Ashley Novak | Fertility + Gut Health

We have overcomplicated wellness to the point that it’s honestly astonishing.

We have to remind grown women to eat enough food. Drink enough water. Go outside. Sleep. Rest. Breathe. 🫠

And somewhere between the protocols, supplements, wearables, morning routines and endless pursuit of becoming a “healthier” version of ourselves…

…we forgot that feeling fucking ALIVE is part of being well.

Last night I went to see @rufusdusol with my girlfriends, and dancing my absolute ass off at a concert is genuinely one of my happiest places on earth.

Sweaty. Screaming lyrics. Laughing. Moving my body without tracking a single fucking thing. Not trying to improve it, change it, burn something off or make the experience productive.

Just completely fucking IN IT. MELTINGGGGGGG.

And this belongs in the conversation about health.

Female friendship belongs in the conversation.

Community, laughter, music, dancing, play, pleasure, sensuality and doing things for no other reason than they light your fucking ass on fire belong in the conversation.

I ask women I work with to dance sometimes for this exact reason. Not because dancing needs to become another wellness task, but because sometimes you need to get the fuck out of your head and back into your body.

Put on the song. Shake your ass. Make noise. Laugh until your stomach hurts. Let the version of you who used to dance around her bedroom at 16 come the fuck OUT.

And no, you don’t need a concert ticket.

Dance barefoot in your kitchen. Have your girlfriends over. Blast music in the car. Play. Sing terribly. Wear the outfit. Do something simply because it’s FUN.

We spend so much of adulthood doing for everyone else and working on ourselves that sometimes we forget to actually enjoy ourselves.

Your body needs nourishment, minerals, water, sleep, sunlight and movement.

But you also need friendship, connection, laughter, pleasure, play, music and moments where you’re not trying to become better.

You’re just there.

Sweaty. Laughing. Shaking your fucking booty. ALIVE.

Maybe wellness is also building a life that makes you want to fucking dance in it.🔥