POWER SURGE NEWS
FOR AOL AND THE WEB
A Free E-Mail Newsletter
of the Power Surge Women’s
Midlife and Menopause Community
The Power Surge Web Site
Dearest (Alice Stamm)
Founder and Facilitator
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
POWER SURGE NEWS
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Surgettes,“Perfect awakening is possible here and now for every human being, regardless of background, practice or personal circumstances. You are already free! Anything gained afresh will be lost. What is eternal is always within you, as your own Self. This is the unchanging substratum on which your hopes and desires are reflected. It is hopes and desires which conceal the ever-pure consciousness. The Self will reveal itself to itself in the twinkling of any eye once you abandon all hope and desire, the age-old disease of the mind. Keep quiet. Don’t allow a single thought to stir. Be effortless and in an instant you will discover that you have always been free. Om Tat Sat! [You are THAT!]” — H.W.L.Poonja
You might be wondering why I’ve chosen to begin this latest newsletter with that quote, and I’ll tell you (did you think I wouldn’t? ). This time in our lives is probably the singularly most difficult time we’ll ever have to face – barring everything that has come before. Oh, I don’t know you all, personally, but I do know that many of you have suffered through great hardships, emotionally…. physically.. spiritually… ALL of the above ….but menopause is another issue entirely. Menopause almost suddenly brings into focus the whipper-snappers we were — who could charm the snakes out of the trees with our youthful smiles, taut skin, tight buttocks, perky little breasts, adorable smiles with no bridgework, to say nothing of our wonderful smarts …. who are now suddenly wondering to ourselves if we’ll ever have that energy again … that natural vaginal lubrication … a good night’s sleep . Needless to say, it’s a very stressful time for most women. Please, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise 😦
We think to ourselves, “Hey, I’m very aroused . . . I’m at the peak of my sexuality . . . I am *woman* . . . errrr . . . so why am I so dry? ” We might find the face staring back at us in the mirror still our childhood face, albeit with more experience from having taken the road less travelled a bit more than we ought to have at 25 or 35, but the adorable child within is still there, still seeking answers, still feeling hurt when those we love have disappointed us, still needing validation, stroking, affirmation and confirmation, still needing hugs and compliments and reminders that we’re still desirable, despite the fact that our once perky breasts are beginning to sag .
We aren’t simply getting older, gals, we are becoming. We aren’t dreaming of reaching unattainable goals, we have arrived. We, each and every one of us, have paid our dues. As soon as we all accept who and what we are, and that we’ve done the best we can for ourselves AND those with whom we’ve connected in this lifetime, we will achieve peace.
A remark or two heard in recent Power Surge meetings gave me pause for thought. There were references to old crones [that may be an au courant expression, but I don’t think of myself as an ‘old crone’] face lifts, tummy tucks, feeling undesirable, frumpy, unattractive – – – OLD. Grrrr! This mode of thinking is so counter-productive at this juncture of life. If ever there were a time to feel good about ourselves, this is it! A newcomer to the group remarked, “I’m about to enter perimenopause, so when do I begin HRT?” Uhhh… Say What? I was taken aback by this remark. Where does this mindset come from? Have some women been so indoctrinated by their healthcare practitioners that it becomes an almost foregone conclusion that once perimenopause sets in, we start taking hormones?
This is irksome to me because, like many other women in Power Surge, I’ve opted to go the natural route. I’m quite determined to proceed in this manner, barring any unforeseen circumstances and also because my history of phlebitis in the early 70’s (after having used birth control pills) contraindicates the use of hormones. My decision doesn’t for one moment diminish the importance of another woman’s decision to take hormones. However, if anything, my thoughts when peri-mennopause started were,“what natural methods shall I embark upon now that peri-meno has begun?” This is not to say that HRT isn’t a viable option for many women, and I respect any woman’s choice regarding owning her own body…for doing research, determing what’s best for HER, not her doctor, not her partner, not her children, nor her family and friends… but a conscious decision for herself… but which option we select for ourselves isn’t one which “goes without saying.” It’s a very intimate decision. I hope and pray that the one you’ve each made for yourselves is effecting positive results.
There are stunning revelations effected by menopause. All this shake, rattle and rolling going on inside our bodies isn’t for naught, but, rather, the storm before the calm. The upheaval before the realization. The passage from the years of angst worrying about what everyone else thinks of us — are we okay? do we look okay? do we sound okay? do we communicate okay? and after this uproar subsides, we will ultimately find that, well, as the above quote says…. “Be effortless and in an instant you will discover that you have always been free.”
That’s where we’re going, gals ===== ]]> to freedom!
If you take that singular thought with you after having read this newsletter as you go about your daily routines, I will have accomplished what I set out to do in creating Power Surge … to give you a better sense of yourself, and what wonders you’ve accomplished in this lifetime, especially… at a time when many of us, albeit strong, savvy and outspoken women, are still just a tad insecure about some of the changes we’re undergoing. Please bear in mind that you’re not alone
I urge you to hold fast to the beautiful and bright women you’ve always been. Be your own best friend. Love yourself. The only thing you’re losing in this sometimes seemingly ludicrous process is your period… and a few elasticity genes .
No, we are NOT merely getting older, we ARE getting better!
No, we are NOT losing our libidos, we ARE only occasionally on hold as we cope with these changes
No, we are NOT victims but, rather, experiencing a very natural, albeituncomfortable transition, and we will come through this stronger and wiser and better
No, we are NOT going to fear being cast aside by our partners/S.O.’s for some younger chippy. We ARE . . .
…sexual, spiritually enlightened, intellectually wizened,
emotionally smoothened, savvy, desirable, bright, cute,
fun mature women who happen not to be having
regular monthly periods anymore. So what? I don’t
know about you, but I never relied upon that ludicrous
monthly bleeding to define my womanhood.
It’s quite messy anyway 😦
Take this forward with you into your day. Next time you have a power surge .
F~L~O~A~T with it . . . . . .
Don’t let it consume you. OWN it! It’s yours! You’ve damned well earned it, and it’s not going to kill you.
Face it, if life hasn’t killed you yet, a power surge surge won’t! 🙂
Next time you have feelings of panic and fright, OWN them. By owning your feelings, you control them. Once you allow panic and fear, terror and depression, sorrow and melancholy to own YOU, you’ve opened yourself up to a whole host of negative experiences. Fine, you can’t overcome that moment of panic? F-L-O-A-T with it. Feel yourself as though surfing a big wave in Hawaii.
Ride the feelings
Don’t challenge them
Don’t fight them
OWN your feelings
GO WITH THEM!
Own your life, and your life will be yours.
“Keep quiet. Don’t allow a single thought
to stir. Be effortless and in an instant you
will discover that you have always been
FREE”
Love and strength of mind to you all.
Dearest
|
Power Surge 