Page 31 - Cindy Salas Murphy San Diego Woman Magazine

The Pause

By Marymichelle Lotano

here are two times in a period in a woman's life that cumvent any of the natural The key is to be open to
woman's life when she can create isolation from her and physical happenings. moments of peace of mind
Tno longer has control new baby, her family, and Yet a woman will expend and balance of the body
over her body; pregnancy her love. an enormous amount of by trusting in herself and be-
and menopause. With preg- Menopause is the same energy trying to live as if lieving in the natural order
nancy, she is growing a body but different, as it comes nothing is happening to her. of life; as each phase comes
for a beautiful soul who with a lifetime of expe- She will continue to attempt and goes as intended.
has chosen her to be their riences and learnings to to meet the physical, emo-
mother...simply amazing. In support its presence. With tional, and psychological de-
menopause, she is trans- menopause, the shifting of mands of children, spouses, Author’s Note: This article
forming the years of her hormones comes at a time lovers, and employers as if is dedicated to my best
personal growth and wis- when life is vibrant and she is status quo. But she is friend, Paula, who passed
dom into a maturity that will interesting, and busy. Yet, not. And when she fails, she away in September 2021
carry her through until she partaking in the daily activi- is disappointed in herself after a short and very
returns Home. The Grace of ties of family, work, exercise, and those around her feel invasive experience with
each is separate and similar; nutrition, and relationships slighted by her lack of atten- cancer. She was my rock
necessary and significant; becomes effortful, exhaust- tiveness and engagement. and now she's my angel.
but not easy. ing, and disconnected. Once It is a conundrum We met when we were two
For many women preg- again a woman finds herself unique to women that and now fifty-five years
nancy is a time of joy and in a place of isolation and society, employers, fam- later she is gone. But these
ease, for some, it is a time fatigue and an endless cycle ilies, and friends cannot issues that all women
of great discomfort and for of physical, mental, and fully understand or share in. struggle with, which are
more than we know, the emotional discomfort. Instead, her path forward so hard to share, I shared
after effects of the hormone The two stages of life requires her to maintain an with her; every week over
shifts can cause a sense of teach women some very understanding of the tem- the phone, for at least an
depression and fatigue that simple realities; she is not in porariness of the situation, hour, and a million text
cannot be outrun by con- control of the most natural the knowledge that in time messages in between.
ventional methods. Time and gracious parts of living; all will be well again, and a She was my person. From
stands still for her while she cannot simply decide willingness to let her body toddlers to menopause...
the days and nights loom that she does not feel the "be" by allowing rest when I hope this article
ahead, endless and lonely effects of either experience, rest can be attained, reflec- will bring some sense of
and experienced in a state she cannot change what is tion when feelings are raw, validation and comfort to
of listlessness. And while in transpiring, and there are no and to have patience with all women.
time it does right itself, it is a choices she can make to cir- herself.

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