Puberty Revisited

Hello!

Okay, how many of you readers (female) remember your pre-teens and early teenage years? Remember the way your body started to puff up and out in various places, and get curvy in others? Remember the lovely ups and downs of emotion? One minute happy, the next sad? And don't forget the pimples, those awful red volcanoes that grew overnight in the most unattractive places...

Well, I feel like that all over again!!!! (except for the pimples, they are replaced with "laugh lines") This year, 2008 was jam packed with new opportunities and experiences. Going back to college after 25 years was a huge endeavor for sure, however the simultaneous journey towards menopause has proved to be an equal challenge.

What is totally confusing, is that my mind, my brain, and my inner concept, stills sees and feels much like when I was 25. It really does. I still feel like I felt when I was fresh out of college, and finding my first apartment...and in someways, I feel better.

But, my body is starting to puff out, in places I didn't know I had. I also think my curves are beginning to sag. My emotions are well, let's just say, my husband deserves saint-hood. I thought my anxiety, sadness and worthless feelings were attributed to the fear of college and associating with young, vibrant, brilliant minds, but now that that's almost over, I think it may have to do with my hormones taking a joy ride. Thank goodness the pimples haven't returned, however the not-so-funny "laugh lines" and blotchy skin do show up every morning. At first I thought it was those new energy saving light bulbs...but who am I kidding.

So what do I do about this? I'm not really sure. (and for me to not have a plan is unnerving)

For 2009 my husband and I decided (okay, who am I fooling...I decided, he nodded) that we will live the year of the mind and body. Yoga and medication, I mean, meditation. My psychic friend agrees; we definitely should pursue the yoga-meditation thing. We are really looking forward to bending and stretching, and then sitting still, like a carrot or cucumber or some other vegetable, breathing in and out and settling our minds.

Seriously, not to mock either yoga or meditation, both my husband and I agree that life is too crazy, and too busy, and in these questionable financial times we feel led to buckle down and connect spiritually. I also really believe that this route will help with all those other life-changing signs and symptoms. Puberty? Menopause? Hmph.

Perhaps I should have titled this Menopause Visited...a time when all men (and women) take a pause...a moment to regroup, refocus and revive.

Until next time,
Have hope,
Donna