Money, Men and Zen – Why menopausal women are more contented

Hitting fifty doesn’t have to be bad news. For the majority of my friends, maturity is bringing with it contentment, wisdom and ‘zen’.

For example, a friend recently sold a car. She wasn’t unduly stressed about the price achieved although the more money she could get for it the better. Her attitude was, it’s worth what it’s worth and she was glad to be rid of it so she didn’t rant and rave when the guy who was selling the car called her to say two potential  purchasers had dropped out and the one who remained was offering a bit less than the asking price. She recognised that she couldn’t alter the situation or dream up new purchasers so she just accepted reality. He said she was the nicest client he had ever dealt with and that her attitude was truly ‘zen’. Maybe she didn’t get the full price but she certainly got her money’s worth in ‘feel  good’ payback.

Another friend whose partner has suffered from depression for many years confessed that the secret to coping was to focus on her own life, not his, to accept the things that she cannot control and to take responsibility for those she can. Her own wellbeing falls in the latter category.  More ‘zen’.

On the flip side, yet another friend approaching fifty this summer is more stressed than ever. Unhappy at work, she finds it impossible to switch off and stresses for days about sometimes unimportant conflicts. I recently advised her to pick a pebble from the beach and carry it with her in her pocket to remind herself that no matter what she says or does, the tide will come and the tide will go out, and will continue to do so long after we have left this world. That’s my ‘zen’.  How’s yours?