive attitude, and a clear mindset to believe it will be a blessing to others and empower another woman to take their health back.
Inspired by Dima’s story; Dima was born with sickle cell anemia, sexually molested as a child, and witness her mother being abused by her stepfather mentally, physically, and emotionally. I remember Dima sharing with me and other women who listened in disbelief how afraid, yet brave. Frequent visits to hospitals for blood transfusions, fatigued, witnessing her mom being chased and threatened with a butcher knife to later finding her mom at 12 in the basement dead. Her stepfather murdered her mom; the same person who taught her to ride a bike. Despite the tragedy, Dima today is happily married with children to man who is sensitive to her past and a prayer warrior. Dima has taken charge of her health and taken back her life by embracing once again the spiritual component of wellness.
Dima has not had any symptoms of sickle cell and has not been to the hospital in 2 years due to her honoring her body and self care. “I cannot live without proper nutrition, if my body doesn't get what it needs, I do my body a disservice.” Dima shares to many with sickle cell to honor their bodies and claim their health! Life expectancy for sickle cell in women is 48 years of age. Dima is 35 years old. “i am focused on my God, family, and my mission to empower women with sickle cell to live.” “I am not a victim, I am a victor.”
In 1Timothy 4:7-9 (NLT) it says, spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in this life and the next. When exercising the spiritual component of wellness it involves ones core values and beliefs, making time for meditation, prayer, and relaxation; it delivers clarity and alertness for a healthy outcome. Our responsibility is to care for our bodies. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and these two courageous remarkable women of faith are just two stories that will hopefully empower and encourage other women to honor their self worth and value their self care no matter the circumstances. I celebrate women in wellness all over the world in the journey of wellness. Your Story Matters.
Terri WellnessCoach Jackson
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