Menopause - My Superpower

Menopause - My Superpower

In conjunction with International Women’s Day (IWD), I want to take a moment to thank my ovaries for a job well done. They’ve retired, and with that, so has my fertility. But for decades, they showed up for me — 420 times to be exact. I’d say they’ve earned their rest.

This year’s IWD theme, “Accelerate Action,” is about unlocking equal rights, power, and opportunities — and when it comes to menopause, accelerate action we must.

For too long, menopause has been framed as something to fear, something that happens to us rather than something we can own. And I get it. I used to dread it too. You fear what you don’t know, what you don’t understand, and what you’ve only witnessed through horror stories.

As menopause approached, I find myself thinking about my mortality — because let’s face it, at this stage, we’re closer to the end than the beginning. Aging was something that happened to other people until suddenly, it was happening to me.

But I cannot tell you how unnecessary that anticipation was. How many myths were debunked, how many fears were unfounded, and how incredible this new phase of life actually is.

Now, on the other side — fully menopausal for two years — I can say with absolute certainty:

Menopause is my superpower.

And amidst the changes, menopause came with gifts I never saw coming.

The Gifts of Menopause

The ‘I Don’t Give a Damn’ Era

• Somewhere along the way, we stop caring about what people think.

• No more people-pleasing. No more unnecessary apologies.

• We speak our mind - unfiltered, unapologetic and completely free.

This might be the most underrated perk of menopause — the ability to live without the weight of others’ opinions.

The Permission to Pause

• For decades, we’ve juggled careers, families, responsibilities — now, it’s time to pause and focus on ourselves.

• We finally get to ask: What do I want? What brings me joy?

• Midlife is when women reinvent themselves, start businesses, write books, travel, and pursue passions they never had time for before.

And here’s the best part — science backs this up. Research shows that many women actually become happier post-menopause, reporting a greater sense of freedom, control and emotional well-being. With fewer obligations and less societal pressure, this stage of life becomes one of self-discovery, growth, and personal fulfillment (Futurity, 2018)¹.

For the first time, the “pause” in menopause means we get to pause for ourselves.

No More Periods (Need We Say More?)

• No leaks, no tampons, no scrambling for a pad in public.

• White pants? Bring them on.

• No more scheduling vacations around a cycle, no more period cramps, no more migraines.

• Honestly, this alone makes menopause worth celebrating.

The Ultimate Excuse for Everything

• Forgot someone’s name? Menopause brain fog.

• Irritated at nonsense? Hormones.

• Need a nap at 3 PM? “It’s menopause, don’t ask.”

• Finally, a legitimate excuse for rolling our eyes at stupidity.

And the best part? Nobody ever questions it. If that’s not liberating, I don’t know what is.

A Whole New Level of Strength

• Menopause comes with wisdom, resilience, and self-assurance that only time and experience can bring.

• We don’t just survive menopause—we flipping own it.

• This is the time to step into our power, embrace who we are, and take up space without apology.

Because we’ve earned it.

Rewriting the Menopause Story

For decades, menopause was hushed, hidden, dismissed. Women were expected to suffer in silence. But Gen X is different. We are speaking up, we are demanding change, and we are reshaping the menopause conversation.

So this International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate not just how far we’ve come as women, but how much power we hold in this next chapter.

• We are smarter.

• We are stronger.

• We are free.

And menopause? That’s just the beginning. Here’s to your new superpower!