I had the pleasure or reviewing a book sent to my Lynette Sheppard entitled, The Big M (of course M stands for menopause!)
In short, I picked it up and didn't put it down until I was done ... and it was delightful. I felt like I'd entered an alternate universe full of the sisterhoof of traveling menopausers (ok maybe that isnt' a REAL word).
But Lynette has successfully brought together several friends in this book who meet yearly to talk about their lives as "Venuses" and how they keep changing. More importantly, they explore how they can help each other through this awkard and often infuriating transition called mid-life. Hence the sisterhood.
There's a great section on hot flashes and what worked for these women (this is probably the most common symptom we want to know most about). She also reviews the emotional aspects that can be so devastating to us (but less so when we talk about it). For example she remembers when Whoopi Goldberg's did a one-woman show about menopause and mentions going through the realization we all hit at some point, that we "will never again be the hottest thing in the room." A middle-aged Venus doesn't command the same atention she once did. And so a new journey begins.
And Lynette really covers these new options well, including all of the personal stories of her friends and how they are changing their lives for the better. There are some great exercises in here, like creating your "want list" which everyone will be benefit from. If nothing else, menopause is a signal that it's time for a life reflection and a new, bigger and better plan for the future.
If you're a man going through mid-life with a woman in menopause, there's much to be gained by over hearing these women's thoughts.
In any case you can't help falling in love with these women and their struggles, and if you decide to start your own group, Lynette shows you how in the back of this wonderful book called, "The Big M." Go to her site now and get it at http://www.menopausegoddessblog.org/
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