The End Or The Beginning?
Those Were The Days
Life after menopause marks the end of one phase of life and the beginning of yet another. This next phase has the potential to be the best part yet. Unfortunately, it is called Post-Menopause, almost an afterthought. There really should be a better name for it because there are so many things to love about life after menopause.
Heavy bleeding, PMS, tampons and concern about pregnancy all fade into the sunset as the sun rises on realizations that you are free from those things and free to explore so much more. Suddenly, the words to the old Helen Reddy song, "I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar," take on a new meaning as you find your voice and you are not afraid to use it. Certainly, it is a gradual change, but it happens as you willingly embrace this new liberty and freedom.
Time To Revive, Recreate And Realize Potential
This is the time to take those courses you want to take, or maybe go on to pursue a vocation in an entirely different field. It is time to recreate yourself, or enhance what you are already doing. The children are grown, living lives of their own, and you have the time to explore new possibilities. Some women go back to long abandoned passions in music and art, or leave long time positions as academics to open a teashop in a funky neighborhood. The possibilities are endless and today's post-menopausal woman is no longer afraid to step out and become what she sees herself to be. Of course, it isn't an overnight change, but it happens.
Is Fear Holding You Back?
In days gone by, when a woman hit the post-menopausal years she was resigned to caring for grandchildren and wearing "non-restrictive" clothing and boring shoes. She stayed home, knitting or crocheting, still caring for the family and not caring for herself. In principle, there is nothing wrong with this line of thinking. Many women would rather be at home caring for the family than to be anywhere else. However, sometimes it is the fear of what is out there, and the sense of inadequacy that comes with having been out of circulation for a long time that keeps women locked up inside.
Face The Fear And Live The Life
Perhaps it is time to take some personal growth courses and address some of the preconceived notions that have kept you from exploring your potential. Post-menopausal women are no longer invisible. Collectively we are baby-boomers, the first generation after the Second World War (wow - that does sound old, doesn't it?) but we're younger than any generation before who arrived at our chronological age. We have more experience, drive, and better methods of living life than any generation before us. There may be some angst and discomfort in moving into uncharted waters, but once you get into the flow you will be carried along in the current.
The term that is applied frequently to this period is "The Golden Years." Why not make them glitter with the diamonds of personal achievement and satisfaction, good health and vibrancy?
Hear more about the transitional stage of menopause from women in our menopause forum.
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