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Choose Wisely When Playing the Long Game

Over the last week, the number of COVID-19 cases has surged all across America in what is now the previously predicted second wave of the pandemic. This means that the world will once again be going into lockdown mode to weather the storm. The thought of being housebound for another few months is an understandably tough idea to shoulder. It brings up anxiety and impatience since a normal routine may now seem even further away than before. We see you, hear you, and are right there with you. 

In these hard times, I urge you to keep going. Keep up with your affirmations, prayers, routines, whatever it may be that gives you even the smallest sigh of relief or hope. Write in your gratitude journal, call your friends, take a bubble bath, eat good food. Nourish your soul.

Hang onto hope. Lean into your faith. These small gestures or rituals, whatever it may be, can make all the difference. My inbox remains open for anyone to reach out to in these trying times.

I also urge you to brush up on any self-care and related healthcare or medical paperwork. If you are currently uninsured, look into enrolling for healthcare under the Affordable Care Act for 2021 coverage. Enrollment was opened on November 1st, 2020 and will close on December 15th, 2020. In the wake of this crisis, it is more crucial than ever to choose wisely and make decisions about your coverage, especially for the upcoming year. This way you remain prepared for anything that comes your way. We may be playing the long game this winter so like a game play, we should evaluate and choose the best options for our needs. Health insurance is one of those things in life that really creep up on you and I myself recently had a rude encounter with the system.

Last week when I was choosing my new health insurance for the upcoming 2021 year, I neglected to examine the finer print. I accidentally chose a plan that didn’t cover one of my essential medications.

This led to my pharmacy informing me that my medication payment would increase to $1000 and then afterwards I would have to shell out $630 every three months. This was a crazy price hike from my current premium.

OUCH.

Needless to say, I scrambled to call my insurance representative so I could change to a plan which did cover all my medical needs. It was a stressful ordeal to say the least but I was able to get the matter resolved. The moral of the story? Please make your health-related decisions carefully and seriously. Read the paper/digital copies of your insurance policies and keep hard copies on hand, listen to your representatives attentively, and make your decisions with clear intention. Ask questions to your healthcare provider, friends, family, etc. until you fully understand all the terms and conditions. Inform yourself before you sign on the dotted line!

I would love to hear from YOU about some of your own close encounters with health insurance. What was the most difficult part and how did you manage to rectify those mistakes?

Comment down below!

As always, have a great and purposeful day!

XOXO, THE MENOPAUSE WHISPERER 

Thanksgiving and the Season of Gratitude

It’s turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing season — and this year the table may have looked a little smaller. In the wake of the second wave of COVID-19, people have canceled their journeys home in favor of quarantining to prevent further disease spread and protect their loved ones. Many may have found themselves either celebrating alone or with only immediate family. Others may be having a tough holiday having lost loved ones to the disease. It’s a tough pill to swallow after a long and hard year but we must remember the important things.

However far apart the distance, our hearts remain connected to our loved ones through the strength of our bonds. No one wants to head home to celebrate only to return and prepare for a funeral. Of course, calling off plans requires the sacrifice of forgoing Thanksgiving company and limited interaction. But this is for the greater good and there are still ways to take part in the cheer. Here are some considerations and alternative ways to celebrate gratitude without dining together. 

1. Continue having Virtual Meal Sharing throughout the weekend

Best practice would be canceling in-person gatherings altogether in favor of a Zoom virtual gathering. In light of the holiday, Zoom has lifted the 40-minute meeting restriction so everyone can mingle for however long they want. No table crowding, kitchen mess, or dishes to clean up after. Go ahead and spill all the family gossip and mashed potatoes you want; no one will see the gravy stains on your lap or notice your 4PM food coma.

2. Volunteering Safely or Donating to a Food Pantry

With the current dire economic conditions, many people are being left food-needy. Why not help your less fortunate neighbors by volunteering (socially distanced and safely) to pass out food supplies? That or making donations of extra canned food to a local donation place for distribution will make a big difference. If you want to avoid any risks at all, make a charitable donation to causes that need a little extra support this year. Share the love any way you can.

3. Plan a Cozy Night in With Takeout. 

Who says you have to celebrate Thanksgiving with all the pomp and circumstance? It’s perfectly fine to just call it a day, hang up the apron, and not cook at all. Treat yourself to some nice takeout instead, and support your local restaurants to help keep them afloat. Put on a Friends marathon or any Hallmark/Lifetime channels to add in some cheer. At this moment, they will most likely already have a rotating selection of holiday movies on for your easy binging. 

4. Drop off Socially Distanced Treats

Just because you’re apart doesn’t mean you can’t mail cards, care packages, or drop off doorstep pies. We can get more creative and artsy this year with our signs of affection. It’ll brighten up anyone’s day to receive an impromptu treat, and more importantly, you can show your affection and gratitude without jeopardizing anyone’s health.

For this week’end’s special journal prompt, go ahead and:


1. Speak or send a word of thanks to those we hold dear. Give them a call or send them some mail.

2. Write down what you’re most thankful for in your personal life.

3. Hold a gratitude prayer for how far you’ve come, making it another day, for your health, and for clarity of mind.

Have a great and purposeful Thanksgiving Weekend Holiday!

XOXO The Menopause Whisperer

Breaking the Menopause Glass Ceiling

Wow. It has been quite a momentous election cycle. What initially started off as an anxiety-inducing race ended with a major political upset and a shining moment in history for women. Kamala Harris has become the first black and Asian female Vice-President of the United States. In addition to breaking race barriers, Kamala serves as an exemplar for all menopausal women. Prior to the election, she served a long and distinguished career as District Attorney, Attorney General, and US Senator of California. Her ascent to the Vice-Presidency is a public rejection of the stereotype that menopausal women can’t be leaders. 

Although Kamala is the first woman to sit in the Vice Presidency, she is not the first to run for the White House. Her predecessor, Shirley Chisholm, ran for presidency as the first black and female major-party candidate in the 1972 U.S. general election. She was also the first black woman to win a seat in Congress. Shirley was in her prime and 48 at the time of her presidential campaign. Her prowess, eloquence, and graceful leadership in her long political career cast aside doubts of her ability during her 14 years of service in the House of Representatives. Shirley fought tirelessly and fearlessly in the pursuit of social justice and educational opportunities. As one of her most famous quotes aptly summarizes: “We must reject not only the stereotypes that others have of us but also those that we have of ourselves.” Her career was spent fighting, breaking the glass ceiling for women in politics, and challenging her male critics. Shirley is yet another example of the rejection of stereotypes of black and menopausal women, and a political ‘shero’. 

Both Kamala’s and Shirley’s triumphs show that menopausal women can and should be placed in positions of strength and power. When women, both young and old see them, they can now see the infinite possibilities laid out before them. These women have accomplished a feat that few have attempted or succeeded in — and paved a new legacy for all that follow after them. Too many times, society has implanted the idea that older women are capable of less but both these women’s marks in history are defiant of that outdated notion. Pause and let that sink in: Going through the change does not affect leadership ability. If anything, being able to lead while experiencing the effects of menopause is a sign of resilience. In spite of the emotional and physical turmoil we experience, as women, we can persevere and thrive in anything we put our minds to regardless of age.

Going off the momentum of last week, I think a great journal exercise for this week is to write down what you are capable of doing using the “I Am” statements. This written physical reminder will help set positive intentions and direct focus towards this week’s goals. Below are some of my positive affirmations/vows to myself.

Journal Prompt

I am…

  • An advocate for myself and my sisters of all races and creeds.
  • My own best friend and I will not allow my inner critic to get the last word.
  • Powerful, and will stop creating negative imagery of my Post-Menopausal Self.

Despite the daily turmoil we may be experiencing, we should remember that we are changing the world in our own right. Here are three reasons as to how you are changing the world and messages for you to carry on your journey…

#1: Each day your dreams are experienced by those you love.

#2: Each day you are full of visions of passion that keep you keeping on.

#3: Each day you walk the steps of a living legacy, your path is making a way for the current and next generation.

I would love to know, what are YOUR affirmations. How do you defy negative stereotypes and show yourself kindness? 

Have a wonderful and purposeful day.

XOXO, THE MENOPAUSE WHISPERER