Why Women Deserve More Than Just Survival
For too long, women in midlife have been told to quietly endure. To push through hot flashes, restless nights, and bone-deep exhaustion while keeping families, careers, and communities afloat.
The result? An entire generation of women living at the edge of their margins, operating at capacity with nothing left in reserve.
And just like in aviation, where a pilot knows that safety depends on having fuel and space to maneuver, our lives depend on the margins we protect. When the tank is empty, the system fails.
Health, Hormones, and Longevity: The Untold Story
The menopausal transition is not just about hot flashes or disrupted sleep. It’s a biological pivot point that influences everything from cardiovascular health to bone density, brain clarity, and emotional well-being.
The American Heart Association has named midlife as a critical prevention window. The FDA recognizes hormone therapy (MHT, formerly HRT) as an evidence-based option for specific menopausal conditions. Yet despite this, millions of women still face stigma, misinformation, or outright dismissal when they seek help.
The truth is clear: menopause is not the end of capacity. It’s the moment we decide how we want to live the rest of our lives.
Why This Matters Now
Next month is National Menopause Awareness Month, and the conversation is finally shifting. Across the U.S., lawmakers, health systems, and advocates are pushing to reframe menopause from something women “just endure” into a stage of life that deserves real care and support.
CNN recently highlighted this in Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s Chasing Life podcast: “A national movement”: More than a dozen states consider laws around menopause care and training for doctors (Jacqueline Howard, July 11, 2025).
The fact that menopause is making headlines and that state legislatures are considering new training requirements for physicians tells us this is more than a women’s health issue. It’s a cultural moment. And it’s time to seize it.
That’s why At Capacity couldn’t come at a better time.
What Aviation Taught Me About Midlife
After 35 years in the cockpit of heavy airplanes, I know what happens when margins disappear. Accidents don’t occur because one thing goes wrong; they happen when a dozen small factors collide and there’s no space left to recover.
Women’s health works the same way. Hormones shift, stress accumulates, sleep falters, and without recovery, we crash.
The solution isn’t pushing harder. It’s reclaiming clarity, capacity, and space so we can thrive, not just survive.
A First-of-Its-Kind Symposium
That’s why I created At Capacity: A Women’s Health & Leadership Symposium. A one-day event will take place on October 25, 2025, in Pittsburgh, PA.
It’s designed for women who carry so much, who give so much, and who rarely set it down. Together, we’ll explore:
- The latest science on midlife health and hormones.
- Practical ways to build capacity instead of burning through it.
- The power of community, sisterhood, and shared wisdom.
Because longevity isn’t just about years in your life. It’s about life in your years.
Your Invitation
If you’ve ever thought, How much longer can I keep this up? — This day is for you.
Join us on October 25th at The Club at Nevillewood. Step out of survival mode and into a season of strength, clarity, and connection.
Seats are limited. Look for detailed registration soon!
Until next time, always blue skies,
Reyné
Captain | Author | Aviation Wellbeing Advocate
Reyné O’Shaughnessy is a retired FedEx captain, TEDx speaker, author, and founder of the nonprofit Aviation Health and Wellbeing Institute (AHWI). With over 35 years in the cockpit and a lifelong commitment to advancing safety and performance in aviation, she now champions the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of high-performing professionals. Through AHWI and her national retreats, she creates bold spaces for women in aviation and beyond to recalibrate, rise, and return to themselves.
