I know that there is plenty of stuff we can bemoan as we go through this phase of our lives. However, I am wondering if anyone has noticed some positive changes i.e. they didn't use to be really neat, but, all of sudden find themselves becoming more organized. They were a little chubby, but, now food is not an obsession and they have lost weight. They used to be serious but find that they are more humorous. I have had a couple of those changes myself, just wondering if anyone else has experienced some positive changes.

Good post i was thinking bout this a few days ago i enjoy every happy time i have now because i was in a mess a year and half ago. What i do now that i never did before is cook and bake more and hubby loves it. And not to take things for granted.

Yes Girls.
I do believe things get better eventually.When I compare myself to the wretched wobbly jelly fish I was at 39,things are failry good now at 57.

Love my 'me' time,reading books,cultivating plants,visiting my grandchildren.Baking?Well Betty Crocker has been a life long friend but act coy when friends ask for receipe!

Love to all
Elizabeth

Let's see...I've dropped 30 pounds...Im insane yet don't give a rats behind what people think (yes..it's a GOOD thing for me!) I'm now in my sexual PRIME! I am "mellowing" a bit so crap rolls off my shoulders better. I have become VERY outspoken (I'm still not sure whether that is a good or bad thing) I look in the mirror and see a pretty and mature woman who was NEVER there before. My weight, what is left of it to go, doesn't bother me anymore. I used to be a neat freak and now I'm a semi slob and I LOVE that I don't feel compelled to clean all the time! For the first time in my life I am trying to find things that make ME happy!

I'm not overly obsessive about everything anymore. I don't stress over every little decision as though it's a life or death matter. I now understand that it's ok to make mistakes, although I do not like it, I don't think I tear myself up over it like I use to. Could be the meds that I'm on too cause before, I was a total mess on the inside. I allow myself lots of down time when before I allowed myself no down time. Maybe I am obsessive about my down time. I seem to need LOTS of it! I use to think that if I wasn't stressed I wasn't doing my job. Must be that I thrived on it. Now, I want ZERO stress in my life and I seem to be able to separate myself from it far better than ever before.

I really do like this time of life. I may not get things done the way I use to, but I major on the important things now and I minor on the minor. Funny thing is.............there isn't much that's important anymore! Family and friends, children, my bird. That's about it. I'm loving it!!

Ding! Right on the head TW! I've come to the conclusion...my dirty house (no not DIRTY DIRTY because I have to run a daycare here people) will still be here and dirty when I am dead...let someone else clean it up! My dog is going to die before me so I should pamper him while I can and there is not much better in life than laying on the bed with him and just daydreaming while I pet his soft puppy fur he still has after 9 years! I have become a self advocated caterpiller saver on my walks down by the river too! I am trying to laugh a lot more too. So much pressure is off now that hubby is working a good job so I am finding I can finally relax. I never did take the AD's and he is off them to. Bad side effects for him and the seizure risk was way to high for me so I am still going au natural and doing so much better! I'm actually planning a vacation for this year! Woohoo!

Ladybugs, planning a vacation!!!!! That is FANTASTIC!!! Sounds like you are doing very well!!

I still have a few issues but in general I agree with you all...........I lost (much needed) 68 pds during this bad meno year and learn to eat much better and also stopped caring that my house was spotless all the time.........I stay away from negative people as much as possible and always look for the positive out of bad things..........so I guess has done me some good..........Valerie

Yes, there are some positives. I like myself better. I'm not as insecure as I was in my younger days. I laugh more and find myself more patient with others. As miserable as I can be physically during all of this, I would NOT trade the 'me' now for the 'me' in my 20s. Perhaps I should remember that more often.

Thanks for such a positive thread!

Your so welcome. I just wanted to know if I had something good to look forward to in this journey of change. I myself have found that I am laughing a lot more, of course, that could be because of many things, new found stability in my life, new husband (of 4 years) whatever the case may be, I know that I deeply appreciate what passes as good in my life, I do try to be in the moment more than I used to be...I do have many symptoms that plague me and they like to take turns, when one goes another very kindly takes its place, lol... however, I have to say I am more comfortable in my own skin these days...though I am terrified of what my skin may start looking like in a few years, I have terrible health anxiety... for instance having a mammo next week and am terrified..not of the mammo itself but of getting "that" call...I read these boards and just try to use some positive self talk and when all else fails I just distract myself because one of the double edged swords of peri is memory loss, I bank on that sometimes, lol....

I have cultivated many new friends, which is different for me. I was kind of a solitary person before and though I still need my alone time I truly enjoy people a lot more. That said, people truly seem to annoy me more too, lol... ohhhh, what a complex range of emotions come into play these days. All in all I imagine I will live through this as will all of us, some easier than others. This board is a wonderful tool for information, friendship and advice and I truly appreciate it's existence and the women who make it so.

Oh, also, I used to not care if my house was neat or not and now I do.... I used to think I was missing that cleaning gene.... well, now I have it and I am thrilled...lol... clutter makes me shutter....