International Women's Day

Today in International Women's Day - a day to celebrate the achievements of women. This year's theme is Press for Progress. Women have already come so far, it's sad to think about how far we still need to go. But on this day of celebrating women, I'm called to think about the women that have made a difference in my life - and there have been so many.

My mom, of course, was a part of who I am. She left this earth far to soon, but I am thankful for her progressive way of thinking. She taught me that I can do anything I want if I'm willing to work for it. And as women, we often have to work harder, but nothing is beyond my reach.

My sister continues to cheer me on in everything I do. She's my best friend and my confidant. And she's one of the strongest women I know. She keeps my grounded but allows me soar.

And my best friend in California - my oldest friend (besides my sister). She pushes me to think harder and questions my ideas. Sometimes she frustrates me with it, but always stretches my thoughts. And always respects my choices.

My mother in law, for the short time I knew her, welcomed me as part of the family with open arms. She was a career woman by choice, long before it was an accepted practice. She was strength and love and compassion and joy all rolled into a small little bundle. I wish I could have known her longer.

And there are so many others - my college adviser, my thesis second reader, supervisors in several of my jobs...The list could go on and on.

And so to all of these women, mentioned and not, thank you. Thank you for setting the example of what a woman is. For encouraging me to be all that I can be.

International Woman's Day

It's International Women's Day - A day to honor the achievements of women and a call to accelerate gender parity.  There are so many famous women to be honored that shaped the world they way we know it today.

Mary Wollstonecraft - an English writer in the mid 1700's that wrote, "A Vindication of the Rights of Women", discussing the need to give women human and political rights.  She was the one who laid the foundation for the women's movement!

Jane Austen - a writer in the late 1700 moved past the barriers of a women as writers and came to write some of the most popular novels in history - Like Pride and Prejudice and Emma.  She opened the doors for women in the future to be writers!

Sojourner Truth - an African-American abolitionist that spoke in plain language and fought for the recognition not only that all men are equal, but that women are just as equal.

Margaret Fuller - an American author whose writings influenced they way men and women were perceived.  Her work, Women in the Nineteenth Century, was important in the early feminist movement.  It advocated that women be self sufficient and not so dependent on men.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton - one of the principle authors of Declaration of Sentiments (1848), she was one of the leading figures in the early women's suffrage movement.

Susan B. Anthony - with her tiring efforts and campaigning through the Temperance movement, she convinced society of the need for women to vote.!

And the list goes on .....  Women like Elizabeth Blackwell, Marie Curie, Helen Keller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Billlie Holiday, Indira Gandhi, Anne Frank, Benazir Bhutto, Princess Dianna and Malala Yousafzai.  I could list so many from the past and the present.

Each of these women has played a role in the fight for women's rights and freedoms around the world.  Use this day to tell others of the women that have impacted our world and honor their achievements that have changed our lives for the good.

Hot Flashes

When I first started menopause I had hot flashes – bright red skin turning hot flashes.  And night sweats!  Wow.  How can you sweat when the heater is off and its 28 degrees outside?  Well I did! 

I used HRTs for a while, then tapered off of them.  Heart disease runs in my family and I already have high blood pressure, so I was a little worried about the side effects of the drugs.  Over the course of a year I took them daily, then every other day, to eventually none. 

It’s been about 10 years since I took hormones and I’ve had little to no issues with hot flashes.  Then suddenly one day – They’re back! 

I sat in a meeting yesterday and my face and arms started to turn fiery red!  I felt like someone had turned the heat way up in my office.  I took of my sweater (fortunately is was a cardigan with a tank top under it) and opened the window.  Five minutes later, the window gets closed and the sweater goes back on.  Fifteen minutes later the routine begins again.

I’ve heard it called a woman’s personal summer.  It’s not.  Summer is lazy and breezy and wonderful when the sun soaks your skin and you relax in the beauty of it.  This is not a summer day.

I get why our bodies change as we age.  We don’t bear children anymore so our bodies don’t need all the parts and hormones and other things needed to do that job.  But why must other parts of our bodies rebel against the change?  Like the ol’ thermostat!

So what are my options?  Hormone Replacement again?  No – not worth the risk.  Taking soy supplements?  No – recent studies show that to be equally dangerous. 

I guess my options are to go out and buy lots of tank tops I can layer with shirts and cardigans – and get my workout taking them off and on and off and on…..

Ah – the joys of being an older woman.

Well, time to go shopping……

My Big, Fat, Menopausal Life

Menopause is an interesting phase of life.  I feel like me.  I still like to do fun things.  But when I look in the mirror I see my mother looking back!  When did that happen?

The Big Menopausal me

My body has deceived me!  I was always a tight, little, size 7 body in a 5' 7" frame.  I was athletic and energetic and I could eat - and eat - and eat.  I ran - I loved to run!  Then suddenly I found myself getting hot and sweaty for no reason.  My flat little tummy started to swell and my waist became, well, what waist?  My little size 7 grew into a 14 (twice the woman I used to be!) and a 16 and now, an 18!  And my sex life has changed.  Fortunately my husband's drive has dwindled as much as mine! 

This Friday I will be 60 years old.  I've been in menopause for about ten years.  My boobs droop and so does my belly!  And food has become an obsession - not what to eat, but what NOT to eat!!  My energy is waning and now I find myself not able to run because of arthritis in my food - and plantar fasciitis and bunions and bone spurs - Geez - this is stuff I used to hear grandma talking about!

So why did I start this blog?  Well not to complain and whine.  It is what it is and all us women will face menopause.  So I decided to start this blog for me.  A place to think about the changes that are happening to my body and to celebrate my aging self.

One of the biggest things I've noticed is the weight gain.  It's not healthy and, with diabetes and heart disease in my family, it's something I need to address.  I weigh 207 pound (up from my 115 pound frame in my twenties).  I've tried so many diets and exercises and have succeeded and gained and failed.  So what is up with that?  I was obsessing.  I spent so much time counting and planning that all I thought about was food.  I was unhappy and frustrated.  So two weeks ago I decided to make a change.

I know what I need to eat - and I know how much.  So my focus is simply to eat enough to fill my belly and no more.  Eat lots of veggies and even fruit - and to splurge on the more expensive ones to treat myself for being healthy.  

I do my stretches daily so I can walk - park far from the door and walk - eyes hurting at my desk, I walk.  And I set my goal easy - one pound per week.  That's it.  One pound.

On my weigh day (the only day I get on the scale) this last Saturday morning, I weighed 206.  Goal achieved.  No stress.  No obsessing.  Enjoying each day.  

So now I move into a new week, with new adventures and new challenges (and my birthday!).  I will enjoy each moment of every day on this journey through the rest of my life.   And I will succeed.