Self-Care Isn’t Always Cute (But It Can Save Your Life)
From the Sunday Self-Care Chronicles | 5/18/25
This week’s Sunday Self-Care Chronicles is a reminder that self-care isn’t always soft, soothing, or Instagram-worthy and that’s exactly what makes it powerful.
This week’s issue touches on:
✨ My recent colonoscopy—and what it taught me about honoring my future self.
✨ How real self-care can look like prep drinks, hospital gowns, and uncomfortable decisions.
✨ The difference between pampering and prevention—and why both deserve a seat at the table.
Read the full email below - and if something speaks to you please feel free to comment, share, or reach out!
Hey sweet friend,
There are lots of times that self-care doesn’t look like something we actually want to do but often these are things that are the most important for our long term health and well-being.
For example, on Friday I had a colonoscopy.
Not because anything was wrong. Not because I had any scary symptoms. But because, with more and more cases of colon cancer under 50, they lowered the recommended screening age and as a BRCA1+ breast cancer survivor who’s already dealt with one major health crisis, I was now overdue.
Before we get into the real message of today's email I want to touch on the procedure itself and offer that if you've never had one it's not that bad. Honestly.
Yes fasting for the day before the procedure is not fun but with all of the white grape juice and vegetable broth I could chug I kept the munchies at bay for the most part.
I was able to get the “prep” ingredients over the counter so what used to consist of a vomit-inducing prescription “drink” is now a mixture of Gatorade and Miralax. While I may never drink Glacial Frost Cherry Gatorade again, I did manage to get it all down over the course of the evening without gagging once. Win!
And while my mind assumed I would be running to the toilet all night long, it actually was just a few times once the concoction kicked in, there was no cramping or discomfort, and I slept through the night without incident.
I actually don't remember anything about the procedure itself except them saying here comes the sedation and would you like a ginger ale before you get dressed.
For me the hardest part seemed to be coming out of anesthesia which included a medical grade dose of Fentanyl and after sleeping solidly for 24 hours once we got home, I can pretty safely say I will “just say no” to drugs from here on out!
The good news? They removed one small polyp and will send out it for biopsy but the odds are that I won't need another one of these for quite a while and by removing that one little guy it no longer has a chance to become something sinister in the future.
And when there is so much in this world that I don't have control over, finding something I can do to reduce my risk of any kind of cancer now or in the future is something I am all onboard with.
You see here’s the thing: Self-care isn’t always fun. It’s not always pretty. And it sure as hell doesn’t always feel good in the moment.
Sometimes self-care looks like:
Rearranging your whole week to fit in a procedure.
Fasting for hours and trying not to be cranky about it.
Asking others for help because you aren't allowed to drive yourself home.
Spending more time on the couch than you wanted because recovery was took longer than expected.
But you know what else it looks like? Agency. Prevention. Peace of mind.
Self-care isn’t just about feeling better right now. It’s about taking action today that supports your future self - the one who deserves a body that’s tended to, checked on, and watched over.
And sure, for this particular adventure I’m glad the prep is behind me (no pun intended… okay, maybe a little). But mostly, I’m proud that I honored the part of me that knows I’m worth caring for, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Whether it’s a screening test, a scar check, a gentle walk when you’d rather stay in bed, or speaking up about a symptom that scares you, this too is self-care.
💭 Something to consider:
What’s one unglamorous thing you’ve been putting off that might actually be a gift to your future self?
What if you scheduled it right now (or put in on your to do list for this week)? You can even share it with me once it's done so I can cheer you on!
☕️ I’d love to hear from you:
Ever done something that felt awful in the moment but left you proud afterward? I’d love to know what your version of “drinking the prep” has been lately. Hit reply and tell me so we can high-five over doing the hard stuff.
With a clean bill of health this week, I'm always in this with you.
ps. Scheduling the thing is often the hardest part. If you’ve been waiting for a sign—this is it. You’ve got this. Picture me waving my arms wildly like one of those roadside used car showroom inflatable guys screaming your name in support.
pps. Need help getting started? Sometimes you need a little guidance on knowing what comes next or finding the right professional for your needs. You might consider an “Ask Amy” Virtual Consult so I can hold your hand (metaphorically) on your self-care journey.