My Blog Circle:

• Menopause Goddess Blog

I'm a Registered Nurse, but these days my job (read passion) is connecting with and disseminating the wisdom of menopausal women via my blog at www.menopausegoddessblog.org.  A core group of menopausal goddesses came together to make sense of the Changes assaulting us. What we learned and shared helped us beyond our wildest imaginings.  Our small community has since expanded to a larger virtual community where we continue to share and grow every day.  We're tackling not only menopause but the challenges of midlife and creating who we wish to be for the second half of our lives. Our new book of wit, wisdom, and whimsy is now available exclusively on our website.  It's titled "The Big M"  - it's everything you want and need to know about this transition.

I currently am the Health Maven for the Menopause Community at Wellsphere.com.

I also am an enthusiast and teacher of the Enneagram of personality.  I've consulted for the past years and authored The Everyday Enneagram, A Personality Map for Your Work, Love, and Life....Everyday.  I write a blog on the subject- everydayenneagramblog.blogspot.com.

More from my bio:
In addition to being the official 'Scribe? for the Goddesses, Lynette Sheppard has these credentials. She is:

A former Nurse-Manager, head of Intensive Care and Coronary Care units in Santa Rosa, California for 10+ years, with a focus on both allopathic and alternative medicine.

A published author of numerous articles on healing and health.

A featured speaker at national health symposia, such as American Association of Critical Care Nursing, National Hyperbaric Medicine Symposium, International Association of Human Caring in Melbourne, Australia.

An expert on the Enneagram - website www.9points.com

A hula dancer learning Hawai`ian language in her adopted home of Moloka`i.

A photographer and artist.

A midlife, menopausal woman who continues to go through changes and is lucky enough to have the Goddesses to help her through them.

How did you get to where you are now?

Some hard work, some hard play, curiosity, right place at right time, diving right in, bad luck and good luck, introspection and good friends, loving familiy, and always up for the ride!

How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?

I am so much more comfortable in my own skin, baggy though it may be.  I don't try to please everyone or make everyone like me.  I choose how I spend my time and with whom.  I value myself apart from anything I might do.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Wow!  Just better and better.  I'm enjoying every moment these days.  Life is precious.  A snapshot I keep in my mind is my best girlfriends and I rocking in beautiful Appalachian rocking chairs on our lanai in Hawai`i, talking, drinking wine, eating chocolate, and celebrating our own vibrance.

Dear Me,

It's all worth it - it only gets better.  I'll be (am) glad when you are here.

All my best,

Me

I live in Hawai`i where the kupuna, the elders, are revered.  I always say that I want to be a combination of Auntie Ku`ulei and Auntie Kauila "when I grow up".  Both are in their 80's and personify vibrance!  Ku'ulei plays music and sings with a group.  She's the most positive person that I know!  Auntie Kauila teaches hula, instructs children in Hawaiian culture, and takes classes "because I like to learn".  She is also more physically flexible than most 25 year-olds, able to palm the floor with her hands when bending over.  I want to be that flexible, interested, and engaged when I'm their ages.  Heck, I want to be that now!  Better get going!