Lives in Todmorden (London)
Age 53
Funeral Director
Next to the kindness sign in Todmorden
Near silver birches
Crushing insecurity and the rage. Not being able to do natural family planning anymore. Decline in cognitive functioning, which was frightening and made work harder. I was worried something was seriously wrong with me. With regard to ageing, it’s a privilege to age - I lost my Mum when she was 47. With my profession I see people losing their partners suddenly all the time.At 21 I wouldn’t have had the ability to handle the menopause, now I have.
My life is really good and I’m comfortable, happy, and content compared to when I was younger. I’ve got maturity and I understand how to get my needs met, communicate in a straight forward way and a better understanding of other people than when I was young.As you get older you get more formed up in your own identity so you understand your needs. I’m much more resilient with maturity. In Chinese medicine the menopause is called the second spring, it’s a time when you reappraise what’s important, what you want to do and you’re forced to look after yourself better. For me “these are the days” not “those were the days”.