The Truth We Overlook:
I started paying attention early.
Real talk: I was the fifth child. My siblings gave me a front-row seat on what to do and avoid. I was like an employee eavesdropping in the executive boardroom, listening, cataloging, and preparing to lead when it was my turn.
My mother had menopause after having me in her late 30s. I asked her about it in my 20s and filed the info away. It stuck. I might be early, too,
I thought.
Eczema, psoriasis, dark circles under the eyes, and alopecia are also in my mother's family. She even shaved her head during the pandemic.
I remember thinking,
“That could be me one day.” But she had incredible skin, and I cataloged that too.
So I made peace when the hair went, and planned accordingly.
I give my skin routine all I have and as much room as possible to stretch my hair goals for as long as possible. I made peace with the inner and outer confidence I need to strengthen from the inside out.
Even now, I track what’s inherited and what’s evolving. That clarity helps me lead. It tells me what to ritualize and when to call in a specialist. That’s not extra, that’s leadership.
Passed Down or Picked Up?
Ask yourself: Is this something passed down… or something I’ve picked up along the way? Is this hormonal, and is my body shifting? These are all normal, silent questions I ask myself all the time. You are not alone.
That clarity is everything. I remember being as young as five with eczema and psoriasis and understanding how my mother nurtured my skin. Since then, I have become fanatical about skin (more on this topic). The sooner you know what needs attention, the smoother the shift when our bodies change. When our skin is changing, our habits need to change. Starting with mindset and being okay to shift, then eating, exercising, and creating mindfulness, I want you to know that's okay.
You know what is also okay? Resisting. We are all politicians with our beliefs. Allow yourself to embrace that resistance and explore the push before being pulled.
Every part of the body has a journey, and it is a marathon.