When Mother Nature Becomes a Fair-Weather Friend

We all have that friend.

The one who was there with us in our youth. She saw us through every season of our lives. She was our bestie. Our ride-or-die.

And then one day…

she changed.

At first, you wonder if it’s something you did.

“Did I do something to you? Why are you treating me differently?”

Because when we were young, Mother Nature was GOOD to us.

Perfect skin.

Energy for days.

We could eat a whole pizza on Friday night and somehow wake up Monday like nothing happened.

We could gain ten pounds and lose it before the weekend.

Our hair cooperated.

Our skin glowed.

And our bodies understood the assignment.

Mother Nature was our girl.

Then we got older.

And suddenly, she started acting funny.

She stopped returning our calls.

The weight that used to come and go decided it had found a permanent address.

And that little monthly “icing on the cake” we spent years complaining about?

Gone.

Just disappeared.

No forwarding address.

And just when you think things couldn’t get any stranger, Mother Nature introduces you to a new friend.

Her name is Peri.

Short for perimenopause.

And let me tell you…

Peri ain’t your friend.

She comes in quietly at first.

One minute you’re perfectly fine.

The next minute you’re wondering why you’re hot.

Not “it’s warm outside” hot.

I’m talking:

“Why is the thermostat trying to kill me?” hot.

And before you can figure out what’s happening, here comes Peri’s older sister:

Menopause.

She doesn’t knock.

She doesn’t introduce herself.

She just moves right in.

Now you’re having conversations with your body like it’s a rebellious teenager.

“What are we doing today?”

Your body:

“Absolutely nothing you planned.”

And somewhere in all of this, you start wondering:

Whatever happened to my best girl, Mother Nature?

Apparently she decided she had done enough.

She got us through puberty.

She gave us our youthful glow.

She helped us create children.

She gave us energy we didn’t appreciate nearly enough.

And now she’s sitting somewhere saying,

“Girl, you’ve had your turn. Figure this part out.”

But here’s what I’m learning.

Maybe Mother Nature isn’t really a fair-weather friend.

Maybe she’s reminding us that every season asks something different of us.

Our bodies change.

Our priorities change.

Our beauty changes.

Our energy changes.

And yes, sometimes our waistlines change whether we invited them to or not.

But getting older doesn’t mean we are becoming less beautiful.

It means we are becoming different.

Maybe this season isn’t about fighting to get the old version of ourselves back.

Maybe it’s about meeting the woman we’re becoming.

Learning her body.

Honoring her needs.

Laughing at the changes we cannot control.

And realizing that beauty never belonged exclusively to youth in the first place.

So, Mother Nature…

I forgive you.

But I’m still watching you.

Because Peri and Menopause have been acting real suspicious lately.

Thinking out loud…