Here are some other things you should know about me…

• Exercise is my therapy. Weightlifting, yoga, and walks with my pup aren’t just hobbies — they’ve been a HUGE part of my sober and menopause journey. I can’t recommend a consistent exercise routine enough for anyone in addiction recovery; physical health is just as important as mental health. My virtual trainer, Amy Johnston, has been an integral part of my life — without her midlife-specific workouts, I wouldn’t feel as strong and vibrant as I do at 55.

• I’m an extroverted introvert. Before the pandemic, I would have called myself a full-on extrovert: always on the go, always busy. But when lockdown hit, I went full hermit — and, as it turns out, I really needed it. Now, while I still love socializing, I also value my home time more than ever.

• I’m a sourdough fanatic (another form of therapy) — nothing beats the ritual of feeding my starter and baking fresh bread almost every, single day. When my mom died, I made 27 loaves to give away in just 10 days.

• My mom passed away on November 1st at 82, after complications from Alzheimer’s. Until her last several years, she was remarkably active — both physically and mentally. I truly believe that if she had been offered hormone replacement therapy (HRT) “back in the day,” her risk of developing the disease might have been lower. Current research shows that starting HRT within 10 years of menopause — or even earlier — can reduce Alzheimer’s risk by up to 35%, and that’s likely a conservative estimate.

  This personal loss has fueled my mission: to spread the word about how hormones impact our brains, why midlife women deserve better information and care, and how understanding this can change our lives.