Good attitude Lily.
I'm not far off 58 now and think that after 4 years of no periods the worst is definitely over for me. I still have the odd hot flush and the odd 'down' spell but overall I'm feeling good. It's WONDERFUL not having periods!
Okay my skin is getting dry and wrinkly and I don't have the energy I used to have, but I have more than some youngsters. I walk every day and three times a week I walk two miles to the gym, spend half an hour there, or swim, and walk back. I've had a few health worries, the most recent being my bowels, which turned out to be a bleeding polyp, but I'm okay.My sex life has taken a dramatic upturn ( which took me completely by surprise ) and is better than it ever was when I was young. I have a part-time job that I love and wouldn't mind doing a few more hours, and feel that I'm at my peak now, 'senior moments' and poor memory not withstanding.
My parents are gone alas, but at least I didn't have to see them slip into dementia and be put into a Home. The kids are still with us, and I do worry about them, especially my son who I can see still being with us when he's fifty, but apart from that, I've survived the menopause and a humongous mid-life crisis and come out smiling!