#midlife

#midlife

I did my J-1 in Chicago at a time the Cubs were still cursed by the Billy Goat, French fries were 'freedom fries', Tom Brady and Kobe Bryant were the new sporting icons, and La Résistance were the WWE's biggest villains. I was part of the college student droves that skittle into various cities, towns and resorts across America, each summer. I travelled to Chicago alone, with ER episodes and a barely touched Lonely Planet as the height of my research.

One of the most powerful things that happens with age is that you become more comfortable in your skin. The self-consciousness that may have clouded your earlier experiences often gives way to clarity. You know what you like. You've had time to figure out how your body responds, what brings you joy, what bores you, and what's a hard no. That kind of knowledge is sexy and empowering.

Miranda July's novel 'All Fours' has become a cultural touchstone for women in perimenopause, prompting widespread discussion and personal stories among its readers.