In a few short days the month of September will be upon us.  As I type these words, I can physically feel my stomach flip-flopping and a knot beginning to form.  What’s wrong with September you ask?  Technically … nothing  … I do enjoy the last days of summer and the soon-to-be fall weather.

But my oldest daughter’s birthday and the day she died are both in the month of September.  September brings up so many memories … both the good and the painful.

Holy Vagina, Batman! One week until the release of What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend! In anticipation of the big launch day (Sept 28), this week we are pleased to publish exclusive excerpts and blogs by our very own Dr. Lissa Rankin. Today's excerpt is on the time that shall not be named - well anywhere else, that is: Menopause. Check out Lissa's experiences and personal exploration of this time that most women dread and how we can embrace it with the kick-butt power and grace that make us uniquely female... Enjoy!

I used to dread menopause, as many of my patients do.

Who wants to endure hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, brain fog, insomnia, vaginal dryness, skin changes, and weight gain? But as this life transition draws closer to me, I find myself shedding my fear and beginning to embrace it. I would never want to move backwards in my life. Each year is filled with lessons learned and growth experiences. God forbid I should ever have to relive my twenties, full of insecurities, vanity, pride, and selfish choices. And my thirties, while vastly better than my twenties, were largely a time of walking through life like a zombie, asleep to my true calling, too busy DOING to just BE. Now, I’m in my forties, and I’m loving it.  I’m getting smile lines and grey hair and age spots, but I really don’t give a flip. Sure, the radiance of youth may fade as we age, but we glow with a different kind of light as we step into who we are truly meant to be.

Today, we say goodbye to Owning Pink as we know it. Just over a year ago, I launched Owning Pink as my blog, where I would chronicle my journey of getting my mojo back. But we have outgrown the blog format I have come to know as home for the past year. Tomorrow, we launch the new site, and Owning Pink will be making some major shifts. I’ve had mixed feelings about this.

Hiya, Pinkies. I've been getting lots of inquiries - especially on Twitter - asking what Owning Pink is all about. What's the story? Why Pink? What is Mojo? How can Owning Pink help me? I realized that while there are stories and snippets here and there on the site, the whole shebang isn't in one place. And so, without further ado, here is the story about how I lost and found my Mojo, and decided it was time for me - and for all of us - to start Owning Pink.