While the world feels heavy at present, this newsletter is more self-reflective than an exploratory of the political and religious intolerance landscape we’re navigating.
Well said! As a 65-year-old woman about 10 years post-menopause, I can attest to the experience of a much-improved mindset and mood in this stage of life. We need to keep talking about that because it does indeed get better. As an RDN with nearly 40 years of experience working with women to mend their relationships with food and their bodies, I can say with certainty that putting your effort into "controlling" your body rather than caring for your body creates more suffering. Shifting to a healthy partnership with your body can liberate us from the oppressive beauty/wellness standards we are bombarded with. Thank you for this conversation!
Such a perfectly written article. As a 57 year old woman who chases wellness, weight management and happiness.. this was so relatable!! So much to unpack here. Definitely want to put more focus on acceptance and living my life thru incredible experiences, not vanity or perfection.
Thank you so much, Sunda! From a distance, it feels you have the travel experiences mastered, but so understand how much self criticism and perfectionism can creep in to corrupt the joy.
"The Australian Women’s Healthy Ageing Project concurs that postmenopausal women reported improved mood, more patience, less tension, and feeling less withdrawn as they entered their 60s and 70s. “Similar results hail from Denmark, where postmenopausal women reported a stronger sense of well-being after menopause, with 62% stating they felt, indeed, happy and satisfied. About half of these women also stated that they were as happy as they’d ever been, even at a younger age.”
--It seems that our middles get bigger, so does our capacity for peace, joy and fulfilment as older women. As someone newly in her sixties, I too am larger outside and inside than I've ever been.
Amidst the marketing menopause mania, you’ve captured how I feel about this time so perfectly. We have to stop “fighting” age and have a level of acceptance around the natural order of life. That said, managing symptoms is helpful, but yearning for what was is not. Thanks for this eloquent post.
Yes! When it comes to accepting the aging process, and the changes that come with it, I find myself teetering between settling in/raging against. Glad to know I'm in good company.
You are never alone! I think being in community here helps, as does knowing what we can expect. I think that is, in part, what has been hard for our generation; there was no path or knowledge and thanks to the menoposse of doctors and those of us speaking up to change the narrative of aging, the next generation(s) can age with greater wisdom.
Beautifully written, Christine. The shape shifting can be disconcerting, but the mind shifting- the growth and evolution- well that’s been a revelation that has allowed me to step away from mirror and out of my comfort zone! Love how you are thinking about it all…
Thank you so much, Dina — I know we are very aligned with the highs and lows that accompany aging, and it's wonderful to be in community. Ironically, while this vulnerable piece has received the most loving feedback (here and through so many personal DMs + texts) I have lost the most readers after posting.
This is so beautifully written. I’m in my early thirties and it still really resonates and makes me excited for the chapters to come. I also am SO intrigued by Tally Health! Have you take their Tally Age test? Thank you for sharing this piece with us! ❤️
That means everything to me, Lacey — part of my hope in writing and reporting on topics through the lens of aging is to change the narrative for the next generation. It’s not doom and gloom!
I am incredibly intrigued by Tally Health having just seen the CEO speak at the YSE Beauty event Saturday. I will be digging in shortly, in hopes of writing an editorial piece about them and the process — I would love to do the age test!
You are absolutely changing the narrative and im grateful to hear it isn’t doom and gloom! Thank you for doing this work and can’t wait for your report on Tally. Melanie is so inspiring!
Well said! As a 65-year-old woman about 10 years post-menopause, I can attest to the experience of a much-improved mindset and mood in this stage of life. We need to keep talking about that because it does indeed get better. As an RDN with nearly 40 years of experience working with women to mend their relationships with food and their bodies, I can say with certainty that putting your effort into "controlling" your body rather than caring for your body creates more suffering. Shifting to a healthy partnership with your body can liberate us from the oppressive beauty/wellness standards we are bombarded with. Thank you for this conversation!
I really appreciate your support and perspective, Deb ❤️
Such a perfectly written article. As a 57 year old woman who chases wellness, weight management and happiness.. this was so relatable!! So much to unpack here. Definitely want to put more focus on acceptance and living my life thru incredible experiences, not vanity or perfection.
Thank you so much, Sunda! From a distance, it feels you have the travel experiences mastered, but so understand how much self criticism and perfectionism can creep in to corrupt the joy.
"The Australian Women’s Healthy Ageing Project concurs that postmenopausal women reported improved mood, more patience, less tension, and feeling less withdrawn as they entered their 60s and 70s. “Similar results hail from Denmark, where postmenopausal women reported a stronger sense of well-being after menopause, with 62% stating they felt, indeed, happy and satisfied. About half of these women also stated that they were as happy as they’d ever been, even at a younger age.”
--It seems that our middles get bigger, so does our capacity for peace, joy and fulfilment as older women. As someone newly in her sixties, I too am larger outside and inside than I've ever been.
Amidst the marketing menopause mania, you’ve captured how I feel about this time so perfectly. We have to stop “fighting” age and have a level of acceptance around the natural order of life. That said, managing symptoms is helpful, but yearning for what was is not. Thanks for this eloquent post.
I am so thrilled you felt seen in this piece — we really are all going through it together. xx
Yes! When it comes to accepting the aging process, and the changes that come with it, I find myself teetering between settling in/raging against. Glad to know I'm in good company.
You are never alone! I think being in community here helps, as does knowing what we can expect. I think that is, in part, what has been hard for our generation; there was no path or knowledge and thanks to the menoposse of doctors and those of us speaking up to change the narrative of aging, the next generation(s) can age with greater wisdom.
Beautifully written, Christine. The shape shifting can be disconcerting, but the mind shifting- the growth and evolution- well that’s been a revelation that has allowed me to step away from mirror and out of my comfort zone! Love how you are thinking about it all…
Thank you so much, Dina — I know we are very aligned with the highs and lows that accompany aging, and it's wonderful to be in community. Ironically, while this vulnerable piece has received the most loving feedback (here and through so many personal DMs + texts) I have lost the most readers after posting.
I am sorry (and surprised) to hear that- I always enjoy your reflections, and this was a powerful piece...
This is beautiful!
Thank you so much, Cate.
This is so beautifully written. I’m in my early thirties and it still really resonates and makes me excited for the chapters to come. I also am SO intrigued by Tally Health! Have you take their Tally Age test? Thank you for sharing this piece with us! ❤️
That means everything to me, Lacey — part of my hope in writing and reporting on topics through the lens of aging is to change the narrative for the next generation. It’s not doom and gloom!
I am incredibly intrigued by Tally Health having just seen the CEO speak at the YSE Beauty event Saturday. I will be digging in shortly, in hopes of writing an editorial piece about them and the process — I would love to do the age test!
You are absolutely changing the narrative and im grateful to hear it isn’t doom and gloom! Thank you for doing this work and can’t wait for your report on Tally. Melanie is so inspiring!