Perimenopause Update: Finding Peace In Surrender & Acceptance

Why this new cycle of life is to be celebrated & all the things that are making this transition a lot more easeful.

According to my calendar, I am 254 days late; that's a little over 8 months. Eight months without a period, and with barely any symptoms of hormonal imbalances. Now that I take some time to reflect, this year has been mostly free of perimenopausal sub-stories – despite being emotionally charged. I've really come into my own this year, like a long-awaited liberation, free from the pressure I was putting on myself. I truly hope this is the final stage of my reproductive life. I am absolutely ready to welcome menopause, and perhaps my body already knows that this is it, and that feeling of liberation is my soul already aware that it is happening, without the need to wait for the 12-month lapse generally used as a reference to define menopause. As I write this, it is obvious that, yes, of course, we – women – feel this process long before the medically accepted 12-month marker, that there is a deep sense of knowing within. The body is so intelligent; we just need to listen.

Listening, I did a lot of that this year: I listened to my heart, to my soul, to the universe, and the synchronicities supporting and guiding my journey. I spent a lot of time alone, reflecting on and appreciating the steps (including the ones that felt like steps back).

As we approach the end of 2025, I am taking a moment to look back and reflect on what has been an eventful year. A dear friend of mine told me the other day that she couldn't wait to ring in 2026, because 2025 was a crappy year. It made me think about my own feelings about 2025, and despite some very emotionally taxing situations, I can't call 2025 crappy. In the end, it's all lessons. Sure, I hoped for some things to turn out differently, but, as The Rolling Stones famously sang: "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well, you might find you get what you need." So here I am, I didn't get what I wanted all of the time; did I get what I needed? Time will tell, but it feels like it.

I did get what I wanted when it comes to dealing with perimenopause symptoms, though. I noticed around September/October that my general well-being had been very stable for weeks, and it is still the case today. In other words, I no longer feel like my hormones are taking me for a crazy ride, and it's fucking amazing. As always, I cannot credit just one thing for this positive shift; dealing with this transition has required a holistic approach. Here are some of the things I believe played a major role in alleviating the symptoms:

• Yoga, exercising, walking. Being active has always been part of my lifestyle; it allows me to release excess energy and channel emotions that can sometimes feel overwhelming. Walking – especially in nature – is a magical cure for me.

• A wholesome and tasty diet, together with fasting. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids have helped with my state of mind, and magnesium supplements have improved the quality of my sleep. I love eating nutritious and healthy foods, and I cook everything from scratch at home. I've always thought of food as medicine.

• Meditation and pranayama are an integral part of my self-care routine. Starting my day with both keeps me centred and focused while staying grateful.

• Surrendering to the process. I touched on the idea of surrender in another blog post about my journey through perimenopause, but 2025 has truly brought this home for me.

Perimenopause is an opportunity to say goodbye to a part of myself with grace, without fighting and kicking just because I don't want to leave the party :D – even though I know that there will be other parties to attend, probably more epic ones as well. I'm looking forward to 2026 and all the new adventures it has in store. I am sarcastic and cynical in many ways, yet my heart remains hopeful.