Declaration of (Hormonal) Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that midlife is not a crisis—it’s a catalyst. That we are still becoming. That we are not too old, too emotional, or too late to feel strong, radiant, and wildly alive. 

For too long, women have been expected to quietly endure the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause—brushing off the brain fog, apologizing for the mood swings, laughing off the night sweats, and pushing through the exhaustion. But no more. 

This is our midlife manifesto. 

This is our declaration of hormonal independence. 

We will no longer apologize for putting ourselves first. 

Our families, our careers, our communities—we’ve given our all. But taking care of ourselves isn’t selfish. It’s essential. We’re done pouring from an empty cup. 

We will no longer feel ashamed of our changing bodies. 

Hormones shift. Weight redistributes. Skin changes. That doesn’t make us broken—it makes us beautifully human. Every wrinkle, every stretch mark, every laugh line tells a story worth honoring. 

We will no longer be gaslit by outdated medical advice. 

We deserve to be heard, supported, and offered real solutions—not told “it’s just aging” or “it’s all in your head.” Our symptoms are real. Our voices are powerful. Our health matters. 

We will no longer chase diets that diminish us. 

Food is not our enemy. It’s culture, it’s comfort, it’s connection. We choose to nourish—not punish—our bodies. We fuel for strength, not for someone else’s standards. 

We will no longer shrink ourselves to make others comfortable. 

Midlife is not the time to get smaller. It’s the time to take up space—in conversations, in leadership, in joy, in desire. We’re not fading—we’re rising. 

We will no longer ignore our intuition. 

If something feels off, we listen. If something feels right, we follow it. We’ve earned our wisdom. It’s time we trust it. 

This July 4th, let’s celebrate freedom in every form. 

The freedom to speak up. 

The freedom to rest. 

 The freedom to move our bodies with joy, not judgment. 

 The freedom to pursue dreams that still burn inside us. 

 The freedom to say: This is my life. And I’m not done yet. 

 Hormonal independence isn’t about being symptom-free—it’s about being self-aware, self-led, and self-honoring. 

 And at Shala, we’re here for all of it.