Lana

A year ago, I said something out loud that took everyone by surprise — including myself.

One day, I casually told my partner, “I’m applying to university to study physiotherapy,” and I went ahead with it.

I faced every challenging step: filling out applications, writing a personal statement, attending interviews, dealing with doubts in my head about my job commitments, my kids’ arrangements, my English language level… and whether I was simply “too old” for the university.

Meanwhile, I passed GCSE English required for enrollment and I got accepted into a Physiotherapy course, and before I even had time to process it all, I was writing academic assignments, giving presentations, sitting exams… and finishing my first year with top marks😲

Very proud of myself.

Just three more years, and I’ll be walking across the stage with a Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy 🎓

✋I don’t want to end up like that!

Today, sitting in a clinic, waiting for my routine blood test, I watched older people slowly moving around me.

Some were in their late 60s, some in their 70s… and every small movement of theirs looked like a struggle. Standing up, walking a few steps, then sitting down again, was a huge challenge for them.

And something inside me tightened.
I don’t want to end up like that!

Only a few have lost their mobility due to a major accident. Most older people have lost it due to a lack of physical activity: muscle strength, bone density, joint and spine stability.

About 1 in 6 women over 50 will experience a hip fracture because of low muscle and bone mass due to a sedentary lifestyle and low estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause.

That’s why strength training and joint exercises feel so important to me. I do it not so much for looks but for my future self. So I can keep my freedom, independence and dignity for as long as possible.

If your future self could speak to you right now… what would they beg you to start doing today?

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I’m 44, and I think I might be entering perimenopause.
That's a completely normal phase of change at this age.

Every woman experiences this in her own way, so there’s really no reason to be afraid or embarrassed; it’s simply a natural part of life.

Today, I plan to see my doctor to talk about how I can support myself through this somewhat uncomfortable stage of women's life.

I’ve been looking into hormone replacement therapy, but I still feel a bit unsure because hormones can be so personal and unpredictable.

And it seems like perimenopause isn’t fully understood yet—while menstruation and menopause are widely studied, this in-between stage often doesn’t get as much attention.

Of course, HRT isn’t the only route. It’s just as important to focus on other things such as strength training, relaxation, good sleep, and a nutritious diet.

Strength training is especially crucial for maintaining muscle and bone health, since bone density and muscle mass decline more quickly during peri- and postmenopause.

I already include these elements in my routine, and I truly believe that everything works best when taken as a holistic approach.

I’d love to hear from other women who have tried HRT and what helped you most during this transition.

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I think I’m genuinely a happy person, not because my life is perfect, but because I notice beauty in everyday moments—sunlight, blooming flowers, loved ones next to me, and simply being blessed to wake up today and continue my lifetime journey of growth.

Of course, I feel sad or overwhelmed at times, but most of the time I’m grateful for life.

Maybe happiness isn’t about a perfect life but learning to see the beauty in the one you have.

What’s made you happy recently?

☀️A few sunny memories from our trip to Dubrovnik in August 2025 🇭🇷

I just realised I never shared the photos and videos from our trip to Porto in October 2024.

I found these memories on my phone by chance today — and instantly felt that warm rush of nostalgia. Porto has a way of wrapping you in its magic: golden sunsets, cobbled streets, the sound of the river, and that feeling that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

Leaving these moments here as a little love note to a city that stayed with me long after the trip ended.

Imagine snuggling up by the fireplace on a crisp November evening, surrounded by soothing music and the comforting aroma of hot tea... ☕🥰

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