Here’s what I know about menopause.
It will find you.
It will blast through your life with the force of a pressure washer leaving every vulnerable area exposed. With all the debris and grime washed away, cracks and damage will be visible in HD clarity as if you’re looking at your life through a zoom lens.
This is no time for myopia.
Anything not working for you, any areas of dissatisfaction in your work, relationships, sense of self, happiness, your health – right down to clutter and old underwear – every tiny aspect of your life will be scrutinised, overturned and found somehow lacking.
For some women this may take a dramatic form. Radical life changes like divorce, changing sexuality or moving countries are common. Others will seemingly sail through unscathed, but they will still have been changed in some way. Just dig a little deeper. No woman can go through menopause and not feel changed or different.
And this is a good thing.
Menopause is not called ‘the change of life’ for nothing. It will change your life in the way that puberty and adolescence changed your life. By the time you come out the other side you will be a better version of yourself. You will have matured, you will be wiser, you will have a fresh perspective on life and a new appetite for it too.
But first you have to journey through it.
So, fasten your seatbelt and get ready for the ride of your life.
Photo: Thanks to M Yashna on Flickr.com (CCL)
pamela says
October 8, 2018 at 12:49 amThank you for this post. The humor and empathy in it were just what I needed as I go through this brutal journey. I appear to be totally unable to tolerate any added hormones and feel like a lab rat with drs throwing crap at me, each thing making me feel worst than the last. And yes all of it making me scrutinize all the holes in my life. Thank you for your great website!
Angie Macdonald says
October 16, 2018 at 7:07 pmThank you, Pamela. Sorry to hear your journey has been brutal so far. I hope you come out the other side soon. I have heard mention of ‘postmenopausal zest’ and seen it embodied in other women but have to admit that so far it has eluded me. Onwards and upwards…..
Shabs says
May 8, 2018 at 4:07 pmPlease please do an updated blog in hrt plus testosterone please
Angie Macdonald says
May 9, 2018 at 6:38 pmHi Shabs. Apologies for not updating my blog in a while. I’ve been writing a book about menopause and that’s taken all my time and energy. Is there anything in particular you’d like to know about HRT and testosterone? If so, please let me know.
Nik says
August 20, 2018 at 11:19 amLooking forward to your book as really interested in your articles thus far – it feels such a confusing shadowy subject with no real informative guidance so thanks !!
Angie Macdonald says
August 21, 2018 at 5:59 pmThanks, Nik. I’m working on my final draft at the moment so watch this space.