Anti-Aging in Far Rockaway, New York

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 43 nearby results

  1. Joan Haselkorn-Lomansky MD

    Rockville Ctr, NY (About 6 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 255-2044

  2. Jeanette Breen CNM

    Baldwin, NY (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 223-1251

  3. Lisa Turri MD

    Rockville Ctr, NY (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 678-4000

  4. Joseph Iwanicki MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 717-0606

  5. Chuy Feliciano MD

    Forest Hills, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (718) 459-0400

  6. Cecilia Schmidt-Sarosi MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 535-5350

  7. Mark Gold MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 288-8300

  8. Mary Wilson MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 439-1958

  9. Nargess Ahgharian MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 759-6623

  10. Ellen Manos MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 759-6623

  11. Laura Corio MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (646) 422-0730

  12. Alexander Kulick MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 867-1777

  13. Myron Buchman MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 861-1950

  14. Tara Allmen MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (646) 784-7252

  15. Gaetano Bello MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 717-5500

  16. Florence Comite MD

    New York, NY (About 8 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 288-8123

  17. Alan Jacobs MD

    New York, NY (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 888-0002

  18. Melinda Huang MD

    New York, NY (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 423-3430

  19. Kathryn Shreve NP

    New York, NY (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 423-3430

  20. Russell Laudon MD

    Elmhurst, NY (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (718) 592-3200

  21. Pavel Yutsis MD

    Brooklyn, NY (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (718) 368-9555

  22. Joan Altman-Neuman MD

    New Hyde Park, NY (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 616-4522

  23. Martina Frandina MD

    New Hyde Park, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 437-2020

  24. Hera Sambaziotis MD

    New Hyde Park, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 437-2020

  25. Claudia Cooke MD

    New York, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 213-0288

  26. Eileen Hoffman MD

    New York, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (646) 424-1530

  27. George Kessler DO

    New York, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 877-7043

  28. Majid Ali MD

    New York, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 873-2444

  29. Alfred Fayemi MD

    New York, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 873-2444

  30. Anna Porizkova CNM

    Elmhurst, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (718) 626-6735

  31. Karen Paris PA

    New York, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 779-2944

  32. Fred Pescatore MD

    New York, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 779-2944

  33. Stephanie Buck-Haskin MD

    Great Neck, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 482-6100

  34. Barbara Wisdom CNM

    Great Neck, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 482-6100

  35. Gary Goldman MD

    New York, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 535-6100

  36. Kathryn Calabria DO

    Garden City, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (631) 776-0432

  37. Richard Taubman MD

    Great Neck, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 482-4343

  38. Candice Tedeschi NP

    Great Neck, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 482-4343

  39. Victor Klein MD

    Great Neck, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 472-5700

  40. Bruce Lowell MD

    Great Neck, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 482-0162

  41. Virginia Reath PA

    New York, NY (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 219-3440

  42. Kristine Blanche PA

    Manhasset, NY (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 676-0200

  43. Roger Mazlen MD

    Roslyn, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 869-0717

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