Dear Ms. Mabel,

How did women survive menopause (and perimenopause) back in the day? It feels like a part- time job trying to manage all these symptoms and I have a world’s worth of information at my fingertips. Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing too much.

Just trying to thrive,

White House, TN

Let me stop you right there, sweetheart. I’m usually quick to miss the good ole days. Even if I didn’t ACTUALLY live that Mayberry life, it’s nice to pretend like I did.

But truth be told, ain’t none of us old people gonna tell you we were THRIVING during The Change. The only good that came from that sweaty, anxiety ridden, sleepless, mess of a life stage was learning to tell the truth.

If that last statement sounds weird, you ain’t there yet. Or maybe you're a man and ain't never gonna get there. If that’s the case, why are you reading this? Weirdo.

If that last statement does make sense, let me hear an AMEN. People are out here wondering why women in menopause are so mean; really, we’re just saying what everybody else is thinking, and we’re too tired and hot to keep those thoughts on the inside.

It’s really not fair – one day we wake up and our body gets mad at us because we can’t make any more babies, even though most of us grew our humans decades ago. Then all of a sudden, you're sweating in places you didn’t know you could sweat. You’re so mad you could bite a nail in two. At who? Everybody. To make matters worse, you’ve spent the last 25 years keeping up with everyone else's stuff but now you can’t find the glasses on your face.

I know I’m not answering your question, sorry. You struck a nerve.

Girl, you take all those pills and use all those creams. I don’t think it can ever be too much. I mean, I’m not a doctor, so maybe it can be. You should probably go talk to one of them.

Godspeed, sister. It will be over eventually, and then you can just be old in peace.

Sort of.