I’m having an interesting conversation with a friend about sweating! In case you have spotted my theme for the Write Tribe Festival of Words – it’s all about women and journeying through midlife. So what’s that got to do with sweating you ask? Ha ha…Now’s a good time for you get this fact – that one of the ‘joys’ of perimenopause and menopause is night sweats. Yes, getting up in a pool of sweat in the middle of the night is kind of not fun! 😉
I always believe that life has a great way of balancing itself and one of the other gifts of midlife is not taking yourself seriously! You no longer think that the Earth revolves around you – and that every tiny goof up of yours is beamed by satellite to the ‘whole world’. If you are past 40 and still think that, now’s a good time to grow up!
So now you get the sweat connection? We mid-lifers are better equipped not to sweat the small stuff.
Seriously, no one is going to remember if you go shopping wearing your salwar inside out! I have done that – and the good news is that it didn’t hit the headlines. I don’t think anyone other than I noticed – even my husband didn’t have a clue.
Also, some days a messy house, an unmade bed, and a pile of laundry lying unwashed in the machine is no sign of your incompetence. It just shows that you’re human. Remember that, even if you haven’t reached the ripe old age of 40! 😉
More importantly, I think you learn that you can let go of some relationships and still survive.
You learn that life is too short to keep grudges and that while you may not be able to forget, you somehow find the grace to forgive and move on – if only for your own sanity.
You learn that the world is made up of ‘givers’ and ‘takers’ and you’d best be a giver yourself or be forever doomed to a life of discontent!
You learn to tell the people you love that you love them – because life is shorter now that you are on ‘the other side’
I seriously think that the night sweats are the Universe’s way to thaw you – and make you more pliable, saying: ” Don’t sweat the small stuff. Cool it.”
Hey, Mr Universe, I hear ya!
Before I close, I must add this lovely piece of advice from George Carlin: Don’t sweat the petty stuff, and don’t pet the sweaty stuff!
PS: Did you spot the word ‘thaw’ in my post? I’m responding to a prompt from the lovely Robyn Greenhouse over at ‘Adventures in Laughter’, who is hosting The Writers’ Post Blog Hop 2014 #5
photo credit: * Cati Kaoe * via photopin cc
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The post is very sweet, not sweaty at all. 🙂
I remember my mom sweating like anything around the same time, and I kept wondering why women has to suffer for so long in their life. I had never thought about it this way. Really getting thawed. She has left worrying about many things in life now. I so wish she was net-savvy and could have read this post.
Thanks, Archana. Oh yes, I do wish women of the previous generations had access to all we do today. We’re so blessed, aren’t we?
Great read- I really enjoyed this one, being over 40 myself. And had to read it a couple of times, funny, but with so much wisdom to be reminded also. I found myself sitting nodding my head at Tell the ones you love that you love them, don’t hold grudges.. So true. Thanks:-)
This made me laugh right out loud!!! Loved this post. A person seems to be a bit more mellow too, except for those wild roller coaster hormones that cause us to go a bit mental! ♥
I am so glad to read this post today, Corinne. Just today, I decided to forgive a friend and move on and I come here and read the same ” You learn that life is too short to keep grudges and that while you may not be able to forget, you somehow find the grace to forgive and move on – if only for your own sanity.” and this reaffirmed what I did a few hours ago! 🙂
Love that quote from George Carlin! Soooo true! 🙂 ♥
Truly, life is too short to worry about the small things!
I like to read your feel good posts, Corinne. Makes me take less guilt trips 🙂 How I wish we practiced the forget and forgive policy only to make life easy and simple.
Amazing post, Corinne. Looks like you’re in a chilled out mood…great, don’t sweat 🙂
I’m not even to the “right” age yet, and already deal with some of those “fun” things. Great thoughts. Life truly is too short to get caught up in things that don’t matter.
Love the Carlin quote!
It must be that conversation…my post is almost in sync with yours today. Learning to let go is tough, but oh boy, so liberating!
And yes, always remembering to say my I love yous.
Hugs!
Vidya
I completely agree with you!!
I have an unmade bed, laundry in the machine – not washed
Paper and books lying all over the living room and the dishwasher yet to be turned on!! Whew!
And I’m sitting here, reading blogs, drinking my cup of coffee and listening to songs! 😀
Bliss I say! 😀
It also helps that I don’t take too many things too seriously anymore! I’m already wise before my 40s!! 😉
I am nodding my head here. I hear the universe too. I swear some people still think the world revolves around them even in their 40s. I know a few. 🙂
I love you for saying those sweet things about the laundry , the inside out Salwar and the unmade bed. There was a time when I used to fear being judged. Now, I really don’t care anymore. Life is too short!
I love the tone in which this post is written 🙂 So imp to let go , enjoy, take out the time to say I love you…dear Corinne, I hear ya!
Lol! Love the quote from George Carlin, Corinne. 🙂 It fits your post perfectly! And, your reflection on tipping those mid-life scales is so upbeat and uplifting. Thanks for always inspiring me, my friend!
Love and blessings!
I glance at the pile of laundry in the basket and smile while reading your post. How did you get into my head? Being past 50, I am happy to say that most of the time, I am a pretty chilled out person, night sweat and all but a few things still bother me and I am affected. But I am learning to let go, one hurt at a time 🙂 A wonderful write up, Corinne.
All the pointers are good to remember even if you;re still in your 20’s na? 🙂
You are a gem of a find, Corinne! What an incredible post and told with such passion and such brevity! Letting go is one of the hardest things to do- whether it’s relationships or annoying habits. I have tried to change that about myself, not sure if I am doing a very good job of it. I particularly liked the way you’ve linked to other posts within this one. That is a beautiful idea of blog-love. So glad to have connected with you…
It is a topic so close to my heart. letting go of perfection or the need to strive for it. I know that I have been constantly harping about it here and there but off late I have started to realise that when it comes to practice I am falling short. IN A BIG WAY. this is a great reminder Corinne.
Am already a master in not sweating the small stuff ;). My folks would be happy if I try sweating a lttle 😛
I’m not the ripe old age of 40 yet, but I understand the sweating. I blame the kids.
I usually don’t worry about the small stuff. That ends up being a problem at times, because then I procrastinate, and then everything hits at once, and then I PANIC!!!! 🙂
This is such a sweet post – loved it!!! We women have a lot of fun things going for us, don’t we? ;). I have worn my top inside out, mismatched earrings etc. especially in my ‘new Mom’ days, and I spent valuable time and energy worrying about it then (as if new Moms don’t have enough to worry about!). I completely agree with you – holding grudges is exhausting and it is far easier to just let go of that lingering hatred even if we don’t completely forget it.
‘No one is going to remember if you go shopping wearing your salwar inside out!’ That’s because none of us is the centre of anybody else’s universe!!
‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’ is a way of life that’s easy to practise if you don’t take yourself too seriously. Unfortunately, many people around us take themselves too seriously and sometimes succeed in making us sweat the really small stuff.
Seriously, no one is going to remember if you go shopping wearing your salwar inside out!
It’s only the wearer who is embarrassed while the whole world is absorbed in their own work.
Sweating and midlife crisis are unfashionable and talked in hushed tones. But your assurance that its okay makes me feel better, Corinne.
Ah, If only I’d had your attitude during that night sweat period. I like your perspective.
Haha…truly humorous. Although it has me worried given that I currently sweat heaps anyway when I am active…who knows what will happen to me when I’m menopausal?!
But I agree with Don’t sweat the small stuff…we all need to learn that and let go! 🙂