Anti-Aging in Tuckahoe, 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.

We know how important finding the right provider and hormone health care is for you.

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Local Results Your search returned 1 local result

  1. Joy Favuzza NP

    Yonkers, NY

    Phone
    (914) 375-2800

Nearby Results Your search returned 33 nearby results

  1. Maria Abbattista MD

    Scarsdale, NY (About 1 miles)

    Phone
    (914) 472-2222

  2. Thomas Rubeo MD

    Bronxville, NY (About 1 miles)

    Phone
    (914) 337-3715

  3. Susan Blum MD

    White Plains, NY (About 4 miles)

    Phone
    (914) 421-1500

  4. Christina Veit MD

    Tarrytown, NY (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (914) 631-1292

  5. Janis Enzenbacher MD

    Piermont, NY (About 7 miles)

    Phone
    (845) 680-6600

  6. Gary Klingsberg DO

    Englewood, NJ (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (201) 503-0007

  7. Jeffrey Morrison MD

    New York, NY (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 989-9828

  8. Leo Galland MD

    New York, NY (About 9 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 989-6733

  9. Karen Patrusky MD

    Englewood, NJ (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (201) 871-4346

  10. Larry Neuman MD

    New York, NY (About 10 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 568-7403

  11. Donna Hagberg MD

    Greenwich, CT (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (203) 869-8353

  12. Edward Jacobson MD

    Greenwich, CT (About 11 miles)

    Phone
    (203) 869-8353

  13. Lonnie Morris ND, CNM

    Fort Lee, NJ (About 12 miles)

    Phone
    (201) 969-1759

  14. John Capobianco DO

    Sea Cliff, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 676-5005

  15. Nelly Sereny MD

    Ossining, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (914) 762-1486

  16. Kristine Blanche PA

    Manhasset, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 676-0200

  17. Victor Klein MD

    Great Neck, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 472-5700

  18. Richard Taubman MD

    Great Neck, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 482-4343

  19. Candice Tedeschi NP

    Great Neck, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 482-4343

  20. Bruce Lowell MD

    Great Neck, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 482-0162

  21. Stephanie Buck-Haskin MD

    Great Neck, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 482-6100

  22. Barbara Wisdom CNM

    Great Neck, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 482-6100

  23. Roger Mazlen MD

    Roslyn, NY (About 13 miles)

    Phone
    (516) 869-0717

  24. Shari Leipzig MD

    New York, NY (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 860-2600

  25. Gila Leiter MD

    New York, NY (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 860-2600

  26. Douglas Moss MD

    New York, NY (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 860-2600

  27. John Paciuc MD

    New York, NY (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 737-3356

  28. Ellen Blye MD

    New York, NY (About 14 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 877-2833

  29. Erika Schwartz MD

    New York, NY (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (866) 373-7452

  30. Mahshid Assadi MD

    New York, NY (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 315-3322

  31. Sophia Drosinos MD

    New York, NY (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 317-4541

  32. Jacque Moritz MD

    New York, NY (About 15 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 603-4160

  33. Thomas Tupper MD

    New York, NY (About 16 miles)

    Phone
    (212) 246-5888

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