Have you ever found yourself captivated by a story of resilience that makes you reflect on your own life? Recently, I watched the Netflix documentary "Martha" about Martha Stewart's life, and it left me with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. From her meteoric rise to her devastating fall and remarkable comeback, Martha's journey is more than just a tale of celebrity—it's a powerful lesson in perseverance, creativity, and the art of reinvention.
Lessons from Martha Stewart
The documentary, which chronicles Martha's rise, devastating fall, and subsequent resurgence, was both eye-opening and thought-provoking. Two key principles from Martha really resonated with me:
1. "Learn something new every day."
2. "When you're through changing, you're through creating beauty."
These words reminded me of a surgeon I operated with in his 80s at Emory University, Dr. Cullin Richardson. He was the most meticulous, careful surgeon, with an eye for detail and a commitment to making each surgery, surgical result, and patient better than the last. When I asked him his secret, he said, "Well, Dr. Anna, if I go to bed and I haven't learned something new, I was too lazy and stupid overnight to do so." His focus was on continually perfecting his technique and clinical ability, allowing him to operate well into his 80s.
While Dr. Richardson's motto can be challenging to live by, it speaks to the importance of continuing to evolve ourselves, day by day, step by step.
Creating Beauty in Our Ordinary Lives
We can often take for granted the beauty all around us. From the smiles of those we love, and even the smile of strangers, to the beauty in our surroundings. As I thought about this, I reflected on the first blade of grass I saw pushing out through the cold, now thawed terrain. It is more often than not that I am completely unaware of such things. But this morning, as I reflect on that persistent, determined blade of grass, I pay attention and I thank it for showing me this simple reminder of resilience.
Like the Alpine Rose that blossoms in the Swiss Alps or the Phoenix rising from the ashes, I'm reminded of Martha coming out from prison with determination yet vulnerability. How she had lost those very few relationships or friends that were dear to her, but incredibly fake.
Reflections on Resilience
I reflected on those years in my life when I was completely burned out, exhausted and unable to pay my bills. And what "friends" remained around me. I am grateful for that time now as it enabled me to see and develop authentic lifelong friendships. This time enabled me also to create the Keto-Green Method and Magic Menopause Program, and the principles that brought me out of complete and utter despair.
The Power of Gratitude and Beauty
One key principle has been to practice gratitude and find or see beauty in my life. Creating beauty through health is what I've aspired to do - to bring true, healthy beauty out in each of us. Me, my children, and you, my community. We are worth it!
For Martha Stewart, she began by creating beauty in her home and sharing that with those in her world. I remember when her brand was incorporated into Kmart and the criticism she unjustly and ignorantly met. More likely the ugly emotion of jealousy. I remember smiling. As a girl, my family could only afford Kmart and those blue light specials were a target for my mom to economically provide for us. I smile now at the memories.
Creating beauty is mainly free. One of my most valued pieces of artwork is the one my youngest daughter Ava made for me. She was six and she drew stick figures with big eyes of her and me holding hands with a bright yellow sun in the background. As a single mom, that picture just lit me up, as the memory of it does now.
I think with gratitude about my life today and the fresh flowers I unskillfully arrange. Yet how much joy they give me when I pause to enjoy them. "It's the little things," we are told, and there is so much truth in it. "Champagne taste, beer budget," my mom would say. It is the little things.
Centering Our Universe
For Martha Stewart, she was the center of her universe and when it crashed, she did as well. Whenever I’ve put myself or anyone else in the center of my universe similarly, I crashed. When I burned out from my medical practice, there went my doctor persona. When my marriage ended, there went my wife persona. And while I could bore you with a very, very long list, I won't.
My salvation certainly has been putting God or Christ-centered philosophy and Mother Mary at that center. A Christ-centered life, it's been called, reminding myself that I'm part of a greater humanity and am an imperfectly perfect work within it.
Embracing Imperfection and Resilience
Here's to my fellow imperfect beings who care, love and give deeply in their own lives. You're my people. Resilience is about picking ourselves back up and dusting ourselves off. To see Martha Stewart on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 80 years old - good for her and good for us! The people in her ecosystem that relished in destroying her can eat their jealousy. I faced that type of oppression before, as you may have, and continue to in different ways.
Being one of only a few female doctors where I began practice in '99, I did then and do now strive to do things better each day, taking care of patients better and empowering as many women and men in health as I can. As an OB/Gyn, I used to labor my patients with a labor ball and squat bar (after dusting them off as they hadn't been used in years by my other colleagues), I delivered my patients' babies in dim light to prevent the neural shock of the bright delivery room lights. I customized and compounded my clients' hormones and was criticized for it all.
I've been trampled in life like a blade of grass, like you may have been. And yet here we are, still advocating for a better life, better health, better relationships.
It was with intention when I chose the Alpine Rose plant stem cells for my Julva formula. It wasn't only for the great science behind it. It was for what that flower represented to me. The beautiful rose blossoming in the harsh terrain, rocks, and snow of the Swiss Alps, blooming bright and lovely, as if saying, "You can't suppress me. You can't suppress my beauty nor my gifts I bring to this world. I will blossom and bring joy."
The Alpine Rose symbolizes resilience and femininity as we age.
As we age and our hormones and even appearance changes, we are not old crones, but resilient roses, continuing to evolve and show up again and again, despite our trauma, past relationships and financial circumstances, trusting our ability to regenerate and revitalize, and caring for ourselves enough to do so.
A Call to Create Beauty
I needed the reminder of creating beauty in all aspects of my life. And that this is important and not frivolous.
What has brought a smile to you today?
What beauty have you created or will you create?
I know there's much suffering in this world, but perhaps by creating and appreciating something beautiful in our lives, we can have a healing, rippling effect.
Here's to rising from the ashes, my fellow blades of grass or Alpine Roses. I urge you to create something beautiful in your life today and see the beauty that's already there.
Xx Dr. Anna Cabeca
