Gratitude, Legacy & The Journey of Being Fab Over 40
- Karly Bannister
- Dec 2
- 5 min read
Gratitude is one of those words we hear all the time — scribbled in journals, posted on vision boards, whispered during morning routines. But lately, gratitude has taken on an entirely different meaning for me. It has become a bridge to the women who shaped my life, the patients who trusted me, and the reasons I continue to do this work with so much heart. Gratitude has become a verb.
And today, I want to share something deeply personal — the story behind why I decided to enter the Fab Over 40 contest and the deeper gratitude that anchors this moment in my life.
The Woman Who First Taught Me Grace: My Grandma Pearl
When I think of strength, I think of my father's mother, Pearl Bannister. Even with an ocean between us, I could see her immense courage during her fight against breast cancer.
Grandma Pearl grew up in Oahu and couldn't finish high school due to World War II. She always wished she had earned her diploma, but instead, she chose to help the cause and work at Pearl Harbor, where she met my grandfather.
Aside from raising 6 children, she was an artist and musician and friend to all. Grandma Pearl lived with the wisdom and strength to smile and find laughter in even the hardest moments. She was also the most generous person I've known and she is completely responsible for my habit of giving patients and friends gifts before they leave my office or my home. Thanks, Grandma!
Grandma Pearl also taught me that gratitude isn’t just a list of things to be thankful for —it’s a way you walk through life, even when you’re scared or hurting. Her grace is woven into every part of who I am as a mother, a healer, a woman, and a human who strives to live with purpose.
A Patient Who Became a Teacher: Staci’s Story
During my 6-month internship in 2008 in the Family Medicine department at Oregon Health Sciences University, I met Staci. She was a remarkable individual who would later transform my life.
Staci was one of my very first patients and even though she was sick, her vibrant and comedic energy was palpable. Beautiful, young, and unbelievably brave, she continued to work for the Oregonian while raising two young daughters with her supportive and loving husband. Staci possessed an intelligence and elegance that could light up any room, as her many friends and loved ones can attest.
But Staci had to battle cancer twice. And I was lucky enough to get to work with her a second time. She had followed my blog posts while I was in China and on the Coral Princess cruise ship. So when I opened my private practice, she was one of my first patients.
Staci and her husband drove in at least once a week and never complained about their 3-hour round trip from a small town near Banks.
It was an honor and a pleasure to support Staci and her family. Over the years, we had developed a system whereby I would perform acupuncture and cupping and she would entertain me with hilarious stories.
We laughed hard. And I was invited to their events and parties! They welcomed Maya and I as family and we always had great time!
But this time, the cancer had metastasized so aggressively that her body just couldn’t keep fighting. But her spirit? Her legacy? Her love? Those are still very much alive. Oh, and the jokes? I’ll never forget them.
Staci's legacy lives on in her daughters, who are thriving today because they watched their mother fight with love, courage and humor instead of fear. And her husband — her best friend, caregiver, and soulmate — carries her memory with a quiet, gentle happiness that proves: love never leaves; it simply changes shape.
Knowing Staci forever changed how I see healing, courage, and the privilege of being part of someone’s life journey. Oh, and she introduced me to Schitt’s Creek.
The Neuroscience of Gratitude: How It Literally Heals Us
As an acupuncturist and someone who studies and utilizes the nervous system daily, I can’t speak about gratitude without speaking about the science. Here’s what we know:
Gratitude strengthens the prefrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, decision-making, and perspective. When we practice gratitude regularly, this part of the brain thickens and becomes more active — meaning we react less and respond more.
It lowers cortisol — our stress hormone. Gratitude has been shown to reduce cortisol levels by up to 23%. Lower cortisol = better hormone balance, healthier weight regulation, deeper sleep, and less inflammation.
It activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This is your calm-and-connected mode. Gratitude literally shifts your body out of fight-or-flight and into healing. Your heart rate slows. Your digestion improves. Your breath deepens. Your immune system strengthens.
It increases dopamine and serotonin. These are the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. They’re responsible for motivation, joy, pleasure, contentment, and resilience. Gratitude gives the brain a gentle “reward signal” that creates long-term shifts in mood and mindset.
It improves vagal tone. High vagal tone = emotional flexibility, stress recovery, healthy heart rhythms, balanced digestion, and overall longevity. Gratitude is one of the simplest ways to strengthen this system.
In short: gratitude doesn’t just make us feel good — it rewires us. It heals the body, calms the mind, and creates lasting emotional resilience. This is why the women who taught me gratitude also taught me how to survive life’s hardest moments.
Why Fab Over 40 Matters to Me Now
For me, this contest isn’t about competition or glamour. It’s about honoring the women who came before me — the ones whose stories are etched into my heart. Grandma Pearl and Staci both remind me of something essential:
Getting older is a privilege. A gift. A sacred opportunity to keep growing, keep loving, and keep saying thank you.
As I continue to participate in the Fab Over 40 contest, I carry their stories with me. Their strength, their light, their lessons — all of it.
If sharing my journey helps even one woman feel more powerful, more seen, more grateful for her own life… then it’s already a win.
My Gratitude Today
To put it simply, my gratitude is BIG for:
For Grandma Pearl.
For Staci.
For the women who taught me resilience.
For my patients and their families who trust me.
For the opportunity to age with grace and intention.
Most importantly, it’s for YOU — this community of people who rise, love deeply, and keep showing up for themselves. You’re HEALING me!
Thank you for letting me share my heart. Thank you for being on this journey with me. And thank you for believing, like I do, that gratitude is legacy, gratitude is healing, and gratitude is how we keep the people we love alive within us.
Thank you for doing this with me.
