Hi Reader,
​
Welcome to the start of my weekly newsletter.

Make yourself comfortable in this little corner of the internet, and check in every Monday around 12pm EST.

Think of this as sitting together in my living room or in a circle at a destination yoga retreat, asking honest questions about life, relationships, purpose, and what it means to become fully ourselves in midlife.

I'm Melanie, a therapist, coach, yoga practitioner, former personal trainer, author, and endlessly curious student of life.

If you're a woman in midlife like me, you've probably found yourself wondering:

"Is this it?"

If so, I think you're in the right place because I've been asking these questions about the meaning of life for my entire life.

You might be wondering why I call myself "The Lemon Lady." That's because my sister affectionately tells me I have a gift for turning lemons into lemonade. Looking back, I'll take the compliment. I'm like a cat falling out of a tree, hitting every branch but somhow I always land on my feet.

I've survived two divorces.

Eighteen years of high-conflict parallel-parenting.

The loss of my mom to an aggressive cancer while I was in graduate school.

Religious deconstruction.

And an alcohol habit that wasn't reckless or destructive, but was quietly perpetuating and prolonging my suffering.

For years, I waited for someone to give me permission:

Permission to leave.

Permission to trust my instincts.

Permission to choose myself and my son.

Permission to disappoint people, for choosing myself and my son.

It never came.

Eventually, I realized I had to give myself permission.

That realization became the foundation of my work.

I don't believe women need another expert (or "friend") telling them what to do. I believe many of us have spent years deferring our power and outsourcing our authority—to partners, pastors, parents, culture, fear, guilt, or obligation.

My work is about helping women reclaim that power.

To trust their own inner wisdom again.

To build lives filled with purpose, meaningful relationships, healthy community, and the courage to make difficult decisions.

I don't have any answers for you.

But, I believe you do, and sometimes all we need is a safe place to feel, seen, heard and valued while we untangle and wrestle with our thoughts.

Each week I'll share reflections on psychology, relationships, yoga philosophy, and the crazy wild rollercoaster ride of being human.

My hope is that this becomes more than a newsletter. I hope it becomes a gathering place for women seeking something far more palatable than the "lemons" life inevitably hands us.

Before I close, here is a question for you kick around:

Where in your life are you still waiting for permission when, deep down, you already know the answer?

If anyone is willing to reply, I'll anonymously share the common themes in next week's newsletter. My hope is that, in hearing one another's stories, we'll realize we're far less alone than we think.

Until next week,

Melanie 🍋