When was the last time you sat down and took a good look at your health? It’s really important, especially during menopause, for you to do that – take some time for you. Just, stop, catch your breath and assess where you’re at right now.

A little while ago I read Julie Dennis’ book The Hot Flush Freedom Challenge: 10 days to cool down, calm down and break through the fog of menopause.

I highly recommend Julie’s book as it gives you the opportunity to STOP!

Stop and assess where you’re at – right now.

And, here’s why that’s important…

As you approach and journey through menopause your energy levels shift over the years and, if we can use the analogy of our bodies compared to a vehicle, you can see that our needs change as time goes on.

Speaking of aging vehicles, let me share a story with you – it was when I was a teenager and went to the ski fields one day with my older sister and her Italian husband. We were in a Morris Minor car which had seen a lot of miles and, although it looked OK on the outside, was getting a tad tired under the bonnet. Sound familiar?

We had our picnic basket and all sorts of extra weight in the boot and we were singing away on our journey as we drove around the hill and 10 green bottles came to an abrupt halt.

There before us, majestically gleaming in the sunlight, we saw a HUGE mountain with a goat track road leading straight up to the plateau which housed the lodge and base of the ski fields.

There was deep silence before my sister murmured to her wonderfully optimistic Italian husband – “Hope Doris (you name your car, go on, you know you do) can make it up that mountain.”

My brother-in-law said with great gusto “Dunna you worry My Love – Doris will get us up the hill…nah worries!”

At this point, I’m sure you get the analogy – you and I (us menopausal gals) are the car and that foreboding mountain is our menopause journey.

So, as my lovely brother-in-law reversed and attempted to scale that mountain, yet again, with his foot flat to the floor (we were out of the car by this time, as well as everything else that could be removed) our hopes began to fade that we would ever make it up that mountain.

Trying to rev up the mountain and take it by storm had failed miserably on the first two occasions when my sister spoke with her husband and he grudgingly agreed to slow down, borrow some chains, and take it quietly as he gently coaxed Doris up that mountain road. It was a moment of exhilaration as we arrived at the plateau but poor Doris was definitely the worse for wear. She had just climbed over 5,230 ft on a dirt mountain road, at a very steep incline.

I can remember the feeling of hopelessness as Doris kept valiantly trying to make it up the steep road, only to run out of puff and slide backwards down the mountainside. Boy that really hit home when I was finally forced to stop and consider my menopause options.

Back on the mountain, we Eventually, with a lot assistance, made it up the mountain but then had to nurse Doris all the way home and it took a bit of work to fix up the damage in a mechanic’s workshop the following week. It was a rather slow drive home from memory.

I learnt a valuable lesson that day, which I wouldn’t really think about again until decades later while fasting and praying about how to handle my menopause health – and what I realised was that I was Doris and trying to rev up that huge mountain of menopause, without any consideration as to age, without proper support and equipment. In my case, without my needs and my health management needs being met.

That little green Morris Minor taught me a lot about how not to approach menopause – I had already had several stays in hospital (workshop) through trying too hard to be all things to all people all the time and I hope with all my heart that you don’t do that. Because, it’s just not worth it. Let my lesson teach you and save you from having to experience the cost, trauma and eventual illness that can so easily result from poor health management during menopause.

Happily, I can report that these days it’s a completely different story and I allow for my older body as well as give it the best nutrition possible and keep myself as my own Health Manager. While you’re checking out Julie’s book, ‘The Hot Flush Freedom Challenge‘ you might like to also have a look at mine which focuses on your diet with suggestions of how you can change your grocery and eating habits (and more) – ‘Organic Food Heals – 7 Awesome Ways To Good Health Naturally‘ 

I know it’s not easy to change habits, especially for women, as we spend years looking after others, but menopause is a time to definitely put you first and back at the top of your care life.

There are so many benefits when you do – as you not only look after your health needs but you are a much lovelier person to be around. So, everyone benefits, personally and professionally. 

Image Credit: http://www.dangerousroads.org/australia-and-oceania/new-zealand/3913-mount-hutt-access-road.html