Shedding Light on Menopause
Let’s Start the Conversation with an Excerpt from My Upcoming Book
A woman’s body is like the moon—ever-changing, yet always whole and radiant. 🌙
Last night, my husband and I went to a comedy show in downtown Greenville—a fun date night gifted by my brother for Christmas. I’ve always admired how comedians can be so open and vulnerable, turning personal learning experiences into humor. What a gift it is to laugh about the serious moments in life! Laughter truly is one of the best forms of natural medicine.
It was a fun evening filled with a variety of comedians. I was on the edge of my seat when I noticed that one of the comedians was a woman because I love it when female comedians talk about the pleasantries of womanhood—it’s so relatable! She exceeded my expectations when she stepped on stage and asked, “Do any men know what PMS stands for?”
The audience fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Then, a man in the front row hesitantly raised his hand, and there was a slight shake of unsteadiness—it was pretty obvious he didn’t know the answer. He sounded frightened as he answered in a quiet voice, “Pre-monthly syndrome?” The audience erupted with laughter. Another man in our row, sounding irritated, corrected him very loudly: “NO, it’s Pre-Menstrual Syndrome!” Everyone laughed, and all the women cheered him on—some of them even stood up to give him a standing ovation!
Then, the comedian asked, “Does any man know what Perimenopause is?” Silence. Not a single brave man in the entire crowd.
She shook her head, rolled her eyes, and said, “I wish this was something taught in school! They educate us about puberty, and we have sex ed, but not a single mention of this major, life-changing phase we all go through later in life.” She reached for a napkin from a woman in the front row and dabbed the sweat from her face before diving into her own menopause experiences—hot flashes, sleepless nights, mood swings, etc. Yet, somehow, she made it all hilarious, adding lightness to a topic that every woman who is lucky enough to live long enough will inevitably face.
That moment stuck with me. I’ve read plenty of books on menopause, and most of them take on a very clinical, fear-based approach—full of medical jargon and worst-case scenarios. That is not my goal in these pages.
I want to shed light on menopause in a way that is empowering, educational, and supportive.
The comedian was right: this isn’t something we’re taught in school. Many women enter this transition with little to no knowledge, simply because menopause isn’t openly talked about. I can’t tell you how many women have told me they wish this topic was discussed more. They’ve said, “I wish my circle of friends talked about this.” “I don’t understand why doctors are hardly educated about menopause.” “I don’t know where to find good information about menopause.” “My doctor told me it was just old age!” They share their personal stories with me, ask countless questions, and express frustration over how little they knew going in and how difficult it is to find support.
So, here we are—let’s set the stage and open this conversation, just like that comedian did, with openness and honesty. Let’s dive into what menopause is, what to expect, and why it happens. Most importantly, let’s explore how to navigate this transition in a way that feels empowering, mindful, and full of grace and love.
Reflect on Your Menopause Journey
How has menopause been discussed in your life? Have you felt supported and informed, or has it been a topic that’s often avoided? How do you feel about entering this phase of life?
Feel free to comment below—and remember, we are not in this alone. One of my favorite quotes is: “A rising tide lifts all boats.”
This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, and I’m so excited to continue this conversation with you. Subscribe to my newsletter and join me on this journey as I explore menopause with openness, humor, and a whole lot of love.
Let’s create a community where this phase of life is embraced and supported.