Let me tell you about my Journey Through Midlife and Menopause. So…This is how I started SOS Middle Age
Hi, I’m Mel, 47 years old, and living in the sunny, bustling streets of Barcelona, Spain. I’m the founder of SOS Middle Age—a blog where I share my slightly chaotic, sometimes hilarious, and definitely unpredictable experiences of midlife and menopause. I also investigate useful information and share it in a more friendly way. Trust me, I never thought I’d be sitting here writing about mood swings, hair loss, and missing my old jeans, but here we are! If you’re a woman who’s also wondering how we ended up here, you’re in the right place.
The Catalyst: Life Changes and Challenges
Let’s rewind a bit. How did I get here, blogging about this wild, hormonal roller coaster? Well, it all started with some serious life changes, the kind you don’t really prepare for because, frankly, no one tells you how insane it gets.
Relocation Struggles
So, picture this: I moved to Barcelona with stars in my eyes, dreaming of tapas, sangria, and friends who would magically appear like in those romantic Spanish movies. Spoiler alert: it didn’t happen. I tried everything to meet new people—joined a gym (I hate burpees), signed up for a choir (I can’t sing), and even volunteered (no one told me how much I dislike folding towels). Despite my efforts, I ended up with no friends and a lot of social anxiety. My husband? Oh, he’s the ultimate homebody, content with Netflix marathons and not exactly into the whole “let’s make new friends” thing.
Needless to say, social isolation became a big theme in my life, and I spent way too many nights and wondering, “Is this it?”
Motherhood Decision
And then there was the whole motherhood dilemma. At 38, I was still asking myself if I even wanted kids. My husband? He was born with the dad gene, probably knitting baby booties in his sleep while I was still weighing the pros and cons. After a visit to the OB-GYN, who politely told me that my biological clock was more like a time bomb, I thought, “Okay, let’s do this!” Boom—two months later, I’m pregnant.
Pregnancy at 38? It’s a trip, ladies. Luckily, my daughter is my treasure, even if I occasionally (okay, frequently) question if motherhood was meant for me. Don’t get me wrong—I adore her. But boy, do I miss my freedom, my work-life balance, and my sofa days. The guilt! Can I be a good mom and still want a life?
Health and Wellness
After my pregnancy, I gained weight because, well, I thought I “deserved” to eat everything in sight. I tried the keto diet and managed to lose some pounds, only to gain them all back with interest. Oh, and did I mention my hair loss? I didn’t sign up for that part of midlife!
In addition to the physical changes, perimenopause hit me like a freight train. Mood swings? Check. Relationship challenges? Oh, definitely. My poor husband has had to deal with me turning into a human thunderstorm overnight. I was moody, stressed, and frankly, wondering if I was going to lose my mind. Oh, and anxiety? Yeah, that was a fun new companion, along with depression knocking at the door every now and then.
Midlife Transitions
Here’s where things really started to get interesting. Along with parenting came the joys of career change, the fun of weight fluctuations, and the absolute confusion of perimenopause.
Career Evolution
Once upon a time, I was a happy graphic designer in Mexico City. I loved my job! But just when I moved away from my country into all new beautiful life, the economic crisis hit Spain, and suddenly, I found myself without projects and became Reinvention time! After brainstorming and weighting many ideas, I started a newborn photography studio, which was going pretty well until—wait for it—the pandemic arrived like an unwanted house guest. Business closed, dreams dashed, cue the dramatic music.
In true midlife fashion, I had to pick up the pieces. I found a job as a content moderator (it’s not as glamorous as it sounds), but that job came with its own challenges—namely, work-related stress and the constant worry that I was falling behind in my career.
Finding Purpose in Midlife
As if that wasn’t enough, I lost my job during a company layoff, and I found myself wondering, “Is this really happening at 47?” I went through a big period of self-reflection (and a lot of Netflix binges) and decided it was time to reinvent myself. Again. That’s when the idea for SOS Middle Age was born.
I realized that if I was going through this craziness, surely other women were too. So, I started this blog, hoping to create a space where we can talk about all the things no one told us about midlife and menopause. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Honestly, I don’t know yet, but we’ll figure it out together!
Community and Support
The best part about this whole journey? I discovered that I’m not alone. I’ve started talking more openly with my friends, and guess what? They’re going through the same stuff! Suddenly, open discussions about everything from weight management to anxiety to late pregnancy became part of our wine nights (trust me, it’s therapeutic).
