#010: Just the way I am. The year of me
by Valerie |
There’s a line in Bridget Jones’s Diary, spoken by the iconic Mr. Darcy and lovingly repeated by Bridget’s friends: “Bridget, we love you just as you are.” This is the energy I’m carrying into 2025: Just as I am.
It’s only day 8 of the new year, and I’ve already been bombarded with countless messages telling me if only I did this or changed that, I’d finally be enough. These messages prey on years of societal conditioning and insecurities. Well, F that. This year, I’m loudly declaring: I am enough, just as I am.
The last five years have been heavy—personally and collectively. We’ve faced profound individual and societal traumas, and I’ve had to dig deep. Yes, I have flaws, and yes, I always will. But here’s the truth: I am not broken. I refuse to see myself as a project to be fixed.
When I reflect on the challenges I’ve faced, so many of them stem not from who I am but from the constructs of society. I’ve shrunk myself, hidden parts of myself, and denied my instincts. I’ve minimised who I am to fit into spaces that were never designed for me.
But no more.
Now, as I navigate the throes of perimenopause, I refuse to cover it up or pretend it’s not happening. This is something every woman experiences at some point, and it’s time we stop seeing it as something to endure quietly. Growing older is a privilege—one many are denied—and I refuse to feel shame about it. This is happening to me, but it doesn’t define me. I am not embarrassed. I am not ashamed.
“Shame must change sides”.
I’ve been reflecting on the words of Gisèle Pelicot over the holidays- undeniably the true hero of 2024.
While she spoke about the fight against sexual violence against women, her words resonate with so much of the female experience. The “New Year, New Me” narrative feeds into this same cycle of shame. The anti-aging culture has shame at it’s core.
Well, I refuse to feel shame for aging, for how I look, or for how I am evolving. I refuse to feel shame for the changes that my hormones are having on entire aspects of my life. I will no longer shrink myself, or deny what is happening to me to make others comfortable.
2025 is the year of me—exactly as I am.
And to remind me, this is my word of the year. My beacon, my guiding light. If it doesn’t ladder up to supporting me or helping me, then it’s not happening.
And it feels damn good to say it.
Steering your course for 2025
January often arrives with a tidal wave of expectations: start a new diet, hit the gym daily, conquer a thousand new habits. But let's be honest-January is the darkest, coldest month. It's the time to hibernate, not hustle!
Rather than a thousand new resolutions, how about just one word? Read Wizz’s blog on why she’s shunning the New Year’s resolutions and what you can do instead to set yourself up for the year ahead .
Discover Your Word Of The Year
Fresh Tips for Hormonal Balance & Energy Boost - Let’s Rethink That Glass Of Wine
We get it—after the holidays, it’s tempting to unwind with your favorite drink. But did you know alcohol can make perimenopause symptoms worse? From zapping your energy to messing with your hormones, that glass of wine might not be as harmless as it seems.
In our latest blog, we share why dialing back on booze can make a big difference, plus practical tips to cut down without feeling like you’re missing out. Think better sleep, more energy, and clearer skin—it’s worth a try, right?