Last month I shared my own menopause story with you – at least a bit of it. There is no doubt in my mind that sharing our stories is tremendously healing and empowering. The stories around our reproductive lives are especially powerful, and, in our society, especially difficult to tell.

It is an understatement to say that in our society we are not encouraged to share the stories of our reproductive and sexual lives. And it is a sad truth that in our society many of these stories are stories of trauma. By no means all! They are also stories of joy and grace and power. But there are too many stories of trauma. If we are lucky, eventually these stories come out, with a trusted friend, a therapist, or a very special circle of women. In our circles of women, these stories are valued. In our larger society, they are not.

Our work is threefold here. We must create safe space for women to share their stories. We must help women heal their traumatic experiences and rewrite their personal stories. And we must work together to build a society where these stories are again recognized as sacred; we must shine our light into the shadows that can surround these experiences, and make these rites of passage the safe, honourable, and sacred times we deserve them to be.

We begin simply, by sharing our truth.

What is your menopause story? Whatever it is, I know it is WAY bigger than the comment box beneath this post. But it is not bigger than the hearts of all the other women who have been there. My wish for you today is that you begin to share your story – out loud. “Out loud” can be in a journal. It can be in your therapist’s office, in your spoken prayers, over a glass of wine with your best friend. “Out loud” can also be through your art, on social media, or in circles of women, or, if you really want to experiment, at your next dinner party.

I don’t care where it is. Just start telling your story, speaking your truth out loud. Change and grace will follow.

Love,
Bronwyn