Magnolia’s 47 Day Challenge: Day 12 – Ho Hum

Well, the day after Christmas is usually just that, the day after Christmas.  All of the hub-bub is done with (Thank God) and every one’s feet are coming back down to the ground.

Amazingly, I didn’t over-indulge that much. Though I must say I made some of the best fudge I have EVER put in my mouth – cranberry/pistachio.  Wow.

I’m still nibbling on that here and there and thinking about the coming New Year when I can actually begin the 47 Day Challenge that I’ve been blogging about but not actually carrying out.  Peculiar, isn’t it?

I may have mentioned, I don’t remember, but I’m not a resolution person.  In fact, I’m not overly impressed with New Year’s and all the festivities.  I gave that up many, many years ago.  I would much rather sleep and relax than run around blowing funny little horns and drinking champagne.  Besides, I don’t even really like champagne.  All those little bubbles do strange things inside me.

I have been thinking about the coming year however and realizing that it will likely be the year of menopause for me.  Finally.  Yes, finally, ladies and Magnolia Diaries, readers, I think it just might be the year that I see all of this horrific, hormonal torture come to an end.

Outside of my night sweats, which have decided to return for reasons that I cannot explain, I’ve managed to go a couple of months without a visit from the menstrual fairy. I couldn’t be more pleased.

When this entire journey began for me approximately 10 to 11 years ago (can you imagine?  But, yes, it’s been that long) one of the first things that occurred for me was a grieving process.

I didn’t want to go through menopause.  I didn’t want to stop having my periods. Well, that’s not entirely true.  I wanted to not have periods, I just didn’t want to give up the ability to conceive children.  It was very difficult for me.  The idea of aging and solidifying my position in life as middle-aged was just too difficult for me to come to terms with.

Then the hair color battle began.  That actually took a few years also.  Did I want to stop coloring my hair and go gray or not?  I had a girlfriend I had known for years who had never colored her hair.  She was lovely.  I often looked at her with an envious longing.  She was so comfortable with herself.  It didn’t bother her to be gray.  She was gorgeous.  I so wanted to feel that way.  Not necessarily gorgeous, but to be comfortable.  Completely comfortable and accepting of who I was and that included gray hair.  Not to mention, the $150/month I had been spending on hair cuts, highlights and hair color was money I would rather spend elsewhere, you know?

Well, I eventually got up the nerve and have been hair color free for a few years now.  3?  Maybe 4.  I don’t remember.  I love it.  I can’t see myself ever going back to hair color.  It’s just too liberating.

So, when I get back from Louisiana next weekend, I will be looking at my 47 day challenge again.  I may have to rename it, extend or something like that.  But, I fully intend to carry it out. And as always, I’ll keep you all informed and involved in the process.

Till then.