Today I am reviewing Alison Buehler’s book,

 

Um, guys. I actually had to do this before I wrote this post:

Yes. I actually had to use the computer to help me figure out how old I am. This is due, perhaps, this wonderful thing called Getting Older. Or, I could just say, math is hard.

Either way, it’s the brain. My brain is half a century old now, and y’all,  it is a little tired.

Here is what I know about getting older:

1. I am not sure I like it.
2. Although… if I really was honest I am pretty positive being twenty again would be awful.
3. So there you go.

Over a year ago, I found that my Facebook page was starting to post endless Amazon adds for things like multivitamins and moisturizers and one piece swimsuits that LIFT EVERYTHING UP. Amazon used to be all, Hey! Here’s some fabulous books and new lipstick shades, but now I get things like ads for Glucerna.

 

I’m so not kidding. I just looked and that’s what was waiting for me. And NO I am not slamming on diabetics but come on. Yesterday it was wigs. WIGS.

Alison Buehler’s book to the rescue!

Well, wait. Alison would interrupt me right here and say, nicely, that I don’t need rescuing from aging. I just need some answers and some really honest and clear information, which she provides, to help me embrace this process. She wrote Rethinking Women’s Health after her challenging journey of searching, rather desperately, for answers about her own health issues. It is this honest, personal, and “I’ve been there” perspective that really hooked me.

After reading the book in one night,  I came up with a list of reasons you might also want to read Rethinking Women’s Health.

4 Things Women Can Do To Take Back Their Health:

1. Take back their health. For real. The whole googling your symptoms and ending up with You Have Two Weeks to Live thing – yes, that can happen. But really? Buehler makes some really valid points about the wealth of good information out there to help women with their questions. She provides great tips on accessing this information in a thorough and thoughtful manner.
2. Take time to appreciate your age, the difficulties, the challenges, and the milestones. A large portion of this book talks about “Rites of Passage” for all ages – from preteen to the elderly. One very daunting warning she gives us if we don’t: something called “stunted adults” and “eternal children.” *shudder*. It’s happening. A lot. Read about it so you can avoid it in your household.
3. Take a look at how you see yourself. Buehler dedicates a large portion of the book to motherhood. At first I was all, “Yea, yea I know, mothers are important.” But her description of true caregiving was inspiring. And challenging.
4. Take roll: Periods. Uteruses. (Uteri?) Vaginas. Sex. Menopause. Hormones. Mindfulness. Oh, yea, and oils vs. Tylenol, and that gooey, pink antibiotic the doctors always give your kids…  She covers all that too. And a bag of chips. Kale chips.

The thing is, I didn’t walk away from this book feeling discouraged or overwhelmed. Her book has humor, lots of narrative from other women, and a readability that encourages. She is proposing that we all can have something called “Sustainable Wellness” – which really means, as Voltaire put it:

“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us ourselves to give us the gift of living well.”

I can’t say I came up with the use of Voltaire all on my own. Alison had his quote as a chapter heading and really, it kinda sums up this whole blog post. I should have just spun out that quote and did a mic drop.

But then, you and I wouldn’t have had this time together, and we need that. Sister time. Alison would agree.

If you would like to know more about the book and Alison, here is her website. And, did you know? Every summer, she helps lead something called Dangerous Boys Camp. My boys would love this. Is that not the coolest?

This book is pretty cool. Give it a read. Or, as Voltaire ALSO said,

“Women have totally crazy, complicated bodies. Don’t freak. Get the info.”

Ok. No. That wasn’t Voltaire. That was all me.