wintering as a part of perimenopause

As we arrive at the darkest stretch of the year, nature asks us to do something we often resist: slow down, turn inward, and honour the quiet work that’s been happening beneath the surface.

Wintering — in seasons of life just as in perimenopause — is rarely glamorous. It can feel like sitting in the dark without knowing exactly what will grow from it. But if there’s one thing this time of year teaches us, it’s this: Light always returns. And the work you’ve been doing in the dark matters more than you probably realise.

aN Invitation: Pause + Acknowledge

At this time of year we’re often in head down "get through the holidays" mode, or simply looking ahead to next year — planning, layering in next steps, thinking about what’s next in our health, our habits, our hormones, our lives. But before we leap forward, the solstice offers us a moment to look back and ask:

How far have I already come?

What small shifts have changed the trajectory of my year? What did I quietly, patiently, courageously build into my life — even if no one else saw it? Who helped me along the way?

Sometimes the biggest transformations aren’t sudden or dramatic. They are the tiny, persistent layers — the 1% shifts, the new boundaries, the earlier bedtime, the labs we finally understood, the workout patterns that began to click, the moment you said “I am ready to feel better.”

Those small steps add up. And they shape where you find yourself today.

Take a moment to honour that. You earned it, and it matters.

What I’m Celebrating in You This Year

This year, I’ve been privileged to witness some of the most extraordinary transformations in my patients — often long before they even realized what was happening.

I watch the profound internal shifts. I see the resilience that emerges through discomfort. I observe the clarity that unveils itself after months of wading “in the muck.”

And I want to tell you something honestly and lovingly:

The people who achieve the most profound transformations are rarely the ones who “do everything perfectly.” They are the ones who keep showing up for themselves by practicing self-compassion when it's hard, and asking for help when they need it.

Even on the weeks when they feel "behind". Even when life is messy (which is usually always!). Even when perimenopause brings its own version of darkness.

They lean on their community. They schedule and keep their follow-ups. They check in, even if it has been a long time. They start over if they need to. They allow me to strategize with them, support them, redirect them — again and again.

It’s the returning, the accountability, the compassion for themselves that compounds.

And it works. Every time.

If You Feel Like You’re in the Dark Right Now…

Perimenopause can absolutely feel like a solstice season — long, confusing, shadowed, unpredictable. But you are not alone in it. This is the part of the journey where things can feel sticky, messy, or uncertain.

And yet — this is also where the most meaningful transformation begins.

As we move toward the returning light, I hope you know:

✨ Nothing you’ve done this year was wasted.

✨ You’ve been growing, even if it felt like standing still.

✨ Support is part of the process, not a sign of falling short.

✨ I see you, I believe you, and you are never alone.

Wishing You a Restful, Reflective Solstice

May this season bring you gentleness, steadiness, confidence, and pride in the person you already are and in who you are becoming. May you feel the warmth of your choices and what you’ve already built this year. And may the returning light remind you that clarity is always on the horizon.

With warmth and gratitude, Laurie