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Introduction 11 to clean up our emotional lives . . . and setting the stage for more fulfill- ment and joy to come in.”51 The most significant way of contributing to our own good health is through recognition of our thoughts and emo- tions. Menopause and changes in the midlife brain allow us to step back, acknowledge the need for change, and separate from long-term destruc- tive life patterns. This allows women to emerge from menopause with a greater understanding of themselves and the need for any change in their lives. How, though, do women recognize these emotions and the need for change? One of the prominent themes of this book is the importance of utilizing meditation and mindfulness in recognizing difficult emotions that are highlighted at menopause and working through those emotions to resolve them. Menopause can bring great joy to a woman’s life if she is able to resolve earlier conflicts or reprioritize things to make her life run more smoothly. With a greater understanding of her own needs and the way to meet them, a woman may find that menopause can be a gateway to a more joyful second half of life. A Broad Range of Experiences As one of the women in this book stated, “Menopause is hard.” It can come out of the blue. A woman may be well into perimenopause before she even realizes that she is menopausal. Usually it is irritating or debili- tating symptoms that lead her to a doctor and thus a diagnosis of peri- menopause. In addition to the physical symptoms of hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, women may also experience depression and mood swings. Many reflect on where they have been and where they wish to go in their lives. However, not all women experience physical symptoms. A few of the women said that they discovered they were perimenopausal when they woke up one morning and realized that it had been months since they had a period. They went on to suffer no physical symptoms throughout meno- pause, but they did give greater thought to their priorities. Thus, there is a wide range of experiences, with some women having no physical symp- toms while others experience intense hot flashes as often as every twenty minutes. The onset of menopause also varies considerably. Women who under- went a hysterectomy or who took certain medications for cancer were plunged into menopause during their thirties. In contrast, the average age