A simple errand turns into a crisis with a side of hot flashes.

Written By Jennifer Dalton

There are days you run to the bank, grab what you need, and go (I rarely use cash anymore) but…

I pulled up to the ATM, behind one car, with six people inside. That should’ve been my first clue.

But optimism (or maybe delusion) whispered, “How long could it take?” 

Six people. One car….at the ATM. That’s not a transaction, that’s a finance committee. Everybody needed something different someone gets cash, another doing a balance check, is someone making a deposit, and only one card between them? The rest are they there for moral support? GEEZ

Cue 18 minutes of sweating, overthinking, and asking myself deep questions like:

“Why is my heart racing like I just ran a 5K?”

“Why am I mad at everyone but mostly at nothing?”

Spoiler: The answer is perimenopause…….And possibly my inability to just walk inside the bank like a normal person.

By the time I got to the teller (yes, I went to a different lane) another vehicle was in front of me and delayed. I got stuck - another vehicle got behind me….I was convinced my transaction would be faster.

It was not.

All I needed was cash. WWhhy did it take a bunch of tellers so long to get to my withdrawal. The inside of the bank was empty. She smiled at me when she came back and said thank you for your patience (did I detect sarcasm in that inflection?) after she was chatting with others for at least 7 minutes…… Have you ever just sat silent for 7 minutes?……after already sitting in line - I was about to scream.

I could’ve gone through Chick-fil-A at lunchtime quicker. Which by the way I hadn’t had lunch and now didn’t have time to grab it before my next meeting. I need to get back to work.

Midlife often comes with invisible heat, impatience we can’t explain, and a whole lot of grace we’re still learning to give ourselves.

I need a cold towel and probably a new prescription.

My neck fan was at home (who thought I would need it today?) by the way if you don’t have one you can get it on this site!

Ladies if you understand …. take a minute to notice when your body needs a breather or a chicken sandwich. Maybe your soul needs a reset, don’t leave home without your fan, and your sense of humor might just save the day or at least the chatty tellers life LOL.

Jennifer Dalton

I’m a seasoned human services leader with over 20 years of experience walking with families through some of the hardest roads they’ll ever travel. I currently serve full time as an Associate Director in foster care, where my core focus has always been people.

I hold a master’s degree in human services, and I am a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), but more than any title, my work has been shaped by what I’ve learned in the trenches: how to show up with compassion, lead with integrity, and hold space for healing.

Lately, I’ve been planting seeds beyond the system. I am writing a book for women who’ve wandered off the path, fought their way back, and want to lead from a place of healing. It’s a continuation of the same mission: helping others reclaim their voice, their strength, and their direction.

I’m also a mom to three, a bonus mom to two, and a growing gang of grandchildren. They remind me daily that legacy isn’t built all at once it’s shaped moment by moment, through presence, purpose, and connection

My career has been forged in the fire of frontline work, and now I want to build a legacy. I’m always open to connecting with others who care deeply about people, systems, and the stories that shape us.

Previous

Making memories with less….is always more

Next

When solitude isn’t silence, it’s soul work.