Patti Labelle said it best: "I've Got A New Attitude"

I was a teenager in the 1980's so the majority of my personal and pop culture references fall out of this decade. Patti Labelle was the queen of pop in the 80's and her song "I've Got A New Attitude" has become my menopause anthem. I'll put the lyrics up at the end.

It's almost a new year. 2014. I've been doing this blog since my menopause hit full steam in January 2013, so it's almost a full year of hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, and blogging. I've learned a great deal of medical facts, some tried and true methods of dealing with symptoms, and a great deal about myself as a person and as a woman. I've shared, hopefully educated, and probably amused you all at one point with my anecdotes about this time in my life. But I have learned one very important thing that I'd like to share now, since the beginning of a new year is upon us in a few hours: No matter what life throws our way, no matter how horrible, stressful, or angst producing life can get, ATTITUDE is everything.

When I started with hot flashes I went through such a myriad of negative and depressing emotions that I was hell to live with - even for me! When the weight gain came, I was considering gastric bypass surgery ( I didn't qualify medically, a thought that should have made me happy, but didn't). When the mood swings started I began isolating myself more and more to where there were times I didn't leave the house for a few days. Not exactly the prescription for a mental health cure.

Two months ago, something suddenly changed inside me: my attitude about all this. I can sit in my house, flashing and gaining weight, all alone and miserable; or I can approach this time in a different way, one that will help guide me to it's eventual completion and come out on the bright side of life instead of the dark side. And believe it or not, what suddenly happened was that I heard "A new Attitude" on the radio one day on an oldies channel. It may sound silly, or corny, or both, but when I started singing along with the song in the car, my entire body lifted. Was it coincidence? The hand of God? Simple fate ( or faith) that I just so happened to be driving and listening to that station that day - a station I don't listen to at all-? I don't know. The answer may be as elusive as unicorn sightings. But I do know I've changed my perspective and my attitude about the whole menopause process - and for the better.

When midnight comes and the New Year rings in, remember this line from the song "I'm in control, my worries are few, I've got a new attitude!"

Happy New Year!

"I've Got  A New Attitude"
Runnin' hot, runnin' cold
I was runnin' into overload, it was extreme
I took it so high, so low
So low, there was nowhere to go like a bad dream

Somehow the wires uncrossed, my tables were turned
Never knew I had such a lesson to learn

I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
I tidied it up my point of view
I got a new attitude!

I'm in control, my worries are few
'Cause I've got love like I never knew
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo
I got a new attitude!

I'm wearing a new dress, new hair
Brand new ideas, as a matter of fact I've changed for good
It must have been the cool night, new moon, slight change
More than to figure oh but I feel like I should, yes

Somehow the wires uncrossed, my tables were turned
Never knew I had such a lesson to learn

I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
I tidied it up my point of view
I got a new attitude

I'm in control, my worries are few
'Cause I've got love like I never knew
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo
I got a new attitude
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo

Somehow the wires uncrossed, my tables were turned
Never knew I had such a lesson to learn

I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
I tidied it up my point of view
I got a new attitude

I'm in control, my worries are few
'Cause I've got love like I never knew
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo
I got a new attitude
Feelin', feelin'
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
From my head to my shoes
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
I'm loving you
(I got a new attitude)
I got a new, new attitude!
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
Everything about be has changed
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
Baby I ain't the same
(I got a new attitude!)
Oh I got a new, I got a new
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
I got a brand new, brand new
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
I got a new attitude.

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