Occupation: Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Being Health
Mom of: 2
Can you tell us a secret no one would guess about you?
In college after taking a Renaissance painting class in Florence, Italy one summer, I started to paint prolifically for a few years. And in my 20s, I seriously considered becoming a painter. In fact, I even sold my first painting to a museum in Pont\-Aven, France for 100 euros at the age of 21! The decision tree for my career for a while was doctor or painter. In the end I chose to be a doctor because I love being around people too much and did not want to be isolated in that way as a painter.
One meal you could eat everyday?
Hands down an arugula salad with grilled chicken, pumpkin, seeds, avocado and Tierra Callada olive oil drizzled all over (my neighbor is Spanish and has an olive oil farm in the south of Spain and I am so brand loyal and won’t have it any other way!).
One vice you wont give up?
High quality dark chocolate! And lots of it….
Late riser or early bird?
Late riser. I used to be able to sleep in until 2pm when younger before having kids to catch up on sleep. That’s not possible now of course with kids at home and me getting older. My body won’t stay quiet for that long anymore.
Morning routine you swear by?
I start my morning before the kids are up making a pistachio milk golden chai from scratch with fresh grated turmeric, black tea leaves, cardamom, fennel, black pepper, and other spices. I have been doing this for over three years and I feel great. It’s become a ritual. And has replaced my morning coffee which I am finding to be too harsh on my system these days. Plus turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties which are activated by black pepper.
One day I hope…
That everyone in our society would be able to have the invaluable experience of being in therapy. It is the best investment that a person can make in themselves and their emotional health and it has a reverberating impact on others. I really believe that a lot of conflict of all types would diminish if everyone could go through therapy.
More the merrier or less is more?
It depends on my level of stress and my mood. My first impulse is to say the more the merrier. I love community, dinner parties and being enveloped by packs of friends. But as I get older, I also love long in depth and soulful conversations one on one with good friends. It feeds the soul.
Cool brands you love?
Tata Harper nourishing oil cleanser – it smells divine!
Aesop Resurrection Hand Balm, especially in the winter with all of the handwashing as a health care provider and mother, my hands get cracked and this is the perfect antidote!
Tula Purifying Face Cleanser. It’s so light and feels good on my skin.
Le Labo Rose 31 perfume. This is my daily indulgence : )
Cynthia Rowley everything 🙂
On the horizon: what’s coming soon?
New podcast about to be released! Plus my 50th birthday next year which I will celebrate in style 🙂