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It’s Great to be a Woman

by Audrey Pihulyk

I am a woman and have been created beautiful.

It is a privilege and a challenge to be a woman, though sometimes we may ask, "Who are we as women and what is our deep desire?" I believe women have a still small, intuitive voice within that yearns to be heard. We have a unique identity – the identity that portrays femaleness – so different and special from that of the male; therefore, we are blest with our own special gifts.

Life, however, has not always been easy for women, and today there are various pressures on our young women that many of us did not experience when growing up. Some include the pressure to succeed in a complicated world, the pressure to attain bodily perfection, and the pressure to fill a poorly defined role. Our young women need mentors and this is a role many of us who are more mature women should desire to fill However, we ourselves need first to be comfortable with our own femaleness.

There are those who in the past have been emotionally wounded, and today still carry the hurts, either because of ignorance of the availability of professional help, or simply the fact that no close friend was there for them. Unfortunately, because of our strong mind-body connection, this bruising turns inward and manifests itself in various physical symptoms. Yes, our body works as a barometer monitoring how well we are living and how well we are taking care of ourselves.

As time goes by and we reach our mid-forties, with the many family obligations aside, we begin to recognize that we are entering a new phase. Gail Sheehy, in her book, New Passages, describes this time as "middlescence" – the passage leading into our Second Adulthood and the Age of Mastery." This period, can therefore, be an exciting time of introspection, discovery and road-mapping for the last half of our lives. It is a time when we become "wild things," charting new paths of self discovery.

For many women, menses has been our gift of femaleness for 30-plus years, and now the body is going through a transition where many changes are occurring. Dr. Christiane Northrup, in her book, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, says, "To make the most of the menopausal transition, I encourage women to think of it as a process during which she’ll be creating the healthy body she needs to last her until the end of life." Common to many women during these transition years are the discomforts of the hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, diminished libido, memory challenges and other symptoms. While there are helpful medical and natural interventions available, sharing the lighter moments in communication with other women of like experience can bring a refreshing perspective.

Middlescence, then, can be a rich time of experiencing and even of completing the dreams left undone in adolescence. Women in these transition years can experience the exciting vista waiting to be investigated, journeyed through, and enjoyed. It is a privilege to be a woman!

Nurse Audrey is the “Stress Strategist,” who brings to your audience cutting-edge strategies and thought-provoking ideas, always with a touch of humour. Her motivating keynote and interactive breakouts are described as inspiring and energizing.

Her book: I Really Gotta Quit! Break Free from Eating Disorders & Other Addictions, together with her audio programs are available through her website. To order product, or to book Audrey to speak at your next meeting, email her at: audrey@possibilitiesnetwork.com, or contact her through her web site: www.possibilitiesnetwork.com , or call 1-866-484-2197

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