The line about protein and strength training not solving an existential crisis gets at what is still missing from many menopause conversations. Physical symptoms are becoming easier to name, while the loss of certainty, drive or identity is often turned into another problem to optimise. Your point about not rushing the unraveling into reinvention leaves room for a part of this transition that may need time before it needs a plan.
I agree, the unraveling definitely needs time before it needs a plan. Time is one of the most precious gifts we can give ourselves during this transformation.
I gradually blew up my life and 10 years later I’ve learned so much about me and life. I’m becoming who I want to be instead what was expected from society and relationships 🙏🏽
Em, that’s so inspiring that you’re gradually becoming who you want to be after letting go of all the societal expectations and relational patterns! It takes a lot of showing up for yourself to let go of all that!
Thank you so much! That’s impressive is my hope-to normalize these experiences so other women don’t have to feel so alone and confused about what’s happening to them!
I love this! These are all so good! I was nodding along in recognition at every line. I really loved your description about how your ambitions and sense of direction started changing. Yes, yes, yes. Thanks for all these great insights!
Thanks for letting me know it resonated! Sometimes the perimenopause years can feel so lonely and confusing, especially if someone doesn’t know all these things can be normal for this time of life!
such an important conversation. I can relate to so many of your points and you’re right, they are not things I automatically attributed to peri. and the space between!! yesssss I’ve tried and failed at the reinventions many times. also, I didn’t realize you’re in colorado!! me too, neighbor!!
Oh how fun that you live in Colorado! I’m in the Boulder area. Are we close? Glad to hear you can relate! For a long time, I didn’t realize these things were so normal for this season of life. There’s a book I really resonated with called Wise Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer. My mind was blown when the book described my exact experience through every phase of this portal, I thought I was the only one for so long.
do not even get me started on the relentless cultural pressure to immediately 'reinvent' ourselves with a new career or a new body the second we start unraveling...
Optimization can become another form of override when the life underneath the protocol is trying to tell you something. Jessie, your opening makes that tension visible: the tools offered useful support while questions of identity, desire, and direction remained unresolved. The void then gives a woman time to observe what remains when pushing, fixing, and performing stop deciding the next move. I appreciate the permission you give women to encounter that uncertainty before turning it into another project.
The line about protein and strength training not solving an existential crisis gets at what is still missing from many menopause conversations. Physical symptoms are becoming easier to name, while the loss of certainty, drive or identity is often turned into another problem to optimise. Your point about not rushing the unraveling into reinvention leaves room for a part of this transition that may need time before it needs a plan.
I agree, the unraveling definitely needs time before it needs a plan. Time is one of the most precious gifts we can give ourselves during this transformation.
I gradually blew up my life and 10 years later I’ve learned so much about me and life. I’m becoming who I want to be instead what was expected from society and relationships 🙏🏽
Em, that’s so inspiring that you’re gradually becoming who you want to be after letting go of all the societal expectations and relational patterns! It takes a lot of showing up for yourself to let go of all that!
So well written and very informative! I hope many women find their way here to this and feel less isolated!
Thank you so much! That’s impressive is my hope-to normalize these experiences so other women don’t have to feel so alone and confused about what’s happening to them!
I love this! These are all so good! I was nodding along in recognition at every line. I really loved your description about how your ambitions and sense of direction started changing. Yes, yes, yes. Thanks for all these great insights!
Thanks for letting me know it resonated! Sometimes the perimenopause years can feel so lonely and confusing, especially if someone doesn’t know all these things can be normal for this time of life!
I didn’t know it was a thing until Melanie? Went big on IG with the we do not care club. So much hindsight! Arg!
Oh, I haven’t been active on IG for a while so I don’t know about the we do not care club. But I can imagine what it is all about!
such an important conversation. I can relate to so many of your points and you’re right, they are not things I automatically attributed to peri. and the space between!! yesssss I’ve tried and failed at the reinventions many times. also, I didn’t realize you’re in colorado!! me too, neighbor!!
Oh how fun that you live in Colorado! I’m in the Boulder area. Are we close? Glad to hear you can relate! For a long time, I didn’t realize these things were so normal for this season of life. There’s a book I really resonated with called Wise Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer. My mind was blown when the book described my exact experience through every phase of this portal, I thought I was the only one for so long.
I am going to look that up!!
do not even get me started on the relentless cultural pressure to immediately 'reinvent' ourselves with a new career or a new body the second we start unraveling...
I love your passion around this and would love to get you started on it, lol! If you have a post on this topic I’d love to read it!
A little long, but my pinned post is probably where I lashed out the most: https://severinebaron.substack.com/p/what-comes-after-being-believed
Thanks! I'm adding this to my reading list!
Optimization can become another form of override when the life underneath the protocol is trying to tell you something. Jessie, your opening makes that tension visible: the tools offered useful support while questions of identity, desire, and direction remained unresolved. The void then gives a woman time to observe what remains when pushing, fixing, and performing stop deciding the next move. I appreciate the permission you give women to encounter that uncertainty before turning it into another project.