A reflection on a longer ‘life season’ I wrote last year.
Today is world menopause day; such an important part of half the populations life. It’s starting to get more understanding and consideration, slowly.
For me personally it is being quite the journey (peri, just edging into full menopause).
For my clients it is a time of reclaimation, confusion, riteous rage, resentment, deep healing, empowerment.
Often the phrases that come are ‘what the hell have I been doing with my life’, ‘enough of this shxt’, ‘Right! My time!’
As the ‘oestrogen box’ falls away, so all that has been comes into clearer relief. Tricky, and ultimately very very healing.
My Medicine teacher and wise elder speaks of this being the time the woman turns to face the community with all she has learnt, and fiercely contributes. A strong time for her to be supported in her wider endeavours (and yes this would also be great in all stages of life).
The thing I know from clinic (and personally) is that we MUST go into this phase with balanced, happy, adrenal glands. Compromised adrenals cannot produce the back up oestrogen that can help smooth the changes out a little.
Personally this has meant:
1. Prioritising sleep (as a parent carer of an often insomniac autistic young adult this has been a real edge)
2. Napping – especially when feeling overwhelmed (quite a rewrite for me)
3. Eating tonnes of fresh veg and fruit, and small amounts of local grass fed meat (apologies to those who don’t agree regards eating animals)
4. Feeling into a slower way. This means disappointing people who would like quick answers and immediate replies to things. When I do go down the ‘quick route’ I often come across as arsey and confrontational!
5. Being a whole lot kinder to myself regards my capacity (a work in progress….)
6. A deepening sense of humour. Becoming a senior kinesiology practitioner and teacher of over 20 years experience, while far too regularly forgetting the names of muscles, meridians, systems, is deeply disturbing, humbling, and in my wiser moments…hilarious!
7.Realising the things that used to work, may not now. Being curious about my body wisdom, being open to new things, letting things go.
And lastly…
8. BOUNDARIES. Having been a bit rubbish with these for most of my life, the fury that comes these days when my boundary is crossed is seriously intense. And not pretty for anyone.
Getting clearer about what they are, and communicating them well in advance is crucial. Sticking to them is very much still a work in progress.
Meridian wise, the places to start are the Triple Warmer and the Heart protector. Though, to be honest, *every part* of our being is affected.
I hope these reflections may be of use. Let’s really bring these conversations up.
With love, SJ