| | | | If you’ve ever skipped a health screening or pushed a check-up down the to-do list, you’re in good company—and that’s part of the problem. According to Aflac’s latest Wellness Matters survey, over 90% of Americans delay routine care. Women, in particular, are more likely to admit skipping screenings and are less likely to feel in control of their health.
That last part hits hard. Because feeling out of control doesn’t just happen in crisis—it builds in the quiet moments we put ourselves last.
And for many of us, this isn’t hypothetical. Among women under 60, most have avoided at least one recommended screening—and Gen X women, ages 44 to 50, are some of the most likely to skip the doctor. Sixty-three percent report avoiding screenings, compared to just 54% of Gen X men. Pap smears and colonoscopies, in particular, are among the most commonly neglected.
But the data also offers hope: women who feel supported are far more likely to stay on top of their health. Encouragement—from family members, from friends, even from our office buddies—can make a difference when it comes to booking a mammogram or scheduling a blood test. Sometimes all it takes is a nudge—from a loved one, or from yourself.
So consider this your nudge. Book the appointment. Ask the questions. Take the time.
Regaining control starts with showing up—for you. |
| Meet the Tennis Icon Who’s Stepped Off the Court and Into Herself Monica Seles may be best known for her legendary dominance on the tennis court—nine Grand Slam singles titles, a world No. 1 ranking and a career that redefined the sport—but in 2025, she’s showing the world a new kind of strength.
In a candid conversation with Flow Space, the tennis icon opened up about her recent diagnosis with myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune disease that has transformed the way she approaches daily life. But just as she did in her athletic prime, Seles is facing each challenge with grit, grace and curiosity—tapping into the same inner resilience that once helped her bounce back from an unthinkable on-court attack.
Now an advocate for awareness and connection, Seles is finding purpose in building community and embracing this next chapter. Here, she reflects on the mindset that carried her through a career of highs and heartbreaks, how she’s redefining strength and why flow is something she’s learned to welcome—in all its forms. |
Your tennis career is defined by both extraordinary triumphs and incredible resilience. Looking back, what inner strengths or mindsets helped you navigate the highest highs and most challenging moments, on and off the court? Well, I kind of trained my mind the same way as you train your body—you know, different exercises that you do for it. Learning how to center yourself, dealing with the pressure when you step out on the court. Everything takes practice, and this is also the same story here.
After stepping away from professional tennis, you’ve embraced new passions, from writing to advocating for healthy living. What inspired these chapters of your life, and how have they shaped your sense of purpose today? For me, I think it's always important to evolve and see what new adventures lie ahead. I had to reset a few times in my life, obviously after my stabbing and then now being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, I had to, you know, adjust both my personal and professional life. But I think throughout it all, I think it's important to know who you are and to know that there is a strong support system that you have. For me, as I mentioned, I play the singular sport of tennis. So, it's a lot of time spent alone, but with my trying to raise awareness with my asthenia gravis, it's all about the community and building those communities together, exchanging ideas and resources. So I'm very much looking forward to this new chapter in my life. Speaking of your diagnosis, you recently shared it for the first time. What has living with this autoimmune disease taught you about resilience and self care and kind of redefining what strength means It's a continuous adjustment living with this autoimmune neurological myasthenia gravis, but I've been very lucky that I have some amazing resources like mg-united.com where I have a community where we support each other—[and] also [share] different tips: from as simple as packing for this trip in New York City, planning dinners for my family. And really, essentially, this is why I decided to partner with Argenx about this awareness campaign, as I would like people to know what myasthenia gravis is and to bring more awareness around it.
How do you find flow—that moment, or ability, to be fully immersed and present in the moment—in your life? For me, flow happens naturally. I think when you're in that mindset, you're in that…unattached state. I guess you would say, when it's just everything is flowing; the creativity is probably at its highest level. So I mean, sometimes you're able to tap into it better than other times. But I think as long as you're letting yourself be open to it, I think flow will happen.
I find flow in a couple of different areas of my life. Obviously, you know, with family, absolutely my animals, then advocacy, I mean, for me, being here and being outspoken about my myasthenia gravis journey, helping other patients out there who have it has been a great feeling. |
Reinventing the Empty Nest For decades, the phrase “empty nest” has carried a sense of finality—like the story ends when the kids leave home. But for women entering this new chapter, the truth is much more layered—and far more promising. While it can feel disorienting to go from chaos to quiet, researchers, neurologists and storytellers alike are beginning to reframe this transition as a beginning, not an end.
Psychologists often compare the early phase of empty nesting to a form of grief, and that’s not an exaggeration. It’s the end of a season defined by caregiving, urgency and routine. But unlike other types of loss, this one holds a door open to something new: freedom, self-reclamation and even neurological renewal.
Recent research suggests that the shift from full-house multitasking to a quieter, more introspective lifestyle creates space not just emotionally—but cognitively. The brain, long overloaded by “mom mode,” begins to rewire. Neurologists have found that during this period, women may experience a surge in creativity, emotional clarity and motivation as the prefrontal cortex shifts its focus inward. It’s not brain fog—it’s a reset.
But none of this means the transition is easy. In fact, as author Tembi Locke writes in her latest memoir, Someday, Now, the emotional weight of empty nesting deserves to be felt, not bypassed. Her advice to Flow Space readers ? Give yourself the grace to grieve but also the space to grow. Pause with your child if you can. Create rituals. Pre-plan your goodbye. And don’t underestimate the power of talking to other women going through the empty nest phase, too.
So what if the empty nest isn’t empty at all—but full of opportunity? Full of unspoken dreams, creativity waiting to bloom, and the chance to finally put yourself at the center of the story. |
CELEBRATING the Bill Gates Foundation for committing $2.5 billion to women's health research.
READING Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired by Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer. Part science-backed reflection, part celebration of the world’s awe-inspiring detail, and definitely not your conventional self-help book, this book, it’s the perfect read for anyone seeking a mental reset or a moment of inspiration.
SHOPPING OLLY’s new line of mood- and skin-enhancing body care products, starting with their Neroli Dew-scented Revive Body Wash, featuring magnesium, electrolytes and Vitamin B12.
CONGRATULATING Dr. Kellyann Niotis, who recently spoke at Flow Space’s Women’s Health Forum, for her appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College, where she’ll be developing a formal, long-term fellowship program in preventive neurology. |
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Don't Miss Out—RSVP Now! Join Flow Space on Tuesday, August 26, in New York City as we celebrates the release of Dr. Vonda Wright's latest book, Unbreakable: A Woman's Guide to Aging with Power.
The orthopedic surgeon and longevity specialist will be joined by Peloton instructor and champion cyclist Christine D'Ercole to discuss her new book and explore the tools and inspiration you need to build muscle mass, improve mobility and cultivate a resilient mindset!
Bonafide, the brand bringing evidence-based, over-the-counter menopause relief products to women across the country, will be joining us as well. And, yes, they will be providing products for sampling!
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