As we keep blogging along here on The Body of Eve, I’ve recently questioned where I am as a woman in the circle of life. I’m creeping up on 50 years-old and health issues keep happening to me at such a regular cadence that it makes me wonder what’s menopause, what’s simply just getting old or am I certified hypochondriac?
Two weeks ago I apparently pinched a nerve in my shoulder. Before that it was blood clots in my lungs (thank you very much, birth control pills). And before that, hormone cocktails and general chubbiness—the later still hanging onto my midsection. Will it never end? Of course, it does – we just don’t know the exact date.
I guess the question really is…how bad are things going to get and what’s to blame? Instead of focusing on menopause, should everything we are writing just have the end goal of a comfortable death? First we are younger than 40. Then we slowly start to fall apart with a few fancy hot flashes sprinkled in over the course of about ten years. Sometimes during and after those ten years, our major organs begin to fail or become diseased. And, then finally – it’s over.
Depressed yet? Well, I’m not. Whatever is happening to our bodies may not be in our total control, but we owe it to ourselves to not give up. I want to remind everyone what this blog is about—working to make good choices. Seeing what works and what does not. What eases the hot flashes? What keeps us “regular?” Did something reduce your midsection bloat by an inch? What slows chin hair growth? Answers to any or all of these questions would result in throwing myself a midlife party.
Today, I was proud of myself. Even though my shoulder hurt, I got up out bed today. That was a big step. I took a small amount of pain med and proceeded to stay out of bed even when I wanted to crawl back in. Then I brewed up some healthy soup (http://www.pauladeen.com/bobbys-lighter-tastes-like-lasagna-soup) for my family that should last for the entire week, organized lunches for everyone (including me) and then went for a glorious one hour walk with my husband. Will this buy me an extra few seconds in the end? Who knows. But, I did it—that is what matters. I have hope. That’s what I want for you, readers. Do things that make you hopeful that you’ll be around a few years longer. Life is physical, but it’s also mental. Mostly mental.
Live forward!
Steph
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