The Varsity Menopause Quiz

I’m so happy you found your way here—to a community of women who have experienced menopause (and yes, survived all the emotions, physical symptoms, ups and downs) and have made a decision to make it a Varsity Menopause experience. 

But, how do you know if this is the right place for you? And … is it even menopause anyway? I’ve put together a quick YES/NO quiz to help you determine if what you’re experiencing is a hormonal shift, perimenopause or menopause, and if this community is right for you. 

• Are you experiencing overwhelming physiological symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, erratic periods, cramps, breast pain, waking in the middle of the night, inability to stay asleep or go back to sleep, body odor, dry skin, itching that wakes you up, night sweats, hair loss)?
• Are you suddenly more forgetful than ever in your life? 
• Have you experienced “brain fog”—trouble finding...

During the same season of book title contemplation, my son graduated from high school and prepared to leave home for college. I knew my job title of 18 years was about to shift radically, but I had no idea what it would be shifting to.

I knew it would be a challenge for me to pivot from my coveted role as single mother of an only child. I knew there would be a few extra hours in the day to spend on things other than parenting. I was more than a little nervous about what that was going to look like. The heat was on to prepare myself for my new life in a new role. 

I took the challenge head-on and began listening intently to every entrepreneurial podcast I could find. Per my usual intense self-diagnosed, gently-OCD style, I took notes and created folders corresponding to podcasters who inspired me most. Gradually, a vision for a scaled version of my existing coaching practice took shape. There was a mixture of feelings ranging from paralyzing fear to excited, unknown...

Where did my inspiration for “Varsity” come from? We all know life can be hard. Persevering through life’s ups and downs can be daunting. In fact, I deal with depression many mornings and insomnia some nights. Sometimes I just want to give up, especially when it comes to menopause and aging. 

But, I will never give up. I always want to live, despite the challenges I face. Whenever my friend Cordelia and I face unexpected challenges, we always exclaim, “Thank You, God, for this growth opportunity!” I want to live, no matter what. 

How do I carry on? What’s my secret? The secret to successful aging is getting out of myself and connecting with other humans. We are not meant to live in isolation. As women, we are not meant to compete with each other. We are meant to connect with each other. I am grateful to have a circle of supportive friends. We support each other by listening to each other’s struggles. We support each other by...