You Are Allowed to Matter Too.

Ten months ago, I opened the doors to Deserving of Joy.

I’ve spent a lot of time since then thinking about this little practice—what we’re building here, what makes it different, and what I hope it becomes as it grows.

And somewhere along the way, I’ve realized something about the name.

Deserving of Joy isn’t really about happiness.

It’s about worthiness.

It’s about the quiet belief that you are allowed to matter, too.

So many of us—especially those who spend our lives taking care of other people—become very good at putting ourselves somewhere near the bottom of the list.

We’ll rearrange the day for a child’s appointment. We’ll make sure our parents get to the doctor. We’ll cover for someone at work. We’ll cook dinner, answer the email, finish the project, and somehow keep the whole machine running.

And then we’ll live with our own symptoms for six months because finding time to go to the doctor feels inconvenient.

Sometimes even when we finally do make the appointment, we minimize what we need.

“It’s probably nothing.”

“I know you’re busy.”

“I don’t want to take up too much time.”

“I can live with it.”

I’ve heard versions of those sentences thousands of times in my career.

And I wish I could gently hand every person who says them the same permission slip:

You are allowed to matter, too.

Your health matters.

Your time matters.

Your questions matter.

The thing that has been bothering you for six months matters.  Understanding what is happening in your own body matters.  Feeling comfortable enough to tell your doctor the thing you’re embarrassed or scared to say out loud matters.  Having enough time to finish the conversation matters.

And yes, your joy matters, too.

That philosophy has quietly shaped so many of the decisions I’ve made about Deserving of Joy.

It’s why I don’t want appointments to feel rushed. It’s why I want you to be able to reach me when something is wrong. It’s why I care about creating a space that feels comfortable and welcoming. It’s why I want us to have enough time to talk about your mental health, your sleep, your relationships, your stress, and the rest of your life—not just the number on your blood pressure cuff.

Medicine is about treating disease.  But caring for a person requires remembering that the person matters.

Ten months into this adventure, I think I understand the name of this practice better than I did when I chose it.

Of course I want more joy for my patients. I want you to feel well enough to travel and play with your grandchildren and hike and garden and work and create and laugh and do whatever makes your particular life feel full.

But underneath all of that is something even more fundamental.

I want you to believe that taking care of yourself is not selfish.  

That asking questions is not being difficult.

That needing help is not an inconvenience.

That your health doesn’t have to wait until everyone else’s needs have been met.

You don’t have to earn the right to take up space in your own life.

You already matter.

And maybe that is what Deserving of Joy has been about all along.

Dr. Mount

This newsletter is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice.