Why 2024 Feels Different

Pause. Ground. Get After It.

Yes folks, that’s the script, and is why you haven’t heard from me in a while. Last year was a lot, a journey so circuitous that it has taken me a while to reorient my compass and find a new way forward. There are plenty of reasons for this but let’s just say I’ve arrived squarely in mid life, and as a woman, you probably get the innuendo. Like many other females my age, I wasn’t prepared for the sudden impact these changes would have on my life, and its taken a minute to get my head on straight. But if you know me, you know I usually approach these things by becoming my own test subject in an elaborate science experiment, and I’ve learned a thing or two along the way. I’ll admit, its been a grind, life and business challenges complicated by intense physical, emotional, and developmental changes all coming down at the same time. But such is life. We women are constantly being challenged and have no choice but to adapt. So I thought I would provide a little synopsis about my findings for anyone else who might be struggling, always grounded in scientific evidence, as my small attempt at paying it forward. So in my future posts, look for some helpful tips and tricks on the “pause” if you find yourself walking in the same high heels and could use a comfy pair of Birks instead.

Highs & Lows

In the midst of all of this, I managed to complete a manuscript a few months back. It’s a memoir about my crazy twenty-two year marriage within a personal evolution story, and tangentially, focused on the Navitas business story because you can’t untangle one from the other. I am putting myself out there by saying my goal this year is to get it published, but there are a few kinks in that plan right now so I will start by releasing chapters, or parts of chapters, here in the meantime. I had been thinking about writing a memoir for almost ten years, and just as it did for many others, the pandemic opened the door wide to finally tackling any lingering and burning desires from the bucket list lest we die wholly unfulfilled. In the early days of lockdown, I enrolled in a memoir class at UCLA and my teacher Liz Stephens, a prolific writer in her own right, who eventually gave me the green light to just get writing because I already had a succinct story to tell. In truth, the memoir wrote itself and I look forward to sharing it with the world in due time. I still feel reassured by Liz’s response after sending her the final edits. She said, “those that say they want to write a memoir versus those that actually do it is starkly few. Congratulations on being one of the few.” So yea, I am pretty proud of the accomplishment, and the next step in the journey is to be brave enough to share it with a broader audience. Wish me luck!

Too many lows in the past two years to dwell on, but as usual, I’m absorbing all the life lessons doled out from each. I am focused this year on manifesting my greatest desires and humbly reminded that I am not in control of the outcome. Or as my wise teacher Natalie Kuhn told me on retreat, none of it is my fault, but it is my responsibility. Solid wisdom from a true spiritual sage and a cue to stay focused on being better than I was yesterday. That way, rather than looking backwards I stay grounded with my myriad blessings, my health, safety, security, and amazingly supportive community. In doing this, and staying positive, I remain open to whatever the universe has in store.

Age is a Mindset

For now I will leave you with this. I am so glad we’re finally talking about the hellish tribulations of menopause and women are free from the sphere of secrecy that hinted at our “aging out”. There are many of us, including myself, that just don’t feel the age reflected on the calendar and frankly, it’s much better that way. I have zero judgement or opinion about women who try and hold onto whatever beauty they have for as long as possible and respect those that choose to embrace aging without any intervention at all. All of it is right. All of it is empowering. What’s the most important is how we feel inside our bodies, and how others feel our presence and power in the world. So live it up ladies! It’s always our time time to shine.

I will be posting a new journal entry on the last day of every month this year. I’d love your support, so read and share with your friends.

Welcome 2024!

Meg Adelman
RN, BSN, MPH

Meg is an accomplished change-agent in the area of health and wellness.