Name: Diane Britt - Smith

Menopause phase: Post-Menopause

Place you call home: NYC

What you’re creating: building my Pivot to Your Purpose business to encourage women over 40 to discover and take steps toward their next amazing chapter.

Age: 63

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

I set foot outside moments after I get up. No matter the weather, the injection of fresh air goes right into my soul.

2. Have you redefined beauty in this stage? If so, how? Do any of your rituals support this definition?

Yes. I seek to establish and guard my peace first and foremost. In every situation. It’s the foundation for starting the day.

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?

Walking. Six out of seven days, I get exercise. Seven out of seven days I walk. I practice deep breathing at night and occasionally consciously meditate.

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 best friend and I talk regularly about how important moving our bodies are to overall well being.

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?

I don’t have sacred rituals other than the one I mentioned. I’d love to, I need to, expand that and make space in my day for it.

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 done more research beforehand rather than “whack-a-mole” here’s a symptom, Google frantically, and try to conquer. Now I listen to my body much more and heed the cues.

7. How do you define well-aging, and what does it look like for you?

Aging well is taking care of my body inside out rather than the reverse. Full stop. If I do that, I feel better and stand up taller with confidence then I can conquer anything that this stage of life breaks.

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

Daily Ritual:Walking.

Weekly Ritual:Connecting with the people, I love.

Monthly Ritual: Immersing myself into something related to the arts.

Yearly Ritual: A visit to a destination that has water, preferably outside of the United States.

Connect with Diane:

Instagram - @dianebrittsmith