Anti-Aging in Englewood, New Jersey

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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Local Results Your search returned 2 local results

  1. Gary Klingsberg DO

    Englewood, NJ

    Phone
    (201) 503-0007

  2. Karen Patrusky MD

    Englewood, NJ

    Phone
    (201) 871-4346

Nearby Results Your search returned 42 nearby results

  1. Larry Neuman MD

    New York, NY (About 3 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 568-7403

  2. Lonnie Morris ND, CNM

    Fort Lee, NJ (About 4 miles)

    Phone
    (201) 969-1759

  3. Robin Leder MD

    Hackensack, NJ (About 4 miles)

    Phone
    (201) 525-1155

  4. Priscilla Uychich DO

    Elmwood Park, NJ (About 6 miles)

    Phone
    (201) 796-0866

  5. Ellen Blye MD

    New York, NY (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 877-2833

  6. Joy Favuzza NP

    Yonkers, NY (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (914) 375-2800

  7. Neil Share MD

    Fair Lawn, NJ (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (201) 796-2025

  8. Shari Leipzig MD

    New York, NY (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 860-2600

  9. Gila Leiter MD

    New York, NY (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 860-2600

  10. Douglas Moss MD

    New York, NY (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 860-2600

  11. John Paciuc MD

    New York, NY (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 737-3356

  12. Erika Schwartz MD

    New York, NY (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (866) 373-7452

  13. Thomas Rubeo MD

    Bronxville, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (914) 337-3715

  14. Mahshid Assadi MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 315-3322

  15. Jacque Moritz MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 603-4160

  16. Sophia Drosinos MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 317-4541

  17. Thomas Tupper MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 246-5888

  18. Richard Rivlin MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (646) 898-2749

  19. Michael Aziz MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 906-9111

  20. Leo Galland MD

    New York, NY (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 989-6733

  21. James Cowan MD

    Ridgewood, NJ (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (201) 670-4124

  22. Jeffrey Morrison MD

    New York, NY (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 989-9828

  23. Ronald Hoffman MD

    New York, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 779-1744

  24. Maria Abbattista MD

    Scarsdale, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (914) 472-2222

  25. Eric Braverman MD

    New York, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 213-6155

  26. Sabina Ostolski DO

    New York, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 253-5501

  27. Nancy Mellow MD

    New York, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 242-0430

  28. Jeffrey Delson MD

    New York, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 206-0629

  29. Janis Enzenbacher MD

    Piermont, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (845) 680-6600

  30. Anna Porizkova CNM

    Elmhurst, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (718) 626-6735

  31. Deborah Coady MD

    New York, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 941-0011

  32. Eden Fromberg DO

    New York, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 941-0011

  33. Russell Laudon MD

    Elmhurst, NY (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (718) 592-3200

  34. Carol Skipper MD

    Jersey City, NJ (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (201) 547-3555

  35. Virginia Reath PA

    New York, NY (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 219-3440

  36. Gary Goldman MD

    New York, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 535-6100

  37. Christina Veit MD

    Tarrytown, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (914) 631-1292

  38. Anne Cozien-Crenesse MD

    Brooklyn, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (718) 780-4851

  39. Chuy Feliciano MD

    Forest Hills, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (718) 459-0400

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