Debut: first appearance, launch, premiere, coming out



While in previous generations menopause, often called the "change of life," marked the transition into old age, today's baby boom women are saying "watch out world, here I come!" What's different about this generation?

Well, for one thing, this is the first generation of midlife women who, for the most part, are culturally more free to call the shots in their lives (if they want to). We have earning opportunities most of our mothers and grandmothers didn't have, providing us with choices they didn't have.

Secondly we are living longer. Gail Sheehy, author of New Passages states: "A woman who reaches age 50—and remains free of cancer and heart disease—can expect to see her ninety-second birthday . . . a girl born in the US today has a one in three chance of living to 100."

Contrast that with just 100 years ago when life expectancy was about 40 years. The average woman died before making a midlife transition. She didn't have a second half of life to look forward to after completing her childrearing duties.

Thirdly, the 1960s consciousness raising phenomenon opened our psyches to greater awareness of our emotional and spiritual selves. Psychologically we now have what it takes to re-connect with our authentic self (or some might say, true self). We come into this world with gifts, talents, temperament, and a purpose or mission. Often these authentic parts of ourselves are repressed in childhood in order to be accepted by our family, and suppressed in young adulthood in order to fit in.

Just as the hormonal changes in adolescence are designed to force growth into adulthood, the hormonal changes at midlife are designed to force growth into the full bloom of the self we were born to be. Menopause is the time to reclaim our passion and contribute our unique gifts to the world. You might think of menopause as Mother Nature's fertilizer!

But here's the rub: Mother Nature provides the fertilizer, but it is up to us to create the environment in which to grow. This means excavating our authentic self from the deep, dark recesses of our subconscious mind, then renegotiating our important relationships to accommodate her. We cannot grow without making changes. Because this is a free will universe, it is our choice whether we bloom or fade in our midlife transition.

So what will your choice be . . . Renaissance woman or a re-creation of your mother's experience?

HINT: Renaissance women are a lot more exciting and fun to be with, so the upheaval that change creates is worth it. Really!