NAVIGATING MIDLIFE HORMONAL CHANGES: SHOULD YOU CONSIDER HRT? | MARIA CLAPS + KRISTIN JOHNSN
“Go ahead and underestimate me as a 50 something woman, right? Because this is just a time where I’m going to surprise you. And I’m having a hell of a lot of fun figuring out how great this can be.”
In this episode, we share the profound work of Stephen Jenkinson, an internationally renowned teacher and author of several books on the topics of elderhood, death and wisdom. Stephen shares his experiences working with dying people and their families as a former program director in a Canadian hospital, shedding light on the brokenness of our modern Western approach to death. He challenges the prevailing death phobia in our society and explores the importance of embracing the reality of dying in order to live more fully.
Stephen also shares his insights on spirituality and the blurred lines between a spiritual life and a regular life, the challenges faced by both the oldest and youngest generations in a rapidly changing world and the importance of understanding our past and the potential consequences of our actions on future generations. Tune in for a deep and introspective conversation that will leave you questioning your role in shaping the world around you and your impulse for “answers” in light of the realities of our times…
Episode highlights
How changes of body composition in early perimenopause can lead to destructive or unhelpful responses that actually make things worse - and what to do instead!
Maria and Kristins’ frustration with the focus on “hormonal imbalance” and how it incorrectly applied to midlife in many cases
The crucual lifestyle factors affecting perimenopause - building muscle, getting optimal protein, prioritizing sleep, managing stress, and understanding HRT choices
All about hrmone replacement therapy (HRT) and why it can be a game-changer for women experiencing severe symptoms.
what’s wrong with the studies that have given HRT a bad name, and why HRT is poorly prescribed for midlife women (or not at all)
Why getting older and appreciating the stage of life you’re in can bring a lot of joy and ease.
Our Guest - Stephen Jenkinson
Stephen teaches internationally and is the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School, co-founded the school with his wife Nathalie in 2010, which is a redemptive project rooted in knowing history, being claimed by ancestry, and working for a time we won’t see.
He has Master’s degrees in theology from Harvard University and social work from University of Toronto, and has worked extensively with dying people and their families as a former programme director in a major Canadian hospital, and former assistant professor in a prominent Canadian medical school.
He’s also the author of the award-winning books as Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul, Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble and many more.
“When there’s finally no hope left, that’s when you put a scent in the air of what some people did in a time of trouble. Because the people to come, they’re going to need that. They’re going to need to know that they come from people who are worthy of coming from. And you don’t hope you’ll be worthy. You get worthy now.”
Resources:
Stephen Jenkinson’s website, Orphan Wisdom School
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Link to YouTube Video Version of the Conversation
