Over the weekend, I survived another college tailgate in the rain as a sober, socially-anxious introvert. On Monday, I went back to the gym for the first time in over five months after an extended autoimmune flare-up and complications from back-to-back vein procedures. And three days ago, I celebrated my 14-year soberversary.
I can do hard things.
To be fair, I will complain about it first. Loudly and often. But I will also get through it. How do I know? Because I always do.
I’ve endured years of childhood sexual abuse and sexual assault.
I’ve survived an emergency C-section, heart surgery, and a semi-thyroidectomy—all in a span of three years.
I’ve prevailed through complex PTSD and multiple rounds of EMDR therapy.
I’ve beat mercury poisoning, toxic mold (three times), and pneumonia (also three times).
I’ve persevered through premature menopause, sobriety, multiple autoimmune diseases, and a host of medical mysteries, procedures and ongoing quagmires.
I’ve weathered moves, job changes, home renovations, life transitions, and empty nesthood.
And right now, I’m in the middle of planning a multigenerational family vacation—all while working, raising a family, and tending to my elderly parents. If I can survive all this (and the trip itself), I can survive anything! [If you know my family, you get it😉.]
Let me be clear about something … I’m not writing this for sympathy or for applause. I’m writing it to prove that midlife women are badass—even with all our issues. In fact, I’d argue it’s because of our issues.
We Gen X women are built differently. We were latchkey kids who drank from hoses, stayed out until dark, and learned to do for ourselves. So even now, with all our gray hair and wrinkles, we still do for ourselves—and everyone else. All the damn time. It’s our superpower.
So to all my fellow baddies who are going through something—whatever it is—you got this. I know, because we always do.
—LJDT
