Surround Yourself With Wonderful Women
I want to share a note I recently received from one of my favorite people:
I also meant to tell you yesterday that I think the direction you're taking with Menopausability Matters is terrific. I think menopause was my turning point in life. I went from the perpetually frightened child-woman, to the confident, happy, risk-taking (ha!) woman that I am today. It's also when my hair started seriously curling and waving, not just making cowlicks that were uncontrollable. In all seriousness, I look back on that period of my life (it went on for a very long time between perimenopause and actual menopause with all it's nasty side effects) and realize that it was a time of waiting, and evaluation of all I'd lived through, and of deciding who I wanted to be, and whether that image of myself was realistic and attainable. I'm still in progress, but can easily acknowledge that the end of life is close, whether close is months or years. And I'm okay with where I am -- emotionally, physically, psychically. I believe that life is for making memories, and, oh, boy, do I have some doozies!
So, dear heart, carry on. What you're doing is more valuable than you could possibly realize.
Big love to you from R
Wow! Every time I read it I get chills, tears and everything in between. This unexpected gift of heartfelt words from my mother’s childhood friend and my special “auntie” continues to fuel me personally and professionally. At my core I am SO GRATEFUL to have this woman and so many others in my life–it’s you authentic, courageous, creative, wonderful women that enrich life’s journey and make me a more vulnerable, accountable, and fulfilled person.
photo credit: priscilla du preez/unsplash
Who are the wonderful women you know? How do they enrich your life? What do you do to help support them?
In a world that right now seems light on love, gratitude and shared community, it’s important to remember that we can lean into and love on our sisters. Especially during our midlife and menopause years, our bonds with other women can provide bridges to the next stepping stones while their voices cheer us on. We learn with and through each other; we provide counsel and comfort; we speak truth in kind ways; we bring laughter when sadness seeps in (and we deliver pizza and ice cream when nothing else seems to help!). When I think back over the stages of my life, my partners and kids have been important, and it’s my female friends who have had some of the biggest and most sustained impacts.
In honor of International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8, let’s all engage with this year’s theme of “Accelerate Action” by letting the wonderful women throughout our lives know what they have meant to us. Let’s:
Promise to mentor and support other women so they may experience more joy and success than pain and disappointment.
Ask for help when we need it, trusting that our sisters will get us through.
Love ourselves, with all our talents and limitations.
Speak to ourselves and each other with kindness and encouragement.
Let’s embrace our collective midlife journey and use it to define who and how we want to be, leaning into our Menopausability™ and continuing to lift each other up.
There will be difficult days, and even with the hurdles there is hope. We can find strength and solace in knowing there are so many other wonderful women, like R, who continue to adapt as needed (and desired!) and are ready and willing to lend a hand, an ear, a heart, or a voice in ways we sometimes don’t even know we need.
