Women's Issues Midlife And Beyond
“When she smiles, the lines in her face become epic narratives that trace the stories of generations that no book can replace.” ― Curtis Tyrone Jones 99 and counting. Last week a friend’s mother celebrated 99 birthdays. When asked what kind of party she wanted she waved a hand dismissively and said she’s already thinking about the big bash for… Read More
It’s confusing, isn’t it? The way our bodies change and seem to go rogue on us? As we age a baffling number of transformations occur and we scramble to figure out if they are normal, abnormal, or some sort of ancient curse unleashed when we touched that museum piece we weren’t supposed to touch. Where did that hair come from? Why is… Read More
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.†— Lao Tzu Last week I was poetically whining about the slushy snowfall, and today we had a chance of breaking a Minnesota record by hitting 70 degrees three days in a row. In November. Let’s see…hot, cold. Hot, cold. That sounds vaguely familiar to my hot flashes. Could it be that… Read More
A Better Way to Deliver Essential Oils Near Your Hoo-Ha Don’t you just love divine scents? I do. As consumers we’ve become rather accustomed to candles, room fresheners, and even dryer sheets with essential oils, but do we really understand what an essential oil is, or does, besides smell pretty? (Some do NOT smell pretty, but have wonderful properties!) I’d… Read More
As to bioidentical hormones vs. synthetic hormones for menopausal symptom relief, well, the information changes almost daily. I recently watched a documentary called HotFlash Havoc. The film makers claim they were not affiliated with any pharmaceutical companies, but I haven’t had time to check on that yet.  The message within HotFlash Havoc is that the Women’s Health Initiative Study started with good… Read More
As I just mentioned last week, the ebbs and flows of hormones embody menopause. Almost daily there is a new mystery, emotion, or awareness about this midlife phase.  And just as my journey into puberty was most likely different than yours, the menopausal experience is also as individual as the women undergoing the changes. The debate between using hormone replacements– or… Read More
Last week my story entry ended with my confusion about entering a new love relationship in midlife. Even though I adored my soon-to-be husband, letting go of my hard won independence was daunting. During my single-motherhood years I tested my strength and voice as a woman, and now I would once again be sharing decisions. Would it feel like I… Read More
Do you remember the first time some high school kid at the grocery store asked if you wanted paper or plastic, Ma’am? I do, and I was a little shocked. Menopause is a bit like that too. It sneaks up on you. Suddenly the world views you differently. Unfortunately, that means it can also affect how we see ourselves.After many… Read More
Let’s see, where was I?  Oh yeah.  The reason I’m mentioning my history is because I had questions not only in my youth, but as I took a running jump towards menopause. The same wall of silence I ran into as a teenager was hitting me in early midlife. I always had irregular periods, but when I turned thirty-eight they… Read More
The pristine white of the silk scarf ached for color, and my Grumbacher Goldenedge 4626 paintbrush was ready to remedy the situation. Oh yeah. Creativity was my minion on this day. I envisioned a controlled pattern of yellows, greens, and oranges while dipping my brush into puddle after puddle of dye. I began to hum a little. My scarf was… Read More
