This week we asked some of our Menopause Mentors to share their thoughts on our theme of sustain. Here are their words of wisdom, and a couple of beautiful book recommendations:
“In this week’s theme of what sustains us in life and in menopause, I want to share with you one of mine. Bread! Baking it, kneading it, smelling it, hearing it,touching it, seeing it and most sustaining of all eating it fresh from the oven. Artisan bread is food for the soul! For me it is one of the humblest and most beautifully sustaining things I did during menopause! There is a great book “The Tassajara Bread Book” published1986 that sums it up perfectly:
‘Working to bake bread can renew our spirit and with this work we renew the world, our friends and neighbours.’
Baking bread is meditative, calming, soothing and giving. It is a way of nurturing and sustaining yourself. I highly recommend giving it a go on those days when you want to be alone or with friends and create something from deep within your womb it will sustain you. Happy Baking!”
from Peta Greenough of Vivid Menopause Melbourne Australia
“Pondering on the theme ‘Sustain’ and I am reminded of the line from Oriah Mountain Dreaming’s poem ‘The Invitation:’
‘I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away…’
What sustains me through the ebb and flow of menopause is finding simple ways of returning to myself. Often this is through connecting with small ordinary pleasures: watching the sunrise/sunset, inhaling a flower’s fragrance, reading a good book, eating chocolate, reading poetry, hugging my children, making soup, walking my dog… When life presents me with challenges I try to ask “how can I support myself while I am feeling like this” rather than wishing I didn’t feel as I do. Often in the process I find myself steadier, and more joyful. A good resource to help with this is ‘Romancing the Ordinary – a year of every day indulgences’ by Sarah Ban Breathnach, (author of ‘Simple Abundance’) A great companion, always on my bedside table.”
from Fiona Hughes of Vivid Menopause Ireland
