“Aging isn't just about getting older; it's about growing more evolved each day.  More nuanced, more enriched. More beautiful. More ourselves” - Emily Dickinson

How do we age with softness? 

How do we approach a birthday—or a fertility milestone—with compassion instead of judgment? 

In this rich and heart-forward conversation, I join Dr. Erica Bove, my birthday twin, to explore what it means to see with the heart, especially in moments of uncertainty, grief, and growth.

Dr. Erica Bove is a reproductive endocrinologist and integrative fertility coach for women physicians. She is a beloved retreat participant who shares candid reflections about her experience at not one, but two of my retreats. 

This podcast episode was recorded for her podcast, Love and Science Fertility.

We recorded it in celebration of our upcoming birthdays.

This is what she has to say about the episode – 

“With the growth of the Love and Science community, it feels like we are constantly navigating a birthday in the group. Birthdays are often fraught with many complexities-- grief for where we thought we would be by now, cognitive dissonance of people wanting to celebrate us when we feel sad and angry, and also the sheer fact that our ovaries are getting older.  I've known Dr. Jessie Mahoney for a long time; in fact, we share the same birthday. July is our birthday month, so we decided to team up and share our wisdom about birthdays. We hope to share a fresh perspective on birthdays. I look to her for wisdom and guidance, and I'm sure you will feel the depth of her presence when you listen.”

In this episode, we discuss birthdays as soulful markers of time and growth, how expectations can shift into intentions, and what it means to return to yourself with tenderness, especially in the face of challenges.

This episode is a mindful invitation to pause and reflect on how far you’ve come, what you’ve learned, and who you’re becoming.

Pearls of Wisdom:

• Replacing expectations with intentions opens space for softness, peace, and joy, especially around birthdays and timelines.

• Fertility journeys can feel like a relentless race against time, but when we pause to look through the lens of growth and wisdom, we find we are never moving backwards.

• Self-compassion is not optional—it's essential. Learning to see with the heart invites healing, clarity, and grounded decision-making.

• We are not meant to carry everything alone. Being part of a loving, mindful community changes everything.

• The nervous system responds to intentional calm. Creating space for reflection and stillness isn’t indulgent—it’s medicine.

Reflection Questions:

• What do you know this year that you didn’t know last year?

• How are you not alone in your current journey?

• What would your future, wisest self wish you had done more of this year?

If this episode resonates with you, I invite you to explore how Pause and Presence retreats can offer you a transformational reset. 

Whether you're seeking grounding, clarity, or simply a breath of fresh air in your life, you'll return home with renewed energy and wisdom that lasts. Visit www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats to learn more.

Mindful coaching also offers tremendous support for transformation and a reset.  www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching. 

If you're a team, institution, or conference seeking a speaker or workshop on mindfulness, leadership, or healing in medicine, please contact me at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking.

To experience more of Dr. Erica Bove’s integrative fertility wisdom, or to invite her to speak or teach, visit www.loveandsciencefertility.com.

Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.