The Red Dress

Red Dress #1

Yes, the Red Dress, a mainstay as important to me as breathing, has continued to evolve symbolically throughout my life.  Red has always been my favorite color and it seems there is always a Red Dress in my wardrobe.  As my relationship with my husband grew, the Red Dress became a symbol of our love beginning in December of 1986 when I wore the Red Dress my husband had recently purchased to his military function. Ahhh...the memories...we were a stunning couple that day. September 1987 our daughter was born.

Red Dress#2

Go Red for Women is a social initiative implemented to raise awareness and empower women to strive to be heart healthy.  In 2003, the Red Dress became the symbol for women to raise awareness and dispel the myths that heart disease is an old man disease.  In fact, heart disease and stroke is the number one killer of women, claiming nearly 500,000 American women each year.

Losing my mother to heart disease in 1983 started me on a lifelong journey of heart health awareness.  That journey; however, took a drastic turn on November 8, 2016 when I was diagnosed with coronary artery disease, thus giving the Red Dress even more significant meaning in my life.

The Red Dress not only symbolizes love but it now symbolizes the criticality of my own heart health and I now strive even harder to share the love, to guard and protect my heart, and make healthy heart choices.  I admonish you to do the same. 

I hope that by sharing this brief account of the Red Dresses in my life, you are encouraged to 'tear down the scaffolding' of life, love and of the myths and misconceptions of women’s heart health.  Live your life to the fullest, love deeply, and be heart healthy.

SharB~TTSD