Name: Laura Lacey

Menopause phase: Post Menopause

Place you call home: Jersey City

What you’re creating: A program to help women in perimenopause and menopause to understand why weight gain is different at this stage and how to manage it.

Age: 77

1. Rituals can be deeply personal. What is one personal practice you’ve adopted to embrace the transitions of menopause and growing older?

Journaling is something I do every morning. It helps me to work out problems, organize my thoughts, and let go of ideas that don’t serve me.

2. How have you redefined beauty as you’ve aged? Do any of your rituals support this definition?

I think beauty is something that comes from the inside and shines outward. Those little laugh lines around the eyes are beautiful. And a smile is one of the best accessories. I was always a “soap and water” gal but as I’ve gotten older my skin really craves moisturizer so that’s my new daily ritual. I use it all over. And at night I always moisturize my face which is something I never used to do.

3. Is there a particular practice—whether it’s movement, meditation, or something else—that has become essential to your well-being in this current stage of your life?

I’ve practiced yoga for decades. I can’t even imagine not doing it. It both challenges me and grounds me. And sometimes, it’s just plain fun.

4. What role does your community or your sista circle play in your menopausal and aging experience, and do you share any rituals with other women that support this journey?

My community is very important to me. Since I am older than many of the women in my community, I act as a mentor and guide, sharing my experiences. I want them to know that menopause isn’t an end. That life is to be lived at every age and stage and that being curious keeps us young.

5. What does the concept of sacredness mean to you as you age, and do you honor this stage of life through any special rituals?

Life is sacred and this stage of life is especially so. I feel that in post menopause, I’m wiser because I’ve had so many life experiences. I’ve learned the importance of taking a pause. This wasn’t something I used to do but it always serves me well. I use breath work to pause It calms my mind, especially before making big decisions.

6. Looking back on your pre-menopausal years, is there anything you wish you had known or done differently to prepare for this transition? How does this wisdom shape your rituals now?

I wish I had known more about menopause and what to expect. When I was going through menopause I suffered from anxiety and heart palpitations. I wasn’t told these were signs of menopause. I had no idea what was happening to me. It was scary. This experience hasn’t shaped my rituals, but it has made me very open to sharing my knowledge and experience.

7. How do you personally define well-aging, and how do your daily rituals reflect that definition?

Aging is a journey. It is not an end point. Aging well is being positive and curious. It means not defining age by a stage or a number. My rituals of yoga, meditation, journaling and being in nature keep me grounded. They block out all the noise and the negative self-talk. My rituals remind me that there is something good in every day. I just need to be curious.

8. Everyday Rituals: Share one ritual for each of the following, that you’ve not shared above:

Daily Ritual: journaling and meditating

Weekly Ritual: Taking a weekend walk in nature.

Monthly Ritual: Going for a massage

Yearly Ritual: Traveling. I take small trips throughout the year, and I always plan one big trip that is truly special. A few years back I went to Africa and spent a week quietly observing lions in the wild. It was extraordinary.

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