Intro: Journey into Well-Being

by dr. terri

In the late 1990s, the renowned screenwriter, Richard LaGravenese, released the movie Living Out Loud, which tackles the topic of how one woman learned to be happy with herself and her life. The main character, Judith, is married to a prominent surgeon. They meet during medical school, where she, too, was studying to be a doctor. However, she lets go of her dream of becoming a doctor and settles for becoming a nurse because she would rather be married to a doctor than to be a doctor who is single.

Within the course of the 15-year marriage, Judith never has children because her husband does not want any. She later chooses to forfeit her nursing career in order to remain flexible for his fast-paced schedule. Yet, in spite of all her sacrifices to keep her marriage and to keep her husband satisfied, she learns of his having an affair with another doctor who is a much younger woman. To add insult to injury, after their divorce, her ex-husband marries his mistress, the doctor, and they start a family together.

Suddenly Judith realizes she has failed to negotiate her own autobiography of well-being. By the end of the movie, after much soul-searching, and the establishment of new platonic and romantic relationships, Judith makes the decision to go back to medical school and reclaim herself and her life. In essence, Judith learns to pursue her own sense of well-being.

Like many women, Judith’s story is filled with life-altering dilemmas that can lead to questioning not only how she arrived at her present situation but to question how she can successfully move forward with her life. Judith does this by learning to better communicate with her inner self and with others. In doing so, the movie literally allows the audience to listen to her inner thoughts even as she dialogues with those around her.

What the audience witnesses is her journey into well-being. And it is Judith’s journey as a woman that serves as a springboard for this Women's History Month March series on the Journey into Well-Being. So over the next few weeks we’ll look at well-being across the lifespan of women, particularly as it relates to autonomy, personal growth, self-acceptance, life purpose, environmental mastery, and positive relatedness.

Whatha? Ah, stay tuned as we explain what each of these mean for us as women who seek to be well. In the meantime, let's ask ourselves: What dreams have we needlessly forfeited in the quest for imaginary happiness?

The journey continues...

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dr. terri is an educator, empowerment writer, and entrepreneur,

who provides education planning, writing guidance, and life-mapping services to the sisterhood and those they love.

To learn more about her services, visit www.withdrterri.com. For the online women's center, visit www.stillsosexy.com.