Gratefully Yours

And, Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov 29, 2024

Continue reading to the bottom where I reveal The Periprofessional’s Super Secret Holiday Surprise! If you’re so excited and just can’t wait, click here to jump down to the announcement.

Why I’m Grateful

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

By the time you read this, I will have had my Thanksgiving dinner at lunch (in PJs) and my charcuterie lunch for dinner (still in PJs) while watching a movie with the family.

Although I feel gratitude throughout the year, this is a special time for me to express and honor it. I wasn't always like this, though; I took gratitude for granted. Sure, I appreciated when good things happened in my life, but I never felt the deep sense of gratitude that I feel now.

This attitude adjustment was in part due to perimenopause.

If you've read any of my backstory on my About page, you know I had a tough time when perimenopause first started. If you think there's not a lot of good information now, picture what it was like 7 years ago.

For the first few years, I dealt with weird things happening, like my eyes losing their sparkle, my skin tone changing, and my teeth getting gritty. Then, when I turned 50 1/2, that's when I hit the brick wall, figuratively.

51 [2021] was the worst year of my life. I was so exhausted, sleeping up to 12 hours, my mood was at an all-time low, and I had several concerning medical issues come up BAM, BAM, BAM, all in a row (including a cancer scare).

Having this happen in succession was like a sucker punch to the gut by aging and reality. I typically run high on health anxiety anyway, so dealing with that and being in the middle of a pandemic was the ultimate tipping point. My nervous system dial was stuck on “What the heck is going on???” high alert, although at the time, I didn’t understand what was happening.

Thanks to countless doctor’s appointments telling me I was, in fact, healthy, I realized I wasn't dying. It was also around this time that I started to skip periods, and I began to understand what was really happening to me. I did what I always do in times of crisis: research. I’ve always been very good at combing through medical literature and pulling out relevant information. I found all of the hidden gems on perimenopause.

Initially, it felt more depressing; however, knowledge is power, and I noticed that my anxiety about what was going on in my body was beginning to subside as I learned more and more information.

Instead of letting it beat me, I became more determined to use this whole time as a reset and learning opportunity to address outdated behaviors, attitudes, and thoughts. These limiting beliefs were not aligned with who I desperately wanted to be.

I referred to these aspects as my “Living Playlist,” and I realized I was stuck on repeat—having the same thoughts, engaging in the same behaviors, and responding in the same way. I knew these patterns were not bringing me closer to my true potential; instead, they were holding me back. They were also causing a lot of exhaustion and anxiety. My poor body couldn’t keep up with what I was mentally doing to it.

I started taking small steps to regain a sense of normalcy. It wasn't easy; these were some of my darkest days, but I was determined to get through them. They say, “The only way out is through it.”

Even though I had been eating healthy and exercising up until this all happened, I realized how much my thoughts and mindset influenced my behaviors, my stress levels, and my health. I worked on creating a more positive mindset (not gaslighting myself; you have to feel the feelings first before you can reframe them), developing stress management techniques, and cultivating healthier thought patterns to enhance my overall quality of life.

One of the recommendations for those dealing with anxiety is to keep a gratitude list. Typically, I'm skeptical of such practices that seem overly soft and fuzzy, but I was so desperate that I decided to give it a try. Over the course of two years, I made it a habit to write down something I was grateful for every night.

Somedays, I was feeling so physically awful that the thing I was grateful for was something small, such as being given a free pen. Over time, this practice was one important task that helped me reframe my mindset. We’re all programmed to have a negativity bias - to see only the negative during the day; not feeling well will compound it. Doing this taught me to look for the good in life.

Grateful makes what I have great.

Starting The Periprofessional

Between my gratitude list and the journal I started keeping around this time, I rediscovered my love of writing. Having dedicated three years to studying the various aspects of perimenopause and menopause to better understand and manage my own experiences, I decided that it needed to be organized and shared. I love writing. To me, it’s calming and helps me sort through the millions of thoughts I have in a day. I’ve always dreamed of becoming an author.

As I was reading through medical literature and processing what I learned through the lens of my healthcare background, I could connect the dots where they had never been connected before. My commitment to a lifetime of health learning helped me to develop a unique voice and insights but also fueled my passion for helping others navigate this crucial phase of life.

So, six months ago, I started The Periprofessional on Substack and began building an online social media presence with the soul goal of helping women avoid the struggles I faced (spelling soul this way was not an error). Before this, I kept myself completely offline, guarded by a fear of failure and rejection. I’ve held myself back for far too long. I see it so clearly now, whereas I didn’t before. Armed with my new expansive mindset, feeling better with time, and working on my fear of failure, I allowed myself the freedom to follow my calling.

Writing would not only help me process everything I was going through but also provide me with something enjoyable to look forward to. I needed this in a big way.

Also, around this time, I was approached with an exciting opportunity to be trained and work as a perimenopause coach for a global perimenopause company. This role educates and helps women to develop strategies to manage their symptoms. Meeting with a coach is a safe space to connect and feel supported by someone who understands.

Perimenopause significantly impacted my self-esteem, sense of identity, and physical abilities. There are still days that I don’t feel great, but I learned to work with my feelings and my body rather than against them through continuous practice.

You might think that after writing weekly for six months, I’d be running out of things to say, but in fact, I have much more to share. More goodness is on the way—many more topics to discuss. I have over 30 years of health experience to talk about and relate to perimenopause.

If you want to catch up on older articles, there are two places you can do that:

PeriProf 101 sorts them by topic
Article Archive

Thank you!

Now that you know all that, it’s especially important for me to thank YOU. Your support and being a subscriber mean the world to me. I didn’t know how people would react to how I presented perimenopause information - was it too corny? Did it make sense? Was I going to make people laugh or cringe? Perimenopause and health information are not normally discussed the way I talk about it. But I knew I had to bring it to life and at least try. “Just do it for 6 months and see what happens,” I told myself.

I never expected The Periprofessional to take off like it has, so when I say I appreciate you being with me, I really, really mean it.

I’m especially thankful to those of you who have taken the time to reach out, whether it was to share your personal story, seek answers to your questions, heart an article, leave a comment, or simply to connect. Your willingness to engage with me feeds my spirit. Our interactions not only uplift me but also inspire me to keep moving forward. Thank you for being a part of this experience with me!

Remember That Holiday Surprise From Last Week?

Last week, I mentioned that I crafted a FREE holiday surprise for everyone. I’m ready to announce it!

Starting Sunday, December 1, join me for 24 days of fun-filled and informative perimenopause information at The Periprofessional Perimenopause Advent Calendar. Each day, we'll explore various aspects, and I’ll offer insights, tips, and support to help you get through the holidays feeling your best or at least better.

It’s free, AND there’s no account sign-up! Just head over to the page each day and enjoy. Bookmark the page, and if you miss a day or two, no worries, you can catch up. Each day’s door will open on the right date.

Expect a blend of expert advice, personal stories, and practical resources!

If you need a reminder on December 1, sign up here by clicking the below image. If you already signed up last week, no further action is needed.

Your email will only be used to remind you on the 1st and the 24th.

To those who celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you have a wonderful holiday, and Mr. Gobble1 treated you nicely. If today is just a regular Thursday for you, I hope it was a good one!

Gratefully yours,