Empowering Women One Purse at a Time

Contributed By Deb

I never saw the true connection between my profession and heart disease until my mother suffered a massive heart attack.

While she lay in a hospital bed, fighting for her life, I was at another hospital, in another state, talking to women about purses. As a professional speaker, focusing on women's wellness, the purse is the tool I use to create a connection between women and their health. Once we laugh about all the excess baggage in our purses, I ask, "What really weighs you down? What are you carrying everyday that threatens your health?"

Sometimes it's obvious. The extra pounds we carry, especially around our middle, the poor food choices we make, and addictions, such as smoking, are all apparent health risks. But oftentimes, the burdens we can't see can be just as dangerous.

These are the topics I focus on in my purse presentation. Worry, depression, perfectionism and the Superwoman mentality can all threaten a woman's health and well being. I show women simple, yet effective ways to deal with these emotional issues. This empowers them to make healthy choices, both physically and mentally.

Although I have always been passionate about this presentation, until my mother's illness, I never realized how many of the heart problems were directly related to the issues I cover in my purse speech!

The trauma and loneliness of a spouse's death on top of an unhealthy lifestyle - no exercise, excessive smoking and alcohol, poor nutrition, and a hostile outlook - all contributed to the plaque and heart blockage that lead to my mother's heart attack. .

My mother survived the heart attack, but now has congestive heart failure and COPD.
Unfortunately she continues to use unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with her stress and anxiety. And although it's painful for me to witness, it only strengthens my resolve to share my message.

Breast Cancer is a devastating disease that kills 40,000 women per year. However, heart disease kills 499,000 women a year. (Statistic stated in Strong Women Strong Hearts by Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D., and Alice H. Licthenstein, D.Sc., G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 2005)

Although my commitment has always been to help women live better lives, now I am even more passionate to share my healthy ways of relieving stress, and empower women's heart health, one purse at a time!

The Go Red For Women movement truly happens here. Feel free to browse the community of Go Red stories. This is where your unique, brave, open, sincere, empowered, heartfelt, triumphant voices are heard out loud. They'll also live on here, when other leave words of encouragement, advice, opinions or engage in lively discussion. Be sure to check back too. You may just change lives. Or start a revolution. Think of it as a room of your own - at the very heart of Go Red.