Issue #29: falling apart. coming together.
breasts, emotions, intentional friendship, fall recipes + the politics of being a woman
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Life’s transitions, whether becoming a mother, navigating midlife, or facing unexpected shifts, often bring with them a sense of falling apart. These moments can feel unsettling, as familiar pieces of ourselves shift, break, or scatter in ways we couldn’t have foreseen. Yet, there’s a quiet strength that emerges in these times of unraveling; as we let go of old identities or expectations, we open space for something new. Sometimes, in the process of falling apart, we are brought together more wholly, finding connection, insight, purpose, or joy we might never have accessed without first letting ourselves be undone. These cycles of breaking and mending help us grow into fuller versions of ourselves, knitting together experiences that ground us and guide us forward…but they can also feel really hard.
“Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.”
~ Pema Chödrön
speaking of EMOTIONS…
we LOVED these journal prompts for EVERY emotion you might be feeling.
the politics of being a WOMAN.
Here is the truth…we don’t like talking about politics. When we began INTERWOVXN, our goal was to create a space where all women, no matter their background or views, felt included and supported. But as we continue to build this community, one truth has become inescapable: we cannot talk about women’s health without talking about politics.
Women’s health is deeply intertwined with policies that affect access to basic care, treatment options, and rights. The five pillars of INTERWOVXN—menstrual health, fertile health, motherhood, perimenopause, and breast health—are each shaped by the political landscape.
Menstrual.Health
In 20 states, including Wisconsin, menstrual products are still taxed as non-essential items, while products like Viagra are exempt. The "pink tax" makes it harder for low-income menstruators to afford necessary items like pads and tampons. Limitations on our access to birth control would make managing menstrual health conditions more difficult while increasing the risk of unplanned pregnancies. Further restrictions on abortion access amplify these challenges, leaving those affected with fewer options and increased health risks.
Fertile.Health
For those navigating fertility challenges, access to treatments like IVF and fertility medications can be life-changing—or even life-saving. But insurance coverage for these treatments is inconsistent, and in some places, non-existent. Further, legal challenges to abortion and policies around miscarriage management can leave women in heartbreaking, dangerous situations while putting access IVF at risk. Restrictive laws may affect the handling and use of embryos, creating additional obstacles for those seeking fertility care.
Mother.Hood
As we shared last week, parents are at a breaking point. The journey of motherhood is a beautiful, yet challenging one, and it should not be made harder by a lack of support systems. Affordable childcare and accessible mental health resources are vital to the health of mothers and families, yet they remain out of reach for many. The choices that policymakers make about funding and support for mothers deeply impact the ability to thrive in those critical early years of parenthood.
Peri.Menopause
Perimenopause, much like other women’s health phases, is often overlooked in political discussions, but it’s a critical time in a woman’s life. Access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), birth control, and other medications can significantly impact a woman’s health during this transition. Yet, navigating the healthcare system to receive proper care is often difficult, and the availability of medications can be limited by political decisions on healthcare policy.
Breast Health
When it comes to breast health, access to affordable screenings, genetic testing, and treatment for breast cancer can mean the difference between life and death. Political decisions around healthcare, insurance, and medical research funding all play a role in the accessibility and quality of care that women receive when it comes to their breast health.
These are not easy conversations, and we know that people have different opinions and experiences. While we aim to remain inclusive of all perspectives, we also stand firm in advocating for a world where every woman has the right to access the care she needs.
TASTE: 10 Favorite Butternut Squash Recipes. If tomatoes are summer’s long-awaited gems, then it may be fair to say that sweet, amenable butternut squash, its orange flesh the color of autumn leaves, is fall’s jewel. But unlike tomatoes, whose peak is fleeting, sturdy squash lingers, staying fresh for months if kept at the right conditions (in a cool, dark place at room temperature, or in the refrigerator). These recipes enhance squash’s understated beauty, bringing out its best whether roasted, blitzed into a soup or topping flaky pastry. Staying on theme (and perfect for fall), we are also eyeing up this Fall Apart Oven Braised Chuck Roast! And these Cinnamon Glazed Vegan Pumpkin Sugar Cookies for this weekend’s Halloween festivities.
SEE: How To Cultivate A Cozy Digital Environment. We spend more time on our phones and computers than ever before, so why not give them the same nesting treatment we do the rest of our spaces? Here are a few fun ways to bring warmth to your next scroll session–from wallpaper to digital soundscapes. Also making the case for keeping your phone out of the bedroom.
SMELL: Activated Charcoal for Your Underarms. Charcoal works like a sponge, drawing moisture and bacteria to it. It also has natural antibacterial properties that contribute to fresh smelling pits all day long! Once you use natural deodorants with charcoal you may never go back. Here are a few products that I (Rebecca) am loving: Schmidt’s Charcoal + Magnesium Deodorant and Megababe’s Space Bar Underarm Soap (Katie, the founder of Megababe is actually from WI and went to high school with Theresa! She recently on Oprah with Rebel Wilson, Busy Phillips, and others talking about changing the way we talk and think about our bodies and weight.
HEAR: Meditation to Beat the Sunday Scaries. The "Sunday scaries" are a very particular type of anxiety that typically comes on Sunday evenings when we start imagining what will happen on Monday once work starts. We're already mentally living in tomorrow, thinking about impending meetings, emails, and to-do lists, instead of focusing on what’s here today.
TOUCH: The Power of the Placenta. The same qualities that make placentas so valuable during pregnancy make them profoundly useful for healing burns and wounds, too. Research has found placenta-derived grafts can reduce pain and inflammation, heal burns prevent the formation of scar tissue and adhesions around surgical sites and even restore vision. They’re also gaining popularity as a treatment for the widespread issue of chronic wounds. And yet, of the roughly 3.5 million placentas delivered in the United States each year, most still wind up in biohazard disposal bags or hospital incinerators.
Can we ask a favor? If you enjoy this newsletter every week, please consider sharing it with a friend (or friends)! We could use your help in growing our audience so that we can continue to do this work. Thanks!!
friendship with INTENTION
Friendships naturally evolve as we go through different stages in life, shifting in response to our changing priorities, values, and needs. What we once valued in a friend may no longer fit, and sometimes friends who were central to our lives drift away as paths diverge. Growing into a more intentional approach to friendships can foster deeper, more meaningful connections.
WTF IS INTENTIONAL FRIENDSHIP?
“An intentional friendship is when people choose to engage in friendship with purpose, on purpose.There is mindfulness to being a friend. Thoughtfulness. Action. So many verbs could be used here, but the result is still the same and that’s effort.”
~ Amanda, Friendship with Intention.
And we leave you with…
As we close out Breast Cancer Awareness Month over the coming week, we want to take a moment to honor and celebrate the women who have shared their stories and expertise on the INTERWOVXN podcast and within our Breast.Health WOVXN Wellness Guide.
Tara Elmore + Lisa Lundy are the sisters and co-founders of Complex Creatures. Inspired by Tara's journey through breast cancer, they are on a mission to make breast wellness essential to self-care and offer products to improve a woman's relationship with her breasts. Check out their products and use code LOVEMINE for 20% off your first purchase!
Dr. Monique Gary, DO, MSc, FACS, "Dr. Mo"–is a breast surgeon, educator, and advocate for wellness. Dr. Mo currently serves as the Medical Director of the Grand View Health cancer program and is the CEO of Still Rise Farms, a 40-acre farm that was founded as a living, learning laboratory for people facing cancer and chronic illness.
Gina Lamanna is the founder and creator of The (beautiful) Fondle Project–a campaign dedicated to changing the narrative around breast cancer. After her own cancer was overlooked, Gina had to become her own advocate and created this movement to focus on the importance of knowing our bodies through regular self exams while celebrating survivors.
And speaking of coming together, we are grateful to Vibrant Body Company for their contribution to the guide and their work in creating bras to bring the girls together that are free from harmful levels of chemicals.
With the creation of our Breast.Health WOVXN Wellness Guide and these conversations, our hope is that we can continue prioritizing breast wellness, self-care, and advocating for our bodies beyond the month of October. Our connection to our body is a lifelong journey and we are so very grateful for these beautiful women for reminding us how caring for and honoring ourselves can such a powerful tool and gift.
Have a great weekend!
