We’ve all heard about the pillars of wellness: movement, nutrition, sleep, stress, social connection—there are many others. The following vignette is based on a recent experience from my neighborhood walks.
Can you find how many pillars are in this story AND how many peri/menopause symptoms are impacted? Answers are at the end!
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I’m not a tree-hugger in the modern (disparaging?) use of that term. But, I do love nature and I appreciate efforts to coexist in harmony, even in our complex urban environments.
I’m also acutely aware of the uneven sidewalks caused by tree roots, often making neighborhood walks quite hazardous. I have tripped on more than one occasion, thankfully catching myself each time.
Every autumn I pass by a particular Japanese maple in the neighborhood. This tree is literally embracing the tall tree trunks next to it in all its glory.
A few weeks ago, I spotted a sign put up by the Seattle Department of Transportation on the main tall tree trunk. It announced that SDOT would try their best to retain this tree (and one other nearby tree) during an imminent sidewalk repair project, but that they might have to remove it.
As the project got underway, I could see that the wood framing was slightly bowed to accommodate the main tree trunk. I was relieved to see that both trees were going to be spared.
After the sidewalk and surrounding concrete slabs had been removed, I stopped to talk with a mother and her 4 year-old son. He was gazing at the uncovered earth. I said it was amazing to see what was under our feet when we walked on a sidewalk or a street. We were standing next to the curb and he looked down at his feet in wonder.
A day later while walking past the newly-poured concrete, I stopped to say thank you to the crew. They were happy to chat for a moment, so I took out my phone and scrolled to the autumn leaves picture. One worker had just said he thought the tree was dead—after all, it is only March. But, after looking at my picture he exclaimed, “sh*t, that’s amazing!” I passed the pic around and each one had a similar reaction.
I must say that “safety first” was their mantra even when they posed together for a group shot—one stood behind me in the street to make sure I wasn’t run over by a car.
Answers:
How many pillars: 3—movement on a daily walk, stress-reduction in urban nature, social connection with the SDOT crew and the little boy.
How many peri/menopause symptoms are impacted: 12—hot flashes, night sweats, weight loss, sleep disruption, body image, stress & life changes, mental health, musculoskeletal changes, chronic disease, fatigue, cancer, libido…and likely a lot more!
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Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD is an internal medicine physician who provides telemedicine medical consultation and advocacy for patients in WA state, and professional career pivot navigation support for physicians in the US. Find her at myMDadvocate.
Her book, The Menopause Menu, is an all-in-one giftbook, medical guide and recipe book for navigating menopause.