Anti-Aging in Bell, California

Menopause and Giving in to the Mystery

By Menopause Goddess, Lynette Sheppard

Early in my Menopause transition (euphemism for hellish maelstrom of horrifying hormonal events), so many things bothered me that I couldn't keep count. As the preliminary WTF freakouts of perimenopause and volcanic upheavals of The Big M are now mostly in my rear view mirror, I realize that some irritants that used to upset me simply don’t any longer. And that’s a real blessing.

For example, I used to be confounded and annoyed by the backhanded compliment "You look good…for your age." Now, heck, I'll take any compliment I can get without overanalyzing it for nuance or even honesty. I'll just focus on the "look good" part and thank the complimenter with sincere gratitude.

Being called ma'am initially was both disconcerting and horrifying. My mom is ma'am. And she just barely. I felt old and frumpy every time I was addressed in this fashion usually by someone only recently out of diapers, waiting on me in the store or bank.

But now, I gotta say, I'm okay with ma’am. You might say I've grown into it. Ma'am. Short for madam – now there’s a racy little thought. And when someone calls me "Miss"? I know they're just sucking up or trying to sell me something. I no way qualify for "Miss" anymore. Another thing in my rear view mirror and I don’t really miss it.

I've heard some of my friends and sister goddesses over the years complain about being invisible. And I've certainly experienced that evanescence myself when a clerk looks right past me to wait on some hot young woman. "Hey!" I'd want to yell. "I"m right here taking up space. Service me – or at least wait on me." (No I never did yell, I'd just clear my throat and say, "Excuse me, I believe I was here first." Which either worked or didn't.

However, now in my post menopausal incarnation, I find that I enjoy a certain anonymity, thanks to this decreasing visibility. I can slip in and out of places faster than a greased pig. Hawkers on the street miss giving me flyers. I love that.

And if I'm having a bad hair day? Or a fat day? Who cares? I'm invisible in the very best way and can just go about my business, carefree and happy. I don't have an image to keep up. I'm ma'am now, remember?

No, I'm not letting myself go – just letting myself be. So much easier when you aren't noticed that much anymore. Whew, what a relief. Forgetting things drove me absolutely stark staring mad in the beginning of my transition. Not so anymore. I'm used to it. I have workarounds to make my life work. I am the Queen of ritual and OCD in organizing stuff.

I just can't trust my formerly prodigious memory any longer to pick up the slack. And honestly, I can't get all worked up about it anymore. I exercise my brain as well as my body but neither are going to be in Olympic condition any time soon. Or ever. Hence the workarounds.

Lastly, not knowing the why of things sent me into an info gathering tailspin. Not all bad. I've learned (and shared) so much about the crazy Menopause journey through my incessant desire for understanding. And while I can learn and understand a lot, some things will remain incomprehensible. Maybe forever.

Like why I had hot flashes to the point of nausea and my friend Susan had nary a flush. Or why black cohosh works for some and not others. Or why I and others lose our hair while some women boast luxurious manes all their lives.

Overall, I've come to an acceptance that some things may never be clear. In a sense, I’m on a need-to-know basis – and apparently the great mystery has decided that I don’t really need to know. So be it.

Maybe the biggest change is this: I'm just going to enjoy the Mystery, however it plays out, whatever challenges or wonders await me 'round the next bend. That might be one of the secrets to aging gracefully. Maybe not. Then again, maybe.

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Nearby Results Your search returned 37 nearby results

  1. Margaret Bates MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (213) 977-4190

  2. Yvonne Bohn MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (213) 977-4190

  3. Mark Dwight MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (213) 977-4190

  4. Allison Hill MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (213) 977-4190

  5. Howard Elkin MD

    Whittier, CA (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 945-3753

  6. Phyllis Presley MD

    Alhambra, CA (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (626) 282-0282

  7. Miriam Mackovic-Basic MD

    Lakewood, CA (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 634-8812

  8. Leilani Woodson MD

    Lakewood, CA (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 634-8812

  9. marina maslovaric MD

    Lakewood, CA (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 634-8812

  10. Essam Taymour MD

    Long Beach, CA (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 595-5331

  11. Dewayne Hervey

    Inglewood, CA (About 10 miles)

    Phone

  12. Beth Julian-Wang MD

    Pasadena, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (626) 795-5848

  13. Steven Applebaum MD

    Pasadena, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (626) 396-2999

  14. Maurice Lam MD

    Long Beach, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 595-0591

  15. Ludmila Bess MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (323) 934-8877

  16. Anne Peters MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (323) 936-8283

  17. Kathleen Kornafel MD, PHD

    Glendale, CA (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (818) 242-9933

  18. Daniel Brousseau DO

    Pasadena, CA (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (626) 794-4668

  19. Nancy Kimber MD

    Los Alamitos, CA (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 430-0805

  20. Deborah Vu MD

    Arcadia, CA (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (626) 445-3333

  21. Ismael Mena DO

    Los Alamitos, CA (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 795-5180

  22. Kenneth Russ MD

    Arcadia, CA (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (626) 447-0679

  23. Warren Brown MD

    Sierra Madre, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (626) 355-8595

  24. Della Fong MD

    Arcadia, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (626) 447-4400

  25. David Wong MD

    Torrance, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 326-8625

  26. Ben Naghi MD

    Torrance, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 326-5150

  27. Albert Chen MD

    Torrance, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 325-1198

  28. Jeff Barris RPH

    Torrance, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 530-0831

  29. Stephen McCann MD

    Torrance, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 540-2282

  30. Maria White NP

    Torrance, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 375-2705

  31. Wayne Wightman MD

    Torrance, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 375-2705

  32. Stephen Schmones MD

    Burbank, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (818) 843-2826

  33. Judi Goldstone MD

    Torrance, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (424) 247-4962

  34. David Ahdoot MD

    Burbank, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (818) 700-8300

  35. Samantha Han MD

    Burbank, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (818) 846-8981

  36. Ram Prakash MD

    N Hollywood, CA (About 17 miles)

    Phone
    (818) 505-8610

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