Food For Your Soul: Dawn McGee
Who knew there were so many lessons to learn post-surgery?
I recently had foot surgery, and let me tell you–it was a journey. People often look at me and say, “Wow, Dawn, you recover so fast! You’re so healthy!” And while I appreciate the kind words, what they see is not the full picture. So I want to share a few of the lessons I learned throughout my medical recovery, in both my personal life and my business.
My Lessons From My Post-Surgery Experience:
1. Listen to the Experts:
The doctors and nurses who shepherd you through preparation, surgery, and recovery are there to help you. And they’ve spent a lot of time learning how to do that. At the same time, you should always ask questions and advocate for yourself (you know your body better than anyone), and learn how to best help yourself.
After surgery, it was all about healing for me. That meant: icing and elevating my foot every day; doing the exercises as prescribed; going for walks that were just long enough to strengthen my foot without overdoing it; and practicing patience when the progress felt slow.
That advice came from knowledge and lots of experience. It was important that I kept my muscles strong, and that I didn’t hurt myself by trying to rush my recovery. So I listened. And it was good advice!.
“Whether in your personal life or your business, don’t try to figure it all out on your own.”
Whether in your personal life or your business, don’t try to figure it all out on your own. Listen to your inner wisdom, and also let the experts guide you.
2. Success Is Built on Small, Consistent Steps:
When we see someone succeed, we often don’t see the effort that went into it. The reality? Success is built step by step, one percent at a time. Progress isn’t flashy—it’s about showing up every day, even when you don’t want to. Especially when you don’t want to!
This idea applies far beyond post-surgery recovery. Whether you’re improving your health, growing a business, or changing any aspect of your life, it’s about showing up every day—especially when you don’t feel like it.
For example, if you’re building a business, you might need to:
- Intentionally promote your business, even when it feels uncomfortable.
- Network, meet new people, and attend events consistently.
- Share your offerings and successes so people actually know what you do.
When you show up consistently–for your health, for your business–you will see the payoff eventually.
3. Make Rest a Priority:
Whether you’re recovering from surgery or building a business, it is important to take care of yourself.
Your recovery will take longer (and you could even risk permanent damage) if you push your body too hard. If you work too many hours, you’ll face burnout and won’t be able to grow your business.
Healing happens while you rest. More sleep and lower stress levels can significantly improve recovery. Rest is good for your body and your brain! So, if your body is asking for extra rest, listen to it.
4. Pause and Celebrate:
We don’t do this enough! It’s easy to get caught up in the mindset of constantly moving to the next goal, but if we never take time to acknowledge our progress, we end up feeling like we’re on an endless hamster wheel.
Make a practice of celebrating your wins, no matter how small. It’s good for your mental health, and lower stress is good for your physical well-being. So take a moment. Celebrate yourself. Acknowledge the effort you put in and how far you’ve come. You deserve it!
“Trust the process, embrace the journey, and know that every small effort counts.”
There’s No Easy Button—But That’s Okay:
I won’t lie. There’s no shortcut to lasting success in any area of life. Sometimes, progress is hard. But that’s not a bad thing, The small, one percent changes you make every day add up to something much bigger over time. And while the world may only see the final results, you’ll know the work it took to get there.
It’s okay to acknowledge when you’re struggling–when business is hard or you’re in pain. It’s all a part of the process. You just have to acknowledge it and keep moving forward.
Trust the process, embrace the journey, and know that every small effort counts.
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About The Author:
Dawn McGee is a Nutrition Evangelist and Lazy Cook. She is super passionate about putting the fun back into being healthy and does that by teaching women how to eat to serve their body, brain, and soul so that they can get off the sidelines and back to doing all of the things that bring them joy. She works with women who are ready to make their health a priority and just need someone to help them get started and guide them through the process.
Dawn has been coaching clients in person, online, in groups, and in a 1:1 capacity for more than a dozen years. Prior to becoming a nutrition and fitness coach, she spent over 25 years in the high-tech industry, so she truly understands the life of busy professional women.
Are you a fellow professional in the fitness or wellness industry? Did you know that Dawn spent 35+ years honing her skills in sales, marketing, and business strategy–and 20+ years in the Wellness industry? Now she is using what she knows to support entrepreneurs like you. If you’re ready to move into the next phase of your business journey, schedule a complimentary call with Dawn here or email her at dawn@dawnmcgee.guru
