Middle-aged
Hello friends!
At 51, it's safe to say I’m middle-aged. How does this show up in the world of wellness? What I need and how I look at being well feels different now. There is a new respect for aging and for experiences I knew nothing about until I walked that road myself. More empathy for others AND self-forgiveness for my own mistakes. The concept of well-ish means that your wellness isn’t meant to be perfect. What you need to feel well may change depending on where you are in life. I’m happy to report, there are really wonderful things that come along with middle-age! I actually DO feel a bit wiser, ready to pursue opportunities I want, and say NO to commitments I don’t want. Yes! It is true, you do stop caring as much about what others think! This opened the door to a new found freedom from pressures I’ve felt in the past. My relationships have grown deeper and become more valuable. My girlfriends are my sworn sisters. By this stage of life, we all have been through some sh*t. There is nothing stronger than the bond of women who bear their souls and trust that you will hold space for them to fall apart. No judgement, just love. Then there is menopause. The struggle is real. I truly did not give this life change the respect it deserved. I’ll be honest, it is a BEAST. In my journey of menopause I experienced a level of anxiety and panic I had never known. One early morning on vacation with my family, I found myself stripping off my clothes in the throes of a sweaty hot flash and lying on the hardwood floor of our condo to stay cool. My husband found me sobbing as I told him I thought I might be losing my mind. After summoning the courage to be authentic about my feelings, I found I was not alone in my struggle. Menopause can be really tough for many others too. What's up with my body??? My body hurts! Aches, weird pains, I don’t even do anything to cause them! I literally woke up one morning and could not turn my head. How does that happen? My butt is sliding down my legs and my gut is a new unwanted friend. In addition to all that fun, we deal with other pressures in middle-age as well. Sick and aging parents, kids moving out and creeping slowly toward independent adulthood. It's tough on the heart. The point is, wellness is a journey! Sometimes being well means you survived the trauma, you opened the door to joy, you protected your time, you pushed forward with love and kindness, you thanked your body for what it can do, and you continued to welcome the experiences of life. Well-ish Living embodies the concept that every little thing you do like movement, relaxation, socialization, self-care, forgiveness, it all counts and is a beautiful love letter to yourself. No matter where you are in your journey of life, I think we can agree that the goal is to have a life well lived. Wellish is here to help you. Be well-ish friends!
Xoxo,
Dani
