Dearest Reader,

I have been lacking in publishing pieces of my own and others. I haven’t even been re-publishing popular pieces, and for that, I apologize. I hate it when I’m following a blog, website, or anything online, and all of a sudden, there’s radio silence, so I wanted to offer an apology.

Life has been lifing, and in it, my priorities shifted.

If you follow my personal blog, then you’ve heard about the surgery I had on my rotator cuff and bicep tendon on January 20th. As a result, I had to determine where to focus my writing and creative energy: my personal blog, work, and revisions for my upcoming memoir took precedence.

But I’m back thinking deeply about the direction of this platform.

The other day, a couple of friends sent me Oprah’s latest initiative. She has joined the ranks of other celebrity midlife women who are being honest about perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause.

I think it’s great, but the way they’re going about it is not.

In order to hear what Drew Barrymore, Maria Shriver, Gayle King, and experts in the field have to say about menopause and what is helpful, you have to pay $35-$85 per year to access the information. I can’t even read this article, unless I have a subscription.

But eggs are EIGHT dollars right now! And depending on where you live in the United States, gas is five dollars a gallon.

In the Information Age, I think information should be free. However, I understand that in the Information Age, there are only a few trusted voices. And in a capitalistic society, even information is commodified; consequently, only those who can afford to be healthy, will be.

I have always loved Oprah and her platform, but I think this direction perpetuates what has always occurred when it comes to health in the United States—women’s wellbeing continues to be a social class issue by keeping information behind a paywall.

Anywho. Two years ago, I created Navigating the Change to support pre-middle-aged and middle-aged women to understand our bodies, because not only had the elders in my family been quiet about these issues, so had Oprah and them.

I must admit that procuring writers who don’t mind sharing about their journeys has been difficult. Getting women to share about their bodies, how they feel about aging, and what really happens when you experience the menopausal journey, which doesn’t end once you’re through menopause, has been a challenge.

So far, I’ve been successful. Many of my blogging buddies, friends, and even colleagues have contributed. Last year’s body-positivity contest went well, and as a result, I was able to publish runners up and winners, who encouraged us all to feel a little better about ourselves when we look in the mirror; however, running a contest sans sponsorship takes much effort. Even the woman who worked with me to bring it to fruition solved her perimenopausal issues and returned to work.

To be honest, I almost decided to ditch this site, but then I thought about the Oprah thing, and realized this platform is not only relevant, but also necessary.

So, I’m sticking to it.

I appreciate every contributor who has put herself out there, and I’m grateful for every email subscriber and reader.

New content is coming soon. Content from doctors and experts will always be vetted. Essays from women will always center life experience. And guess what? You’ll never have to pay for it 😉