Today is my birthday, a perfect occasions to be grateful for the blessings in life. Among the great number of them, I want to thank you, my audience, for the one you bestow upon me, which is the best gift you could possibly give me: your support.
My music exists to be heard and enjoyed. It’s extremely fulfilling to watch people connect with it at gigs or through videos. Every replay, every comment, every recommendation, every like that you give to my work helps me and validates me in ways that perhaps you wouldn’t suspect.
Here, an example: a few weeks ago, I saw an advert for a campaign while visiting a shopping mall. Their hashtag is #BecauseOfMyAge, and it seeks to celebrate older women. I quite liked the idea. Due to the strict and often arbitrary standards of our society—which let themselves feel even more strongly in the entertainment industry—many women are horrified at the prospect of ageing, and of their age being visible and known. Some obsess with cosmetic products and procedures, torturing themselves with mirrors. Others cave in and stop taking care of their health and wellbeing, apparently deciding that, because they don’t consider their signs of ageing beautiful, their body isn’t worthy of love any longer.
This cannot be. It’s vital that we keep loving and enjoying ourselves, doing what we can to preserve our health and strength in order to live our lives to the fullest. It’s also vital to be aware of the fact that age is a natural and unavoidable process, there to be experienced, not suffered. This is one of the reasons I campaign to make the effects of menopause known. It’s part of getting older, and fearing it or trying to deny it just makes it more difficult.
Whenever someone, after having read or heard me talk about menopause, approaches me to further discuss the topic, my heart soars. I am thankful to be heard in regard to something I care deeply about. I’m also thankful for the confirmation that there are audiences for every musician out there. We don’t have to comply with the unrealistic and baseless standards the media gives us in order to have someone appreciate our music and message.
Whilst I’m not a senior citizen yet, I am an older woman, one who became even one year older today. I am a menopausal musician with the most wonderful audience, one that supports me, listens to what I do, and allows me to give back, building community.
What else could I wish for?
