You write so beautifully and poetically about such a crazy time of life. And very little is written about it at the depth you write. Good on you. In my view it is a complete overhaul of self. Never mind the physical changes. I slap on a couple of squirts of hrt gel every morning to deal with that. It’s the emotional, intellectual and spiritual transformation that takes all the energy. Who am I ? Who was I? Who am I becoming? How will I continue to exist in this precarious existence that I can now see so clearly?
Jeez. This is a bit deep for an autumn Sunday morning here in Aotearoa. Have a great spring day.
Very much in appreciation of this. I seem to be hanging together physically, mentally not so much. Letting some pieces fall is where I'm at now and accepting the help of others around me to hold them and me awhile.
Lisa, such fabulous writing with too many great turns of phrase to quote but this one got to me and made me think of you as genius! “
“Until my body knocked me down in the middle and demanded my fealty.”
Bravo 👏 I personally, am well beyond the tumult. My body is finally at ease. The pay off is the pain from all of life’s erosion. Someday, this too shall pass.
I liken perimenopause to the growing pains of adolescence. I remember struggling with leg cramps, headaches and general unease during that earlier "becoming" time. Then there's the "becoming" that happens during pregnancy. It's remarkable how women have to be internal warriors all our lives.
Beautiful and agonizing. I’ve been kicking around my own peri/menopause piece and your lyricism here is inspiring. I’ll work on mine and link to yours when I have it, if you don’t mind.
Literary magic as usual - and that superb painting is quite haunting ...
So many truly horrible terms associated with The Pause as well.
What clown came up with 'vaginal ATROPHY' for example? No wonder we're depressed.
And if I hear, "Sometimes when we get a little older" delivered in that Special Voice at the doctors one more time, I may leap from a window. As a friend of mine once observed "I mean, I realize that I'm in my sixties, but no one told me there would be barnacles ..."
In one more week I will be one year without a period. Everything written here was an excellent capture of the perimenopause experience, physically and emotionally. I’m so tired.
“…the same unhinged mind is whispering secrets. Secrets that just may save me.”
Love this! A beautiful essay.
You write so beautifully and poetically about such a crazy time of life. And very little is written about it at the depth you write. Good on you. In my view it is a complete overhaul of self. Never mind the physical changes. I slap on a couple of squirts of hrt gel every morning to deal with that. It’s the emotional, intellectual and spiritual transformation that takes all the energy. Who am I ? Who was I? Who am I becoming? How will I continue to exist in this precarious existence that I can now see so clearly?
Jeez. This is a bit deep for an autumn Sunday morning here in Aotearoa. Have a great spring day.
Very much in appreciation of this. I seem to be hanging together physically, mentally not so much. Letting some pieces fall is where I'm at now and accepting the help of others around me to hold them and me awhile.
Lisa, such fabulous writing with too many great turns of phrase to quote but this one got to me and made me think of you as genius! “
“Until my body knocked me down in the middle and demanded my fealty.”
Bravo 👏 I personally, am well beyond the tumult. My body is finally at ease. The pay off is the pain from all of life’s erosion. Someday, this too shall pass.
I liken perimenopause to the growing pains of adolescence. I remember struggling with leg cramps, headaches and general unease during that earlier "becoming" time. Then there's the "becoming" that happens during pregnancy. It's remarkable how women have to be internal warriors all our lives.
Beautiful and agonizing. I’ve been kicking around my own peri/menopause piece and your lyricism here is inspiring. I’ll work on mine and link to yours when I have it, if you don’t mind.
I'd be honored, thanks! 💚
Every word of this rings true and it’s so beautifully written. Thank you. I’m still struggling to accept each new development - and I just turned 60.
Literary magic as usual - and that superb painting is quite haunting ...
So many truly horrible terms associated with The Pause as well.
What clown came up with 'vaginal ATROPHY' for example? No wonder we're depressed.
And if I hear, "Sometimes when we get a little older" delivered in that Special Voice at the doctors one more time, I may leap from a window. As a friend of mine once observed "I mean, I realize that I'm in my sixties, but no one told me there would be barnacles ..."
Thank you Lisa.
Great piece, as always. I actually know Nicole. Shared a few sessions in a workshop with her!
In one more week I will be one year without a period. Everything written here was an excellent capture of the perimenopause experience, physically and emotionally. I’m so tired.
Try this at 32 when the doctor takes all your reproductive parts and throws HRT at you