Finding Your New Pink

There's a popular phrase right now for postpartum women,

"Getting my pink back".

The concept relates to how flamingos experience a major shift, physically and emotionally, when caring for their babies. This shift, similar to a postpartum woman's body, is a result of major hormone shifts and nutrient depletion in order to provide for their newborns. The process causes the flamingo's typical vibrant pink hue to dull. Once the flamingo has past the immediate postpartum phase, their hormones balance out, and their nutrients return - their beautiful joyous glow of pink returns.

There is a prominent shift that occurs for every postpartum woman. The transition from being a vessel of complete selflessness, giving everything you can to your beautiful baby (pregnancy, birth, postpartum, breastfeeding) - to an individual entity again.

Getting your pink back is about shifting your focus (even if its just a little bit) back to yourself. Filling your own cup again. Feeling yourself.

As I enter this new phase of motherhood, I am choosing to take a spin on the "pink" concept.

I am not looking to get my pink BACK. I am looking to find my NEW pink.

What they say about motherhood completely changing your life has rang so true for me. Every single aspect of my life has been touched by this new role. I am a different partner to my husband, I see my own parents in a new light, I prioritize commitments differently, I value deep friendships more.

Maybe this isn't the case for every new mother, but I feel I cannot go back to my old identity, and I don't want to!

While, of course, I will take aspects of my old self into this new chapter, I am curious to explore who this new woman is. I am curious to find my new pink. What brings color to my new self.

What do I value?

What do I want to spend my more precious time and energy focused on?

How can I support myself, and be supported by others in this new role?

How do I find balance with these new responsibilities?

Follow me on this journey of self discovery. I will call this series:

Operation - New Pink