When Life Stops You Mid-Sentence

A personal story, a wake-up call, and the choices that quietly shape our health.

Welcome to The Feel Good Life! A newsletter about health, prevention, empathy, and hope. Join me, Dr. Mariana, as I explore all sides of good health and a good life. New around here? Get started.

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Just three days ago, I learned that a very close friend of mine suffered a severe stroke…

I’m at a loss for words, waiting for updates as hours pass, hoping she’ll recover with as few consequences as possible.

Image: Credit

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This makes me reflect—on how life is both precious and fragile.

It also makes me think about my own life and how I choose to spend my days: with love, hope and passion, or with fear and despair. What is my mind choosing each day? Where is my focus going as time slips by? What’s become my default mode of operating?

There’s so much we can’t control—like random, life-altering events. But there’s also so much we can choose, especially our thoughts.

I’m reminded of everything I’ve been teaching throughout my life and career with deep conviction: prevention matters, emotions matter, and self-knowledge is possible.

A stroke is one of the most serious and life-threatening cardiovascular events. In my recent newsletters, I’ve shared how the cardiovascular system works, what happens when it fails, and how to protect it as best we can. I never know where my words will land, but I always hope that if even one person connects with the message enough to want to learn more, or to make one small, positive change, then the mission is fulfilled.

My friend is in a hospital bed, fighting for her life, slowly waking up and trying to understand what just happened. She’s probably exhausted and confused, like waking up from a bad dream. I don’t know what comes next. I only know that I’m praying for her recovery, and for her to feel surrounded by love.

This moment is also a reminder of how much life is worth living. How the love around us makes all the difference. How a calmer life is possible. And how choosing yourself can be the hardest yet most rewarding decision you’ll ever make.

None of us knows what’s around the corner. So please, pause and reflect today: Are you in a good place? If not, what can you do to make it better? What cycle might you need to break? Are you at peace with the people in your life? With your work? With your body? With yourself?

The world feels like chaos, I know. And we all carry different realities. But even in the mess, there’s always something small you can do to make today a little better, even if it feels impossible. Sometimes, it really is the simple things. Don’t overlook them.

And if you or someone you love is at risk for cardiovascular disease, let me remind you of a few essential basics:

• Move. Exercise is wonderful and important, but life can make it hard to find the time or energy. Even so, simple daily movements—like squatting, stretching, walking, or stimulating your calves—support your muscles, joints, and cardiovascular health. These small habits can add years of wellness to your life.

• Do you smoke or drink? Try to cut back or quit. The long-term damage these habits cause is profound, especially to your heart and blood vessels.

• Are you overweight? This isn’t about appearance—it’s about health. Extra weight takes a toll on your bones, joints, arteries, heart, liver, and digestion. It can also affect your sleep and disrupt your hormones. And hormones, my friends, are the quiet messengers running everything behind the scenes. Whether you're managing a health condition, taking medication that affects your weight, living a sedentary lifestyle, or navigating emotional eating—ask yourself: what can I do today to better understand my body? Baby steps.

• How stressed are you on daily basis? Stress is one of the leading causes of modern illness—and unfortunately, it’s everywhere: in the news, at work, on the streets, even at home. While stress is designed to help us survive, living in a constant state of it makes it nearly impossible to truly thrive. Start by checking in with yourself using a quick “stressometer,” and take things one step at a time. Need immediate relief? Try this simple one-minute routine to release tension from your body. And if you’re ready to go deeper, I’ve created a free 8-lesson course on stress that’s open to everyone.

• Express your emotions. We all carry deep feelings inside. But when those emotions—especially the heavy or chronic ones—go unexpressed, they begin to quietly alter the way your body and brain function. Over time, that’s how chronic illness takes root. Find outlets: talk, write, paint, move, sing, seek therapy, whatever works for you. Don’t let it stay bottled up.

It may sound simple, but it's precisely the small, consistent actions that will truly transform your life.

Take good care of yourselves and your loved ones today.

Love,
Mariana