We agree with Laurie WJN that menopause is a good time to slow down a bit and be aware of all that’s good…hot flashes be damned! Read more from Laurie on her blog.
I am trying to have a good attitude about menopause, but I will admit – it is hard to do sometimes. Lately the struggles with hot flashes, weight gain and other symptoms have been incredibly frustrating. I am normally a very optimistic person, so I have decided to change my attitude and look for the good things about this wondrous ‘change’ in my life.
Menopause can be a big pain, but it can get you to stop and ‘pause’ for a moment.
Pause to reflect – This is the perfect time in your life to look back and see how far you have come, how much you have accomplished. In our busy, goal-driven society we sometimes forget to spend time looking back to see just how far we have come and like the Virginia Slims ad reminds us, “You’ve come a long way baby.”
Pause to improve – There is no better time to focus on you, to work on getting back in shape or looking for a better job. Menopause is a good reminder that you have to take care of yourself. Health issues like cancer and heart disease become much more prominent in post-menopausal women. Watching what you eat, getting back to the gym, or finding a better job with less stress become more important than ever.
Pause to change – Now, more than ever, is the time to end unhealthy relationships and habits. Menopause can be a wake-up call. Use this ‘change’ of life to inspire other healthy changes.
Pause to celebrate – When we are younger, we spend so much of our energy rushing around, trying to accomplish everything, this can be a good reminder to take some time to celebrate, time to just slow down and enjoy your life. All your hard work has gotten you here, so grab a glass of wine, sit in the back yard and just enjoy that beautiful sunset. You deserve it.
Pause to inspire – No one can do it alone, and we have all learned a great deal along the way, this is a wonderful time to begin to actively give back to those who are younger and less experienced. Take some time to use your hard-earned wisdom and mentor other women.
Pause to cleanse – After years of accumulating things, this is a great time to focus on getting rid of the clutter in your life. Maybe you can even downsize, letting go of the extra stress that a large home entails.
Pause to explore – Yes, this is the time to get serious about that bucket list. Travel, adventure, just go for it; there is no time like the present to go to new places and try new things, especially the slightly scary ones.
Menopause might be a big unwelcome reminder that you are getting older, but it can also be a great motivation, the choice is yours.
Laurie WJN
Laurie WJN is a self-described writer, dreamer and child at heart. Her unique insights on emotions and behavior come from her many roles as a wife, mother, sister and former recreational therapist and middle school teacher. Laurie wrote her first book in 2001. Laurie lives in Arizona with her incomparable husband and three unruly dogs. You can buy Laurie's book, The Misadventures of Me and My Uterus, on Amazon.
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