How women experience and reflect on menopause is quite different, as several reports highlight the struggles and side-stories of the same. Sara Beattie, a UAE-based Positive Psychology Practitioner, and Menopause Coach, presented her findings from the “The Age of Renewal” research study at the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) World Congress in Brisbane, Australia, held from July 2-5.
The Age of Renewal is a global storytelling initiative co-created by Sara Beattie and Denmark’s Jannie Stricker; the study invites women worldwide to share their thoughts, memories, and perceptions through their chosen creative mediums.
To date, 29 submissions have been received from countries such as the UAE, Denmark, Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Italy, and the UK, spanning different formats like painting, poetry, collage, nail art, and ceramics.
Instead of proposing traditional data, the collaboration chose to convey the study’s insights in the form of a poem, weaving together feedback from participants alongside visual narratives.
“We are grateful to the women who shared their experiences with us, offering an intimate and diverse look at their journeys,” shared Sara, Positive Psychology Practitioner, Menopause Coach, and Co-Author of The Age of Renewal.
She added, “It was an honor to present their stories to an academic audience and shed light on the global impact of menopause. While common themes included physical and emotional pain, confusion, frustration, and isolation, there was also a strong sense of renewal and possibility. The Age of Renewal is titled to challenge perceptions of menopause as the ‘age of despair’ and celebrate it as both a natural biological event and a time for self-reflection, growth, and new beginnings.”
Sara also continued, “The fact that our project was the only menopause-related submission at the congress underscores the ongoing pressing need for increased awareness and meaningful support. This is just the beginning for us, and we will continue to receive submissions to expand this powerful narrative. By including voices from the UAE, we’re helping to bridge cultural gaps and expand what menopause support can look like in a multicultural society.”
The Age of Renewal empowers women to break the silence and also to accept menopause as a moment of strength, transformation, and possibility. The ongoing project invites women from all walks of life to contribute, ensuring that the conversation continues to evolve, offering hope, healing, and a deeper sense of connection across global communities.
As the end of the research presentation poignantly expressed in the participants’ words: “This is not a closing. It is a new dawn. It is a journey with hope. This is The Age of Renewal. And we are not going back.”
