I was complaining to a friend I saw out this morning while at a yard sale ( have I mentioned how much I love to yard sale?) that I am sick and tired of waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat! I am a women deeply entrenched in evils of perimenopause. Perimenopause is defined as the “period ( why do they use that word!!) around menopause.” Well I have been AROUND menopause for 7 years now, I started with these crazy symptoms at 37……how much longer must I wait!? The definition makes it sound like the period (evil word again!) around menopause, like my body is in training for menopause. Hello….training for menopause? Like I need to practice having mood swings, insomnia and sweating all night long!
But as the friend and I continued our bemoaning we also discussed a friend we know who has been battling breast cancer for the last 4 years. She is currently struggling with an array of life-threatening ailments, and is the mommy to 3 young boys. As we continued our chat, suddenly my night sweats did not seem like such a big deal in light of her daily suffering. It reminded me the importance of the big picture and keeping life in a Godly perspective.
I have never been a really big complainer, but I do complain when I “think it’s necessary!”
Yesterday I took 4 hours in the heat of the day to mow our woods, it totally wore me out….but I am thankful I have the physical energy to complete such an arduous task…..perspective.
I am also thankful for the beautiful woods and creek behind my house.
I get frustrated sometimes with the fact that I work full-time, but, I am thankful that I can be off work in the summer….perspective.
I hate the smell of manure on the farmer’s fields around here, however, I am thankful there is so much delicious, locally grown fruits and veggies in our area in the summer…….perspective.
There is much to complain about in this life, but is it really worth it? I am working this summer to keep the right perspective and to be thankful for the MANY blessings I have……..including…………. can I say it………………………………………perimenopause! Yes I am thankful for even that, it forces me to rely more on God!
Philippians 2:14 Do everything with out complaining or arguing.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love…….
Jesus and Dark Chocolate 
Wonderful perspective and a great reminder!!! Bless you!!!
What a great reminder! It really is in how we look at and approach things isn’t it?
Absolutely! I really like your blog. Will visit again. angie
This was great!
Our true joy comes from how we look and perceive things doesn’t it?
Oh…something I found that works for nightsweats..it might help yours…then again women’s bodies are so different but….
I have added soy to my diet and the nightsweats have virtually disappeared.
I have been in perimenopause since 42 yrs old so that makes 6 years for me…and if I’m like my mom I have another 3 years before being “done’…ARGH!!!
Faith thanks for the suggestion, I have tried soy…no luck! I take black cohosh now, that seemed to take the edge off…somewhat. đŸ™‚
Love this! How easy it is to lose our perspective!
This is a great post and a reminder that I needed to read tonight. It is all about perspective and I’m going to join you in working on this over the summer.
Have a great week!
I totally get this. I’ve been helping my friend’s family as she wages war on her stage IV breast cancer. It provides tremendous doses of perspective every day.
I just wrote a post about it on June 19th, entitled “I’m going to be there.”