Patience...
About the time you start to approach 50 people have a tendency to want to discuss menopause. Some want to express warnings. Some want to extend sympathy of your impending life change. Some just seem downright gleeful at the thought. You've met them, they were there at other major life events, graduations, weddings, births, lots of free advise. My father always told me advise was worth what you paid for it. I pretty sure I understand the general gist of that statement. I will also admit that I have had free advise that was very worthy indeed. However I have found that all good intentions aside most of the advise I have received mostly resulted in doubting myself.
So after 50 plus years I have finally learned to listen politely take what might be useful and ignore the rest. You may think that should have been obvious a long time ago, but it would seem I am slow learner....
On the subject of menopause I have been fortunate to bypass most of the worst symptoms, for which I am eternally grateful and feel slightly guilty about. The one thing that I have noticed is a notable decline in my ability to be patient. You've heard those comments about women of a "certain age" being short tempered & bitchy. I have decided that this has absolutely nothing to do with hormones. It is my belief that God gives you a certain amount of patience that is suppose to last your entire life. With all the stress and stupidity that your exposed to on a daily basis, by the time you reach menopause you've used it all up!
I use to be known for my ability to be patient. Now I have the patience of a hungry cat. Trust me when I say that is a life altering situation. It would also seem that having very little patience has caused me to compensate by looking for distractions to avoid frustration. I have now acquired a most impressive talent for distracting myself at the drop of a hat. Now you may worry about my ability to focus or concentrate, but I have decided to embrace it.
Frankly I'm enjoying the distractions. They are leading me into new experiences, new ways of learning and new ways of creating. After all if you have no patience you have no time for fear or self doubt!
So after 50 plus years I have finally learned to listen politely take what might be useful and ignore the rest. You may think that should have been obvious a long time ago, but it would seem I am slow learner....
On the subject of menopause I have been fortunate to bypass most of the worst symptoms, for which I am eternally grateful and feel slightly guilty about. The one thing that I have noticed is a notable decline in my ability to be patient. You've heard those comments about women of a "certain age" being short tempered & bitchy. I have decided that this has absolutely nothing to do with hormones. It is my belief that God gives you a certain amount of patience that is suppose to last your entire life. With all the stress and stupidity that your exposed to on a daily basis, by the time you reach menopause you've used it all up!
I use to be known for my ability to be patient. Now I have the patience of a hungry cat. Trust me when I say that is a life altering situation. It would also seem that having very little patience has caused me to compensate by looking for distractions to avoid frustration. I have now acquired a most impressive talent for distracting myself at the drop of a hat. Now you may worry about my ability to focus or concentrate, but I have decided to embrace it.
Frankly I'm enjoying the distractions. They are leading me into new experiences, new ways of learning and new ways of creating. After all if you have no patience you have no time for fear or self doubt!