A week or so ago, I found myself at a lunch and sitting next to three women I had not seen since school days. And it was an experience that left me feeling so grateful for being a woman in midlife.
These women were so beautiful, and had been through so much, and were so full of life and humour, alongside the tales of tougher times.
There was a moment though, when I chuckled on the inside. One of the women was someone I was completely in awe of when I was younger. She was just so darn cool! And she still is totally awesome. Anyway, as I sat across the table from her at lunch chatting and laughing and sharing bits of our life stories, that little inner voice, you know the one that is forever 17, whispered inside of me, “OMG she’s talking to me!!!” …. Isn’t it funny how we grow, and yet we don’t, and yet we do.
So, this chance reunion with these fabulous women, got me thinking about some of the things I love about being a midlife, postmenopausal one. And I thought I’d share a few things here:
- I love the feeling of the passage of time. That sense of life stories being made.
- I like feeling less worried about whether I am cool enough/attractive enough/successful enough.
- I treasure the memories I have made with friends.
- I like that the things that occupy my midlife mind these days are somehow more soulful than the fun days of sticking gel in my hair and dancing to The Human League. Creativity, giving back, finding time for nourishing solitude, making a positive difference, helping others… these are the things that I turn towards now (OK yes, so I do still dance to Human League if given the opportunity).
- I love that midlife is helping me become clearer about what matters most to me and is giving me the confidence to follow my own star.
I think that when we take stock of our own life, this midlife passage helps us see and honour the lives of others. It helps us show up with compassion and reminds us of the everyday humanness of life, no matter how cool or nerdy we once were. Midlife can also mean that these chance meetings with people from the past can reveal themselves as enriching and life-affirming gifts.
I look forward to the next encounter.
Georgina x
PS: I offer coaching for women navigating key life transitions such as menopause over at georginalangdale.com.
PPS: I totally wigged out to 80s music while writing this, and so here are some of my faves of old...
Talking Heads - Burning Down the House
Flock of Seagulls - I Ran
Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way
Talk Talk - Life's What You Make It
New Order - Blue Monday
oh and (of course) ...
The Human League - Don't You Want Me
(I can feel a spotify playlist coming on)
