Celebrating This Chapter: Finding Joy in Midlife This Holiday Season
By Nicole, NP | Island Wellness Clinic
Somewhere along the way, our culture decided that midlife, especially for women, is something to dread. A decline to manage. A problem to solve.
I’d like to offer a different perspective.
What if midlife isn’t an ending, but a beginning? What if perimenopause and menopause aren’t losses, but invitations? What if this chapter—the one you’re living right now—is worth celebrating?
This holiday season, as we gather with loved ones and reflect on the year behind us, I want to invite you to consider something radical: What if you approached this season of your life not with resignation, but with joy?
The Midlife Shift We Don’t Talk About
Yes, hormones change during perimenopause and menopause. Yes, there can be challenging symptoms. But there’s another side to this story that doesn’t get nearly enough attention:
Midlife is often when women finally come home to themselves.
Think about it:
- You know who you are and what you value
- You’ve gained wisdom that only experience can bring
- You care less about others’ opinions and more about authentic living
- Your relationships have been tested and refined
- You understand what truly matters
These aren’t small things. These are gifts.
The challenge is that hormonal symptoms can overshadow all of this goodness. When you’re exhausted, foggy, and uncomfortable, it’s hard to access the joy of this life stage.
That’s where hormone support comes in—not to fight aging, but to free you to fully experience and enjoy this remarkable chapter.
Reframing the Narrative
Let’s challenge some common beliefs about midlife:
Old belief: “My best years are behind me.” New truth: Research consistently shows that life satisfaction follows a U-shaped curve—dipping in the 40s and early 50s, then rising again. Studies from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS) found that while physical health may decline, life satisfaction actually increases from middle age through older adulthood (Stone et al., 2019). A recent survey found that approximately 19% of women reported their 50s as their happiest decade (Prime Women, 2025).
Old belief: “I should just accept feeling bad.” New truth: Suffering isn’t noble. You deserve to feel good in your body, and modern medicine offers safe, effective options. The North American Menopause Society, European Menopause Society, and International Menopause Society all support hormone therapy as the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms (NAMS, 2022).
Old belief: “Menopause means I’m becoming invisible.” New truth: You’re becoming more yourself than ever. Visibility matters less; authenticity matters more.
Old belief: “It’s too late to make changes.” New truth: Neuroplasticity continues throughout life. Your brain, body, and life can absolutely transform at any age. Research from the SWAN study shows that modifiable factors like physical activity, sleep quality, and positive social connections continue to significantly impact wellbeing in midlife and beyond (Avis et al., 2018).
What Celebration Looks Like
Celebrating this chapter doesn’t mean pretending challenges don’t exist. It means approaching them with agency rather than defeat. It means:
Honoring your body’s needs. When symptoms arise, you address them—not because something is wrong with you, but because you deserve to feel good.
Embracing your evolution. You’re not the same woman you were at 30. Good. You’ve grown. You’ve deepened. You’ve earned every silver hair and laugh line.
Choosing joy actively. Joy in midlife isn’t passive—it’s something you cultivate. You make choices that support your wellbeing, surround yourself with people who lift you up, and let go of what no longer serves you.
Living in the present. Instead of mourning your younger self or dreading the future, you root yourself in the richness of now.
Practical Ways to Celebrate This Season
Support Your Body
Give yourself the gift of feeling physically well:
- Explore hormone therapy if you haven’t already. Modern bioidentical options can dramatically improve quality of life. Studies show significant improvements in vasomotor symptoms, sleep, mood, and sexual function with appropriate hormone support (Santoro et al., 2021).
- Prioritize movement that feels good—not punishing, but joyful. A meta-analysis found that physical activity reduced depressive symptoms by 60% in menopausal women (Huang et al., 2025).
- Nourish yourself with foods that support hormone health and energy.
- Sleep like it’s sacred, because it is.
Support Your Mind
Midlife is an ideal time for inner work:
- Practice gratitude daily—not in a forced way, but genuinely noticing what’s good. Research from the SWAN study found that greater optimism predicts better life satisfaction in later life (Avis et al., 2021).
- Release old stories about what you “should” be or have by now.
- Embrace curiosity about what this chapter holds rather than assuming you know.
- Seek support when needed—therapy, coaching, or medical care. Asking for help is strength.
Support Your Spirit
Feed what feeds your soul:
- Connect deeply with people who truly see you. Data from the SWAN Mental Health study found that social support is one of the strongest predictors of psychological wellbeing during the menopausal transition (Avis et al., 2021).
- Engage in activities that make you lose track of time.
- Spend time in nature—especially here in beautiful Florida.
- Practice presence through meditation, prayer, or simple stillness.
The Holiday Invitation
The holidays can amplify whatever we’re feeling. If you’re struggling with symptoms, the season can feel overwhelming. But if you’re feeling supported and well, the holidays can be deeply joyful.
This year, I invite you to:
Let go of perfectionism. The house doesn’t have to be perfect. The meal doesn’t have to be elaborate. Your presence—your real presence—is the gift.
Set boundaries. You don’t have to attend every event, please every person, or maintain every tradition. Protect your energy.
Savor small moments. The smell of pine. A child’s wonder. A quiet morning with coffee. Joy lives in the small things. Research shows that older adults who engage in meaningful activities—socializing, volunteering, exercising—report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction (Smith et al., 2014).
Be gentle with yourself. If you have hard moments, that’s okay. This isn’t about performing happiness. It’s about allowing joy when it comes.
You’re Not Done Blooming
There’s a beautiful concept in gardening called “successive blooming”—planting flowers that bloom at different times so the garden is always producing beauty.
You are still blooming.
This stage of life produces different flowers than your 20s or 30s did—but they’re no less beautiful. In fact, many gardeners would say that the late-season flowers, the ones that bloom against all odds as the weather shifts, are the most remarkable of all.
The same is true for you.
Start the New Year Thriving
As this year closes and a new one begins, you have choices to make. You can enter 2026 resigned to feeling “okay” at best. Or you can enter it committed to thriving—to celebrating this chapter with your full presence and energy.
At Island Wellness Clinic, we’re here to support you in that commitment. We believe every woman deserves to feel vibrant, clear, and joyful at every stage of life. And we have the tools to help make that possible.
This is your life. This is your chapter. And it’s absolutely worth celebrating.
Ready to thrive through midlife?
📞 Call us: 239-342-8854 🌐 Book online: iwc-med.com
Let’s make 2026 your year of celebration. Most major insurance plans accepted. Virtual appointments available throughout Florida.
Island Wellness Clinic | Fort Myers, FL | Serving All of Florida
REFERENCES
Avis, N. E., Colvin, A., Hess, R., & Bromberger, J. T. (2021). Midlife factors related to psychological well-being at an older age: Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Journal of Women’s Health, 30(3), 332-340. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2020.8479
Avis, N. E., Colvin, A., Bromberger, J. T., & Hess, R. (2018). Midlife predictors of health-related quality of life in older women. Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 73(11), 1574-1580. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/gly062
Huang, Y. Y., Xu, F. F., Chen, H., Zhang, Y., Wang, L., & Liu, J. (2025). Effects of physical activity on depressive and anxiety symptoms of women in the menopausal transition and menopause: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 22, 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01712-z
North American Menopause Society. (2022). The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause, 29(7), 767-794. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002028
Prime Women. (2025). When are we truly happiest? Prime Women Magazine. https://primewomen.com/second-acts/personal-growth/when-are-we-happiest/
Santoro, N., Roeca, C., Peters, B. A., & Neal-Perry, G. (2021). The menopause transition: Signs, symptoms, and management options. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 106(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaa764
Smith, J., Ryan, L. H., Queen, T. L., Wayment, H., & Zelinski, E. M. (2014). Feeling alive: Activities, well-being, and health in older adults. Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 69(3), 431-442. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbt116
Stone, A. A., Schwartz, J. E., Broderick, J. E., & Deaton, A. (2019). Happiness across the life span: Not a slippery slope after all. USC Dornsife Magazine. https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/people-get-happier-as-they-age/