“Is it Menopause or Just My Life?”: Finding Humor in the Chaos
Have you ever found yourself standing in the middle of the kitchen, one sock on, holding a bag of frozen peas to your neck, wondering, "Is this a hot flash, or am I just really stressed about that email I forgot to send?"
Welcome to the club. You're officially part of the tribe where the line between "menopause symptom" and "general life chaos" is blurrier than my vision without reading glasses.
It’s a daily game show I like to call, "Hormones or Havoc?"
Did I snap at my partner because my estrogen is taking a nosedive, or because they left their wet towel on the bed again? Am I awake at 3 a.m. because of night sweats, or because my brain decided now is the perfect time to replay every embarrassing moment from high school?
The truth is, it’s probably a bit of both. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s kind of hilarious when you stop to think about it.
We are navigating a perfect storm of bodily changes while also juggling careers, families, aging parents, and the existential dread of realizing we are now the "older, wiser" generation. It’s a lot. And if we don't laugh, we might just cry (which, let's be honest, we're probably going to do anyway, so we might as well get a chuckle out of it first).
I recently read someone describe their perimenopause journey as spinning a "wheel of misfortune" every morning. Will it be rage today? Brain fog? A sudden, inexplicable urge to reorganize the entire pantry? Who knows! It's an adventure.
Another one of my favorite quotes on the subject comes from Margaret Atwood, who famously called menopause, "A pause while you reconsider men." I mean, can you argue with that?
Finding humor in the chaos isn't about diminishing what we're going through. The symptoms are real, and they can be tough. But laughter is a powerful tool. It lowers stress, connects us with others, and reminds us that we are not alone in this wild, sweaty, emotional ride.
So, the next time you find yourself crying over a dog food commercial while simultaneously experiencing your own personal tropical vacation, take a deep breath. Call a friend who gets it. Share a funny meme. Or just stand in front of the open freezer and own it.
We’re in this together, navigating the beautiful, messy, and often hilarious journey of midlife. Let's keep sharing our stories, laughing at the absurdity, and supporting each other through every hot flash and memory lapse.
Keep thriving, Tribe.
Tracy 💗
💭 Reflection:
What part of your own menopause (or midlife) chaos made you laugh this week? Share it — your story might be exactly what another woman needs to hear today.