Menopause Is a Power Move and It’s Time to Get Loud

Menopause isn’t the end of something; it’s the beginning of a new kind of power. A neurological, emotional, and cultural shift we need to start celebrating.

You’ve been through puberty. Maybe pregnancy. Maybe parenting. Maybe all of it.

And now? You wake up sweating, forget your keys, feel flat for weeks, and no one even mentioned this might be perimenopause.

The menopause transition is one of the most universal human experiences and also one of the least talked about. That silence isn’t harmless. It’s harmful.

Because here’s the truth: menopause isn’t a glitch in the system. It’s an upgrade.

It’s not just a hormonal event. It’s a transformation: physical, neurological, emotional. But most women* don’t know that, because no one told them. Instead, we get brushed off by doctors, bombarded by predatory marketing, and left to figure it out alone.

It’s time to change the story. Menopause isn’t the end of something. It’s the start of a whole new chapter, one rooted in power, purpose, and connection.

We Prepare for Puberty So Why Not Menopause?

From a young age, girls are coached through the changes coming their way: the period talk, puberty videos, mood swings, acne, body hair, bras. We teach them what to expect, what’s normal, what’s not, and how to ask for help when they need it.

Puberty is treated as a rite of passage. Even if the conversation is awkward, it happens. It’s recognized.

And even though not everyone will experience pregnancy, nearly everyone is told what it’s like: the hormone changes, the symptoms, the milestones, the due dates, the what-to-expect-at-every-stage books and apps.

But when it comes to menopause? Crickets. It's like the body just… shuts off one day and that’s it.

Except it’s not.

The menopause transition isn’t a moment, it’s a process, often unfolding over 5–10 years (or more) during perimenopause. Hormones fluctuate wildly. Cycles change. Sleep, sex drive, mood, focus, metabolism; they can all be affected. For some women, it’s subtle. For others, it’s full-blown hormonal chaos.

This isn’t just “the end of periods.” It’s a whole-body, whole-brain shift. And yet, we offer no roadmap, no rituals, no language to make sense of it. We don’t warn women. We don’t equip them. And we definitely don’t celebrate them.

But we should. Because just like puberty signaled the beginning of reproductive life, menopause marks the beginning of a new kind of power: one rooted in clarity, experience, and deeper purpose.

If you're in it now, learning, struggling, figuring it out, your voice matters. You are the guide someone else needs. Share what you’ve learned. Light the path you didn’t have.

We prepare girls for puberty years in advance but leave women unprepared for menopause. That needs to change.

Menopause Is Not a Modern Problem, It’s an Ancient Adaptation

Here’s where it gets fascinating: menopause isn’t just something we endure because medicine keeps us alive longer.It’s been with us forever. And it exists for a reason.

Enter the Grandmother Hypothesis: the idea that humans evolved to live beyond having babies because older women helped their communities thrive. They gathered food, nurtured grandchildren, remembered migratory routes, and passed on knowledge. Their presence improved survival for younger generations.

And humans aren’t the only ones. Orcas (and a handful of other species) also go through menopause and the post-reproductive matriarchs lead the pods. They know where to find food in lean seasons. They keep the group together. They matter more, not less. (And who better to be in charge than a sassy, scary grandma killer whale? Nice job, evolution!)

This wasn’t a biological accident. It was a strategy.

And it still is.

Today’s “grandmother” might be a Gen-X-er with teens, aging parents, a full-time job, and zero time for herself. She’s juggling caring for everyone, community leadership, and emotional labor, often invisibly. But her value to the social ecosystem hasn’t changed. If anything, it’s expanded. She’s the one who holds things together. Not because she’s biologically obligated, but because she knows what matters.

She’s not winding down. She’s leveling up.

This is what menopause was built for.

Not retreat, but wisdom. Not irrelevance, but impact. You are not fading. You’re a badass with an evolutionary edge.

Even in the animal kingdom, post-reproductive females lead. Menopause isn’t a flaw, it’s an evolutionary strategy.

The Brain Isn’t Broken: It’s Rewiring

Yes, the brain changes in menopause. Estrogen plays a huge role in memory, mood, sleep, and attention. So it’s no wonder that symptoms like brain fog, forgetfulness, and mood swings show up when hormones shift.

But that’s not the whole story.

Brain imaging studies have shown that gray matter volume in key regions can recover post-menopause, suggesting the brain adapts and rebalances. Other research suggests a shift in focus: less vigilance around reproduction and immediate survival, and more tuning into relationships, community, and broader purpose.

That makes sense because for many, the mental load lightens. Whether it’s no longer having to track ovulation, manage a toddler’s sleep cycle, or carry the relentless background noise of “mommy brain,” there’s often more cognitive space available. More room for creativity, ambition, learning, reflection, contribution. Even women who haven’t raised children describe a similar shift from being pulled in a thousand reactive directions to being able to choose what matters most.

Sound familiar? Many women report they feel more emotionally stable and self-assured after menopause. Their priorities shift. They stop apologizing for taking up space. The noise gets quieter, and their real voice gets louder.

Call it brain resilience. Call it neuroplasticity. Call it “fewer f***s to give.” Whatever the reason, it’s real.

Yes, your brain changes in menopause, but not for the worse. The brain adapts, rewires, and recovers.

The Mental Shift: From Caretaker to Wise Woman

This stage doesn’t just bring hormonal changes. It brings a deep, internal recalibration; one that’s hard to put into words until you’ve felt it for yourself.

A lot of women describe it like this: I just don’t care as much what other people think anymore.
Or: I know what I want now and I’m not apologizing for it.

It’s not selfishness. It’s clarity.

It’s the release of your worth from everyone else’s needs and expectations. It’s the realization that you’ve spent decades tending to others, relationships, careers, kids, parents, and now (for the first time in a long time) you get to ask: What do I want this next chapter to be about?

For some, it’s creating art, starting a business, traveling solo, or reconnecting with long-lost dreams. For others, it’s slowing down, building stronger friendships, or giving back in ways that feel real and grounded.

And for many, it’s not a reinvention, it’s a return. To yourself. To who you were before the world layered on its expectations.

This mental shift isn’t a luxury. It’s part of the transition, just as natural and profound as the physical one.

And the data supports it: studies show that depression and anxiety often decrease in the years following menopause, especially when women feel supported, informed, and free to make choices that reflect who they are now, not who they were expected to be.

So no, you’re not disappearing.

You’re emerging. As a version of yourself that is wiser, braver, and finally unapologetically free.

Why Silence Hurts and How to Break It

When we don’t talk about menopause, here’s what happens:

• Doctors miss it. Symptoms get brushed off or misdiagnosed.

• Women blame themselves or feel broken.

• Predatory marketing steps in with overpriced, ineffective solutions.

• Research funding stays low. Medical training doesn’t improve.

And let’s be clear: this isn’t just a personal problem; it’s a systemic one.

The medical community has dropped the ball. Menopause is barely covered in most training programs. Providers are left guessing. Patients are left Googling. That’s unacceptable. We need to demand better: more education, more research, more access to qualified care.

But systemic change doesn’t start with institutions. It starts with us. Talking is the most radical thing we can do and it’s free.

Menopause is better with community! And maybe a cold drink, a fan, and a few hormone-themed jokes. (Count me in!)

So if you’ve learned anything in your own journey, pass it on. Here’s how:

• Talk to your friends. Especially the ones who are confused, cranky, and can’t sleep. They might be in it without knowing it.

• Talk to the next generation. Even if they roll their eyes. They need this way more than they think.

• Bring it up at work, at dinner, on a hike, in the group chat, anywhere people trust you enough to listen.

• Ask your doctor better questions. If they don’t have good answers, share mine.

• Share your go-to resources: books, podcasts, articles, or just your own story.

• And, yes! Throw a menopause party! Serve spicy snacks (what’s a menopause  party without some sweating?), make hormone-themed cocktails (or mocktails), pass out fans, and temporary tattoos. Celebrate the fact that your body has carried you this far and your brain is still leveling up.

The point is: speak up.

You don’t need a microphone or a medical degree. Just your own experience and the guts to share it. This transition doesn’t belong in the shadows. It belongs in the conversation; loud, proud, and unapologetically real.

The Transition Is Real. So Is the Power.

Menopause isn’t the end of something. It’s a shift: one that’s physical, emotional, neurological, and cultural.

You’re not fading. You’re evolving.

This stage asks more of you, yes, but it also gives more. Clarity. Focus. A bigger sense of purpose. And maybe, finally, the freedom to stop caring about the wrong things so you can go all-in on the right ones.

If you’re in the thick of it, you deserve support, not silence.

And if you’ve made it to the other side with even an ounce of insight don’t keep it to yourself.

Start the conversation. Share what helped. Laugh about the wild parts. Normalize the real parts. Tell the truth.

Because the more we talk, the more prepared we all are. And the more prepared we are, the more powerful this transition becomes.

Curious where you fit in all this?
If you’re navigating perimenopause, feeling stuck, or just want a clearer plan for your next chapter, I’d love to help! I offer personalized, judgment-free support rooted in both science and real life.

Reach out here to learn more or book a free 15-minute call.

Let’s make this phase make sense and make it work for you!

*In this article, I’ll often use the term 'women' to describe people born with ovaries, as they are the group most commonly affected by perimenopause and menopause. However, I want to acknowledge that not everyone with these biological traits identifies as a woman, and not all women experience menopause. While I’ll use 'women' for simplicity and clarity, this information is meant for anyone navigating the hormonal changes associated with this life stage, regardless of how they identify.