Either / Or, But Not Both

Don’t you hate it when you can’t have it all? Why do we have to choose one thing or the other. And why is it that, no matter what we choose, we forfeit something else. Why does it always have to be either / or? Why can’t it be both?

It’s one of those things with which we struggle from the time we’re tiny tots until we’re menopausal madams. And no matter how much we balk, it just seems to be a law of nature. Life is all about trade-offs and priorities. It’s truly the stuff of life.

If you think about it, our very existence depends on our choices. We choose according to our priorities. And no matter what we choose, we incur trade-offs.

There’s an interesting television show, called House Hunters. It presents people who are moving and need to find a place to live. They visit three properties, and have to choose one. Inevitably, their decision boils down to trade-offs and priorities.

One home is in the city center, within walking distance to everything ... but it’s small and noisy. And because it’s so conveniently located, it’s expensive.

Another home is far from the city, but much larger and quieter. They’ll get more for their money. But they’ll have to drive farther to work every day, and they’ll have to drive to stores, restaurants, maybe even neighbors.

The third home has features of the other two, but nothing they really love.

So their choice boils down to priorities. Either they choose the home that offers their priorities at the expense of forfeiting the things they hold less dear, or they change their priorities to take advantage of something else.

Your menopause management is all about trade-offs and priorities, too.

Let’s say you’re an Earth Mother. You love all things “natural.” And you want to manage your menopause with nothing but herbs and acupuncture.

But you’ve learned that menopause isn’t just about hot flashes. It’s about heart attacks, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s Disease. And you have a very high risk of both osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s.

You absolutely need to do everything you can to prevent both of these devastating diseases.

The problem is that Menopause Taylor has taught you that herbs and acupuncture can only partially and temporarily alleviate your short-term symptoms of menopause. They cannot do anything to prevent either osteoporosis or Alzheimer’s.

And you’ve learned that hormone replacement therapy will absolutely prevent both.

Hmmm. You struggle with your options.

Do you stick to your preference for “natural” remedies and forfeit prevention of these life-threatening diseases? Or do you rearrange your priorities and opt for taking hormones to prevent the adverse long-term consequences of menopause?

Here’s another example:

You’re at very high risk of heart attack. You have a strong family history, struggle with weight gain, hate exercise. You just got your blood work done, and learned that you have high cholesterol and high triglycerides.

You know you have to do something. But what?

You’re a foodie. You love to cook. The only thing you love more than cooking is eating.

Recently, you tuned into Menopause Taylor’s YouTube videos. And you learned that you can almost negate your risk for a heart attack by eating a 100% plant-based diet. Then you read several books on the subject.

By golly, you realize that it’s true! You really can prevent a heart attack with plants. Just go vegan, eat nothing from an animal, and voilá, your worries will be behind you.

Problem is, you love meat ... and dairy. The more you eat it, the more you love it. Why, oh why does giving it up have to be the solution to your problem. Can’t you have your meat and dairy, and beat a heart attack, too?

What's your priority?

Do you give up meat and dairy, automatically lose weight, get creative in the kitchen cooking new vegan dishes, and forget about fearing a heart attack?

Or do you keep eating your heart-unhealthy diet, fearing a heart attack with every delicious bite?

It’s either / or. You can’t have it both ways.

Regardless of the trade-offs, and regardless of what you choose to do, the goal is to be happy with your choice ... not only now, but for the rest of your life.

The choices are all yours. And so are the priorities.