Amy's Blog

Suze’s Take on Southern Women

What a powerful Go Red luncheon Friday at the Marriott in Cool Springs!!!  Close to five hundred women (and yes, a few good men) attended, and most of them wore red. It was a spectacular backdrop, with red, black and white draped tablecloths filling the ballroom, gorgeous flowers and stunning red outfits on attendees, but what made it so fabulous was the keynote speaker Suze Orman. She is an uber successful personal finance expert, bestselling author and one of the top motivational speakers in the world today!  I could go on and on about her accomplishments but I need to share with you her most important message about health and wealth as it relates to women. Her main focus was on women putting themselves first.  Orman said southern women don't know how to say no to anyone or anything!  When it comes to helping others, southern women volunteer to do it all and she said it's time to be able to say no sometimes. That may be a tough pill for alot of ladies to take, since it's such a way of life here.

  One example she used in her speech had to do with the instructions flight attendants always give us as we prepare for take-off;in the event that passengers need to use oxygen masks, always get oxygen for yourself first, then assist  children traveling with you.   She was really getting at the point that when we put ourselves last, after our children, spouses, friends, causes, etc., our health suffers. She said it's time for us, as women, to empower ourselves, and that means knowing our finances are in good order, as well as our health.

Besides Orman's financial advice, there was the emotional speech given by heart transplant survivor, 24 year old Jessica Waters. She just received her new heart 11 months ago, shortly after giving birth to her son, Elijah. Jessica had childhood cancer  as a toddler and years later learned that the treatment for the cancer had weakened her heart.  That's why she experienced heart failure at such a young age. Today she is doing great. I was so impressed with her ability to stand in front of such a large crowd of people she didn't know and share such a personal and painful journey, but it makes you realize that heart disease can also affect the young due to any number of reasons.

Jessica and Suze both helped me on stage during the "Open Your Heart" segment of the program. That's when we asked the crowd to make a donation to the American Heart Association because the Ayers Foundation again this year was so generous and offered to match those donations. I'm so proud to work with St. Thomas Heart and be involved in raising awareness of heart disease. I feel privileged to meet survivors like Jessica who show such strength. We can beat this killer, but we have to continue to share these stories, and above all else, take care of our own hearts.  

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