Some of our most-read stories of 2023
"10 years of sobriety later" | Midlife food sensitivities | "Living apart together," and more
I don’t know about you but I’ve had a hell of a year
By Amy Cuevas Schroeder, founder of The Midst
My husband went through radiation for prostate cancer, my day-job employer changed to a no-remote policy and laid off a third of the team, and caring for my pubescent daughter with severe special needs has become increasingly challenging.
I’ve also had a year full of progress. I’m writing to you from my new sun-filled Arizona home at the start of winter (come visit!). In October, I outed myself as a perimenopausal woman on LinkedIn (taboo in the tech world), and it felt somewhat liberating. And last but not least, thanks in large part to your feedback, we ignited our rebrand from Jumble & Flow to The Midst (phase 2 coming soon!).
For me, 2023 was a cluster — a year that threw plenty of twists and turns but also one that I navigated with a sense of “I’ve got this.” I think that’s my key takeaway about midlife: we really are in the midst of one of the most complex stages of life. How we show up every day is up to us, and realizing that we are works in progress is a gift.
Someday we’ll look back and think, “Wow, I accomplished so much.”
From all of us here at The Midst, we wish you a fulfilling 2024, one that you design and navigate on your terms (with plenty of glimmers to boot).
Or as Alisa Kennedy Jones of gotham girl commented after reading this Midst story about finding light in a tough season, it’s OK to do nothing if it brings you peace.
How was your 2023? I’d love to hear from you in comments.
Behind the scenes is more interesting, don’t you think?
In case you missed it
Some of our most-read stories of 2023 …
10 years of sobriety later, I want to share my story with the rising number of women alcoholics
A few months after I got sober from alcohol in 2013, my sister pointed out the endless alcohol advertising as we drove through a town not far from our homes in the D.C. suburbs. “Until you got sober I just never noticed before that alcohol signs are everywhere,” she said, pointing to the nearest roadside sign, mentioning billboards, every restaurant si…
When ice cream makes you scream: how to identify and adapt to midlife food sensitivities
When Kirsty Dixon, a Menopause Educator from York, UK, started experiencing bloating, gas, and acid reflux five years ago, she didn’t immediately connect the symptoms to perimenopause. "Whenever I ate something sweet like cake, or put sugar in coffee, it felt like an Alka-Seltzer bubbling away in my stomach," she explains. "I could feel my waistband gett…
Stacy London: The Maven of Midlife is revolutionizing menopause with style
From 'What Not to Wear' to wear whatever the f- you want, the stylist-turned–TV personality-turned-women’s health entrepreneur owns her evolution. (Part 1)
The case for living apart from the one you love
My father and his significant other of 50 years have had separate homes for the entirety of their relationship. They are happier than ever. What does it mean to be in an LAT? Demographers call this type of relationship “living apart together” (LAT).
Screw over the hill. Women’s brains are upgraded after menopause
Neuropsychiatrist Louann Brizendine: "When you pass through the door to The Upgrade, your ability to see your most positive and authentic self is no longer clouded."
Can decluttering really make you happier?
At least twice a year, I feel the sudden urge to throw out all of my belongings. The clutter under the sink irritates me, I'm overwhelmed by my crammed closet, and immediately organize a cull. Within hours, I’m headed to the thrift shop, laden down with bags but already feeling a little lighter.
Gratitude: The simple way to improve your health in a complex world
In a world of prescribed mindfulness, the practice of “gratitude” can get lost amongst the rhetoric of self-awareness and fluff of how to live your best life. What does it really mean to exercise gratitude — and more candidly, how does it benefit you?
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Good riddance, 2023! 🚮
Wishing you a wonderful new year, Amy! ❤️