the next stage

I’m now in the post-menopausal state and… it’s wonderful! I feel like I have a new lease on life.

Perimenopause was the real hell for me: irregular periods, mood swings, insomnia, too much drama, brain fog, and a feeling like time was running out. (And sure, in a sense, at least one aspect of life was ending.)

Arriving at menopause then was a relief. And even better? I feel like my old self again: the brain fog has lifted, revealing a new clarity. I’m energetic, engaged, and looking for new projects.

Sure, there are the physical changes that come with aging. As I was trudging along the beach in Santa Barbara, I thought about the adjustments I still need to make to my diet, exercise, and sleeping habits. I can feel that stiffness approaching my joints and want to do what I can to mitigate that.

Then there’s the annoyance, the feeling of being done with foolishness, ignorance, and bigotry from the immature and done with the things that waste time and energy. I’m also done with those who let the perfect be the enemy of the good, who fixate on tiny mundane shit and let the big shit slide. 

I choose my peace over their drama.

My spirit, though, is shining through again. My watchwords now are creativity, mentorship, and advocacy. How can I help the younger generations and what can I teach and leave behind for them?

The second half of life is different. What worked before might not work again and it’s time to find new answers. I don’t think enough of us realize the shift and that unwillingness to address the issue is keeping us collectively stuck in a place of arrested development.

Appreciating the past and fun nostalgia are fine for mental vacations but the past self is gone. As much as I’d love to return to my college years, they are long over. I can only appreciate the friends and experiences I had back then, learn from them, and move forward.

We can bloom again in a new form, but it takes a conscious acknowledgement and commitment.

I’ve gone through many challenges and thankful I survived. I’ve had my share of achievements and I’m thankful for those as well.

So what comes next? What am I to do with the knowledge and experiences I’ve accumulated?

Well, that’s the quest!