When going to sit down with a fertility specialist for the first time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and forget to ask the questions you’ve been wanting to. Here’s a quick list to help you prepare. Make notes that apply to you and your partner and take it with you to help guide the discussion.

Feeling heard and understood from the origin of the relationship helps build trust and respect, which prove to be vital to also feeling cared for by your physician and clinic.

Informed patients are good at self-advocating, so plan to speak up when you have the opportunity.

Every year, a few days before Christmas, comes the winter solstice, an astronomical event that marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. It occurs annually on December 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20th or 21st in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s a night of celebration, to give thanks for another year closing and the birth of a new one on the horizon. Although it isn’t marking the end of the calendar year, it marks the end of a season and the beginning of another.

In many cultures, the winter solstice represents the rebirth of the sun and the return of longer days. It symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and is a symbol of hope and renewal. Many ancient civilizations celebrated festivals such as Saturnalia and Yule during this time.

In Chinese medicine, this represents the turning of yin to yang, a phase that happens each day and night, each year, and in nearly every phenomenon we know. TCM is all about phases, the progression from stillness to action, and the ebb and flow of life as days and years pass.

In today’s world of social media language, we have all learned about FOMO, or the Fear Of Missing Out. I have to admit, this one is pretty handy.

Fear of missing out has likely increased for most of us, since the rise of social media and the ability to make the most boring and uninspired events look larger than life. It’s amazing what an angle can do for a scene.

Personally, when I’m having the time of my life I’m unlikely to capture it on film. When I’m in the moment I just don’t think to stop and film. So many other people are taking pics and videos that I’m sure the posts will be made, and all I have to do is enjoy them. As a result, I’m rarely ever in photographs. HA! That’s part of my MO, I love anonymity.

I notice FOMO creeping in at times, but many other people suffer it constantly. The need to be present, be a part of it, (Whatever it is), be IN the photos, is too great to say no.

The downside is that constant busyness and social engagement are exhausting.

I saw a new acronym that we should jump on and make a trend. JOMO. Joy Of Missing Out.

Success can be attributed to the daily habits and routines we adopt in our lives. Habit stacking is a powerful concept that can significantly impact personal growth and productivity. From small changes to meaningful transformations, these practices provide a framework for developing positive habits and eliminating destructive ones.

Ever since James Clear released his book “Atomic Habits,” people have applied his principles to lots of topics. Atomic habits are small, incremental changes that compound over time and ultimately lead to significant outcomes. He suggests that trying to tackle large projects all at once is overwhelming and often leads to failure or giving up.

Learning how to live life in a way that reduces persistent stress and decreases the adrenaline pump takes time, but making the decision to do so is often the first step in reversing the panic disorders the are plaguing us.