The Back Side of the Curve

In Jazzercise, we frequently refer to an "Exertion Chart" to discuss where we are in our workout. During the beginning of the class, our bodies are heating up, our hearts are pumping a little faster and a little faster, as we work to reach and then sustain our maximum heart rate. After we are up there for a bit, we say we are "coming down the back side of the curve" as we begin to slow and our heart rate returns to normal.

I think our reproductive lives are like that. When we are young, our bodies are developing and maturing to enable us to have children and care for them...to build a family. And then at menopause we drop down over the curve as our bodies go into rest.

Many people see the back side of that reporductive curve as a scary thing. Chris and I talked about this yesterday.

I see it as the big reward. To me, I'm entering the phase of life that I have always looked forward to. I've got the kids, the great husband, a fairly decent home, a retirement nest egg building, and now I'm ready to start playing. Let those kids go off and have some of their own (or not), and I'll happily play with my food and my camera and read all the books I can get my hands on.