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3 lessons menopause has taught me

Shannon’s Sunday Stories is a series of personal reflections and musings.

I didn’t know that menopause was going to be so hard.

Since I was a girl, I’ve read about the changes to a woman’s body as she goes through menopause and it always seemed like a mystery. As an adult, over the years, I’ve interviewed some experts on the topic. On a personal level, I’ve talked to many women who have gone through this phase in life.

All of it had not prepared me for my own journey through it.

Menopause derives from the Greek menos, meaning month, and pause, meaning to cease. Therefore, menopause means the “monthly (period) stops.”

But for some women, it is not just her period that stops. It may also be a more general pause in life.

During the menopause stage (perimenopause and menopause), when a significant drop in estrogen hormone levels occurs, the changes for me have been both gradual and overwhelming. Women generally complain about experiencing the same symptoms, ranging from body shape changes, weight gain (oyvay), brain fog, fatigue, irritability, night sweats, hot flashes, skin dryness and loss of elasticity, among others.

I can relate. As my body was changing, I clued in too late that adjusting my diet was necessary: I had already put on weight. Then began the difficult uphill battle of taking it off.

The loss of estrogen is also the loss of the fountain of youth. Part of that experience is grief: we are grieving the loss of our youth. So menopause is also a journey of grief.

The biggest change for me, though, is how I view myself. With all of these changes to my body, I had a dip in confidence and began to feel invisible. My inner voice became increasingly more critical of myself. Today, the idea of me as a woman in mid-life getting into a swimsuit does not exactly thrill me.

Menopause requires a shift in thinking. And, really, this is just part of the aging process.

From an early age, I heard comments about my looks, as most girls do, such as “you look pretty.” A focus on my looks would only continue from adolescence and throughout adult years. So many girls learn to put their self-worth into their physical appearance, as I did, because that is what society encourages. But what happens when you have lost your fountain of youth?

Some women have told me the symptoms get better after about three years of the post-menopausal stage. There’s always room for optimism, right?

3 Lessons menopause has taught me:

1). Find gratitude: by finding all the benefits that menopause brings, you can experience the changes with a more balanced view. An attitude of gratitude goes a long way.

2). Discover wisdom: you are worthy of love and your self-worth is not tied to your looks. Nothing is ever lost, energy just transforms. So find the new form of “youth” in your life. Someone, somewhere sees you as youthful. Look to see if there is at least one area of your life you have abundant vitality and vibrancy.

3). Embrace change: continue to do what is best for your body, mind and soul; and do what you can to slow down the aging process, while at the same time embracing the change and changing your perception about it. Maybe it is time to make some new conscious changes. For example,  if you have always wanted to straighten your teeth, now might be a good time to do so. Or changing the colour of your hair or stopping the colour dying once and for all. Or maybe it’s changing your wardrobe to reflect a new you.

Shannon Skinner is a TV/radio host, speaker, author and writer. Watch her interviews at www.ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com.

 

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Shannon Skinner
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NEW: Varanasi tour extension!For those travelling to India with us on our women's tour this September, we have added an optional extension to Varanasi after our main 5-city tour is over. Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world and is India's spiritual capital.🔸The Varanasi extension tour is 2 days/1 night🔸September 27-28th.Guests would travel by air from Delhi to Varanasi and return to Delhi.About the Tour:Join me as we explore India's stunning architecture, such as the renowned Taj Mahal, royal palaces and ancient forts. Discover Indian culinary delights, cultural places, authentic textiles and learn about everyday way of life of Indians, including yoga, through a female lens.Our main tour explores 5 cities, as well as India's breathtaking desert region, Rajasthan. The *optional* tour extension of Varanasi, after the completion of our main tour, adds a 6th city to our itinerary (again, it is optional).Join me!🔸women's tour🔸Sept. 16-27, 2024🔸12 days/11 nights - 5 cities🔸Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Jodphur-Udaipur🔸Optional Varanasi tour extension post-tour (2 days/1 night)🔸small group Presented by: Extraordinary Women TV. Book this exclusive offer now.For details, visit: ShannonSkinner.com.Contact: info@shannonskinner.com. ... See MoreSee Less
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