Being the Change
The inspiration for the name of this blog comes from two sources:
- In 1992 Germaine Greer, an Australian woman living and teaching at Cambridge University in England, published The Change: Women, Aging, and the Menopause, one of the first books written by a woman about menopause.
- "Be the change you wish you see in the world" is a quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. However, this is actually a paraphrase of something he actually said: "We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change." (https://www.genesisca.org/single-post/2019/06/17/be-the-change)
As menopausal people we are naturally, often turbulently, sometimes sublimely, in the midst of profound change--physiologically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. We don't need to change ourselves as we are so completely being changed by processes outside of our control: We are incarnating change.
The menopausal transition has been kicking my ass and I wasn't expecting it to. I am here, writing this now, in an attempt to come to some sort of peace with what is happening within me. I chose the name Being the Change because it occurred to me, after quite a few years of struggle and resentment, that in the process of consciously negotiating and embodying this radical change--rather than resisting it--I may have the opportunity to become a force for the positive change I want to see in the world.
I'm inviting you to join me here, because if you are going through the Change, preparing to enter it, or if you have already emerged on the other side, you do, too.
Content
My intention is to publish 1-2 new blog posts each week. My aim is to include information that will be useful to pre-menopausal women, as well as to address the experiences and needs of peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women.
It can take 2+ years after the menopause for hormonal fluctuations to settle and a new equilibrium to be attained. Additionally, once we have transited the menopausal change all of us will post-menopausal for the remainder of our lives. It's critical to consider the challenges and possibilities of this time.
Posts will be primarily comprised of both
- My personal observations and descriptions of what I have experienced, struggled with, and found helpful.
- Pragmatic and evidence-based information gleaned from my reading, research, explorations, and encounters with others.
In addition to the blogs, each week I will also aim to post 1 or 2 links to information, videos, podcasts, etc. that might be interesting or helpful.
Science & Support
At the top of the Home Page are three headings. On the "Resources" page I will seek to add information and links to articles, books, videos, talks, podcasts, etc. that I think may be interesting or helpful. Under the "Support" heading I will include information about and links to practices that may be helpful in managing menopause symptoms and promoting wellbeing.
The information found on these pages may also be included in blog posts, but I have these specific sites set up to make this type of information easier to find and access.
Community
This page is where I will post questions, comments, or corrections that have been sent in by readers. I will endeavor to research questions as best I can in order to respond to questions.
I look forward to receiving feedback and comments on what you find useful, what links aren't working or valuable, if some information I have presented is inaccurate or contradicts your own understanding, and especially, what your experiences are.
You can email me at beingthechange.us@gmail.com.
If you do contact me, please include the following:
**Your question, comment, or correction
**If it is okay for me to place your question/comment/correction on the "Community" page
**What name and/or location (ex, city, state) you would like me to use to identify you
Please be patient
This is a new endeavor, fatigue is an ongoing part of my experience at the moment, and I may be slower than I typically would in writing and responding.
