Me No Pause

11 Mar

Something happens at the tail end of menopause. It can be really annoying when we are told that menopause doesn’t have to define or restrict us an advertiser’s claim to have the answer to eternal youth like @hollandandbarrett ‘Me No Pause’ Transport For London, campaign.

Yet our bodies tell us something different: our bodies have been hijacked by capricious hormones and we have no idea what havoc they are going to wreck next.

One day I was lamenting this to an older wise friend and I was totally surprised when she conspiratorially confided. “Don’t worry, you just wait for the day you come home. Your real self will inhabit you again and it’s not you of 5 years ago or even 25 years ago, it’s that carefree prepubescent you.” A ‘you’ with hormones that have settled down. The ‘you’, you’ve long forgotten and never thought you’d meet again. But with added confidence that’s sexy, a style that’s you, a fearless spirit and a tried and tested truth. It’s the best present, surprise, gift ever.

When it happened to me it was like finding a lost but beloved piece of jewelry in the pocket of a forgotten coat. I pass this on whenever I can to women who are finding it difficult.

A woman came back to me at a party this summer, looking so radiant I didn’t recognise her at first. She said “what you told me last year – happened. It’s amazing and Im telling everyone I know.”

So hang in there, the best is yet to come, I promise!.

Lydia Campbell