22 Comments
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Dr Vicki Connop's avatar

Oh I resonate with so much of this! Especially the piece about how the symptoms settle when you start to hear your inner voice and honour your inner No. I am somewhere in the middle of this transformation. Tired, antisocial, sometimes grouchy, but also excited to meet myself in a different way to my younger people-pleasing self. Thank you for articulating this so beautifully, I love it ❤️

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Donna Lancaster's avatar

Thank you xxx

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Debbie Vallance's avatar

Thank you so much for this Donna, it all makes so much sense. I’m in a portal and I feel like I’m unravelling. It’s scary and lonely at times. Shedding and letting go of the things that I no longer need can leave an open space of unknown, as well as opportunity. It’s bloody hard at times but reading this and how others identify, I suddenly feel less alone and hope is found once again🙏🏻💚

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Nicola Veal's avatar

I feel the same and reading this tells me we are not alone.

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Lina Duncan's avatar

Loved reading this- so beautifully poetic and vital information- like a ‘How to’ navigation of these inevitable stages, all in such a compact and wise flow of truth. Thank you Donna 💙 Sharing for anyone in the comments that is entering peri or meno - It’s so important to listen to your body and find sources of wisdom, knowledge and your people as you go through these portals. It’s a long journey! I hadn’t yet found trust in myself and had other stuff going on- was labelled MADD by the GP (Mixed Anxiety & Depressive Disorder) and coerced (easily coz I was desperate) to try medications to ease and cure. Long story short- it was hell. They double dosed me. Double hell. Everything protested because surrender was not in my vocabulary and did not feel remotely safe! Thankfully (very grateful) I attended some of Donna’s workshops over these years and have grown to trust and love me big. Do diving healing and personal growth. I even relocated too and now I’m a few footsteps from the 🌊 I’ve found my people - gathering OTP on the pebbles and ITS in the sea. We swim, talk, giggle , growl, scream, roar, dance, cry, hug, drink tea in community and solitude, wave watch, soak in beauty, shiver with no f**** in the winter of boobs or bum exposed in the rush to put on the layers and the hot water bottle 💙 It’s OK to say no to medical professionals, or push persistently for what you know you need. It’s OK to take your time. It’s OK to not be OK. I continue to learn to dive through the portals, with curiosity and courage 💙🧜🏼‍♀️

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Donna Lancaster's avatar

beautiful Lina. Thank you for these words and I love the imagery of you all by the sea. Mermaids belong together. Loving you xxx

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Lina Duncan's avatar

*Deep diving healing (not do)🤣

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Frances Ray's avatar

Oh, Donna! I am 80 years old and this is The very most beautiful post I have ever read on meeting yourself in post-menopausal years. Welcome, welcome. Everything you've said is true and so many more gifts are in store. Dance onward....

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Sarah Barker's avatar

How wonderful to have you in this community thank you 🙏

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Amy Ray's avatar

Beautifully written! So much here that feels like the unspoken truth of the blossoming of this time of life!

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Pearl Raeburn-Ward's avatar

Gosh I need to read this today.... I resonate with so much of your words. I find it really hard to articulate my self so sometimes shy away from long comments! Ha ha just deleted long comment! Thank you 🙏 this was not the place for my words today xx

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Nicola Richardson's avatar

Reading this has given me the best start to my day. Thank you!

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Donna Lancaster's avatar

....and your words have made my day. Thank you xx

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Nicola Veal's avatar

I'm still crawling but this gives me hope there is another side.

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Donna Lancaster's avatar

there is. I promise xxx

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Alana Kirk's avatar

Oh my. Every. Word. The more I learn to listen to myself, the less I have to raise my voice. And I’ve learned that when I feel unseen and unheard (which is not uncommon as a single mum to 3 teenagers!) I now know it’s because I’m not seeing and hearing myself. This is such a beautiful description of our transition into womanhood.. thank you

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Jane Fawkes's avatar

Love this- thank you so much.

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Emma Gannon's avatar

❤️❤️❤️❤️

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Lisa Schardin's avatar

All of this resonated and I have experienced so much of what you described. Beautifully done. And I, too, am finding this side of the portal magical. Thank you.

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Mandy's avatar

Such beautiful words Donna, thank you 🙏 🤩💖

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Kirsty Dalrymple's avatar

Beautiful, Donna. Thank you! ❤️🙏

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Sally's avatar

This resonates so much Donna, as ever thankyou 🙏❤️

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