Let’s talk about something I don’t normally write about.

Most of my blogs focus on confidence, motherhood, midlife, relationships, and learning to embrace who we are becoming. Today feels a little different. Today, I want to talk about something that could potentially save your life.

Health screenings.

At 46 years old, I am preparing for my very first colonoscopy. I’ll be honest, it isn’t exactly something I was excited to put on my calendar. In fact, if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent years putting everyone else’s appointments ahead of your own. The kids need physicals. Someone needs braces adjusted. There are dentist appointments, sports schedules, work obligations, and a hundred other things competing for our attention. Somewhere along the way, it becomes very easy to convince ourselves that we’ll get around to scheduling our own appointments later.

The problem is that later has a funny way of sneaking up on us.

Recently, I found myself thinking about how much time and energy I spend taking care of the people I love. As moms, wives, daughters, friends, and caregivers, it comes naturally to us. We show up. We make the calls. We keep track of medications, appointments, schedules, and all of the little details that help our families run smoothly. But what if taking care of ourselves is one of the most important ways we can continue taking care of everyone else?

The Pretty Truth is that prevention matters.

One of the reasons I finally scheduled my colonoscopy is because the recommendations have changed. The American Cancer Society now recommends that adults at average risk begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45 instead of 50 because more cases are being diagnosed in younger adults than ever before. Many people are shocked to learn that colorectal cancer is becoming increasingly common among adults under 50. The goal of screening is to find precancerous polyps before they become cancer and to detect cancer early when treatment is often most successful.

That statistic stopped me in my tracks.

Because if you’re in your forties like I am, fifty probably doesn’t seem that far away anymore. Yet somehow forty-five still feels young. We’re raising kids, managing careers, helping aging parents, planning family vacations, and wondering why our backs hurt after sleeping in a perfectly good bed. Most of us don’t walk around thinking about colon cancer. We certainly don’t wake up excited to schedule medical procedures.

But that’s exactly why these screenings are so important.

Many serious health conditions don’t announce themselves with flashing warning signs. They quietly develop behind the scenes. By the time symptoms appear, the opportunity for early intervention may have already passed. Screening isn’t about expecting bad news. It’s about giving ourselves the best possible chance to stay healthy.

As women, there comes a point where we have to stop viewing preventative care as optional. Mammograms, colonoscopies, annual physicals, blood work, skin checks, gynecological exams, and all of the other screenings our doctors recommend are not inconveniences. They are investments in our future.

I know there are women reading this who have been putting off an appointment. Maybe you’re nervous. Maybe you’re busy. Maybe you’re afraid of what they might find. Maybe life has simply gotten in the way. Whatever the reason, I understand. But if there is one thing midlife has taught me, it’s that our health deserves the same attention we give to everyone else.

We spend so much of our lives caring for others that we sometimes forget we matter too.

Confidence isn’t only about speaking up, setting boundaries, or finally becoming comfortable in your own skin. Sometimes confidence looks like making the appointment you’ve been avoiding. Sometimes confidence looks like showing up for the screening. Sometimes confidence looks like taking care of yourself even when it feels inconvenient.

The older I get, the more I realize that taking care of myself isn’t selfish. It’s one of the most loving things I can do for the people who count on me. My family wants me here. My friends want me here. There are still places I want to visit, memories I want to make, and chapters of life I haven’t written yet.

So yes, this blog is a little different from my usual posts.

But if even one woman schedules the appointment she’s been putting off because she read this, then it will have been worth writing.

The Pretty Truth is that getting older is a privilege. Not everyone gets the opportunity. Taking care of ourselves is one way we honor that privilege.

So make the appointment.

Ask the questions.

Get the screening.

Advocate for yourself.

Because prevention is powerful, and you are worth every bit of it.

Want More Pretty Truth in Your Life?

If this post nudged you to finally put yourself on your own calendar, my book The Pretty Truth is for you. It is the long-form version of what coming back to yourself actually looks like, written for women who are done putting their own care last.

✨ Click Buy The Pretty Truth and it will take you to our Books page.

Xo, Maria

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• You Don’t Have to Start OverA pretty truth about the lie that fixing your life means blowing it up.
• Why You Feel “Off” When Your Life Looks Fine on PaperThe exhaustion no one warns women about in midlife isn’t physical. Here’s what to actually call it.