Anti-Aging in Lynwood, 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 48 nearby results

  1. Miriam Mackovic-Basic MD

    Lakewood, CA (About 5 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 634-8812

  2. Leilani Woodson MD

    Lakewood, CA (About 5 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 634-8812

  3. marina maslovaric MD

    Lakewood, CA (About 5 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 634-8812

  4. Essam Taymour MD

    Long Beach, CA (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 595-5331

  5. Maurice Lam MD

    Long Beach, CA (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 595-0591

  6. Margaret Bates MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (213) 977-4190

  7. Yvonne Bohn MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (213) 977-4190

  8. Mark Dwight MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (213) 977-4190

  9. Allison Hill MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (213) 977-4190

  10. Dewayne Hervey

    Inglewood, CA (About 9 miles)

    Phone

  11. Howard Elkin MD

    Whittier, CA (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 945-3753

  12. David Wong MD

    Torrance, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 326-8625

  13. Ben Naghi MD

    Torrance, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 326-5150

  14. Albert Chen MD

    Torrance, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 325-1198

  15. Nancy Kimber MD

    Los Alamitos, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 430-0805

  16. Jeff Barris RPH

    Torrance, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 530-0831

  17. Ismael Mena DO

    Los Alamitos, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (562) 795-5180

  18. Stephen McCann MD

    Torrance, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 540-2282

  19. Maria White NP

    Torrance, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 375-2705

  20. Wayne Wightman MD

    Torrance, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 375-2705

  21. Judi Goldstone MD

    Torrance, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (424) 247-4962

  22. Joanna Padilla NP

    Redondo Beach, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 792-8317

  23. Phyllis Presley MD

    Alhambra, CA (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (626) 282-0282

  24. Allen Peters MD

    Redondo Beach, CA (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 373-7830

  25. Ludmila Bess MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (323) 934-8877

  26. Anne Peters MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (323) 936-8283

  27. Cynthia Furnberg NP

    Redondo Beach, CA (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 372-1443

  28. Cathie Lippman MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 289-8430

  29. Alan Schwartz MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 855-7504

  30. Susan Cohen MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 247-8920

  31. Michal Amir MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 289-0330

  32. marina maslovaric MD

    San Pedro, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 833-2396

  33. Nancy Goldman MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 652-9347

  34. Steve Rabin MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 652-9347

  35. Maurice Levy MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 556-8200

  36. Ruth Cousineau MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 657-1600

  37. Suzanne Gilbert-Lenz MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 657-1600

  38. Jay Goldberg MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 657-1600

  39. Robert Katz MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 657-1600

  40. William To MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 659-9625

  41. Ryan Stanton MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 278-0077

  42. Emil Levin MD

    W Hollywood, CA (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (323) 650-1788

  43. Anthony Chin MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 659-5810

  44. Paul Crane MD

    Beverly Hills, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 659-5810

  45. Violet Boodaghians MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 274-9977

  46. Dolores Kent MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 860-9490

  47. Layne Kumetz MD

    Los Angeles, CA (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (310) 274-9977

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