When I first moved to a diverse neighborhood in 1994, one of the things that struck me was the men-only clubs that dotted the landscape. These were nondescript, sparsely furnished storefronts where men watched soccer and played card games. Kings of their members-only castle, this was an area of connection and camaraderie—a space of their own.
At the time, it never occurred to me to wonder where the women's only clubs existed. Many midlife women I speak with today admit to being incredibly lonely in their younger years. Raising children, working full time, or both left little time to socialize and build solid friendships.
Thankfully, we’re starting to see our own midlife gathering spaces, although not in the conventional storefront way. Social media, even if we have a love/hate relationship with it, serves a significant purpose; we now have access to women centric health symposiums, writing classes, and Zoom book clubs that allow us to connect with women whom we may have never had the chance to meet. I'm incredibly appreciative of these social media connections, even if it took me a long time to put myself out there. It’s helped me discover a new version of myself, and along the way, many like-minded women are doing the same.
This week, my small contribution is to share a handful of books and events in the midlife and menopause space that bring women together. I hope you’ll meet me halfway. If you have time, leave a comment and share a book or event you think may resonate with others. I’d love if you put it on our radar.
Workshops:
Elise Loehnen, the woman behind the podcast and Substack “Pulling the Thread” is hosting a weekend workshop called Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness at the Art of Living Center in Boone, North Carolina, from May 17-19. Elise has also written the phenomenal book On Our Best Behavior, which explores the shaming of women and how the seven deadly come into play.
Designing Your Third Act takes place at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY with Psychotherapists Karen Moon and Debra Krumholz from May 19th to the 24th. The workshop focuses on slowing down, gaining clarity and designing the next phase of your life. Meditation and group discussions offer a reprieve from daily routines as you connect with meaningful insights and explore the freedom this part of life brings.
Books:
Dr. Sharon Malone will be at The Strand in NYC on April 8 to launch her new book, Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy. Dr Malone is a powerhouse in the women’s health space, advocating for women and sharing resources and guidance on menopause. She's also a prolific speaker and I was thrilled to hear her speak at two separate events last year.
Lyn Slater, the author of the just-released memoir How to Be Old, boldly examines aging as she shares her life as an unexpected influencer in her 60s. Lyn proves we can be experimental at any age and let go of what doesn't work when it no longer meets our standards.
Worldwide Menopause Events 2024:
Let's Talk Menopause Live hosts its 2nd annual symposium in Chicago on May 3, 2024. The half-day event will include sessions on what to expect in menopause and a discussion on hormone therapy, depression and anxiety. You can purchase tickets and watch the replay from last year on their website, where you'll also find a wealth of information on a variety of topics.
The National Menopause Summit: Advocating for Change in 2024 takes place on April 11 & 12 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. This event will host breakout sessions with distinguished panelists who will share insights and research on the menopause front.
The 19th World Congress on Menopause will be held in Melbourne, Australia, in October. The event focuses on women's health and the latest advancements in menopause. The website also has past webinars on any health topic imaginable.
Talk soon, Dina
Sharing a beautiful photo that reminds me to keep going, even when I’m not sure what direction to take.
Love this list! Community is so central to our well-being, and with midlife and menopause moving squarely into the zeitgeist, there are so many new opportunities to connect. I am reading Lyn Slater’s book now, and it’s fantastic. I would add Wendi Aarons “I’m Wearing Tunics Now” for a hilarious look at midlife, Eleanor Mills’ Queenager newsletter here on Substack (she runs events in the UK), and I would also recommend some excellent midlife podcasts (some of which hold events as well)- Everything is Fine, A Certain Age, The Flexible Neurotic to name a few. I’m sure my midlife brain is forgetting many more worth mentions!
I actually haven't read it, but Darcey Steinke was my senior thesis advisor at the MFA program I took at the New School. She normally does fiction but has a menopause memoir. Wonder if anyone is familiar and liked it?