Reflecting on my life as I turn 60 years young

Yesterday I turned 60 years young.

As I sit here this morning with my cup of herbal tea, watching the sun rise over Brighton, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for the journey that has brought me here. Not just the past year, but the entire winding path that led me to this moment.

I’ve been blessed with two beautiful sons who have grown into remarkable men, a loving husband who has walked beside me through every season, a wonderful daughter-in-law to be joining our family, and the most supportive extended family and close friends anyone could hope for.

The Road That Led Me Here

The journey to 60 hasn’t been a straight line. There have been valleys that felt impossibly deep at the time.

Losing both my parents too young left wounds that never fully heal. You carry that grief differently as the years pass, but it never truly leaves you. Those losses taught me that life is precious and finite, and that we must make the most of the time we’re given.

But perhaps the most transformative challenge came in my 40s when my own body seemed to turn against me.

I gained weight that wouldn’t budge no matter what I tried. I felt exhausted all the time, needed afternoon naps just to function, and my thinking felt foggy and slow. My hair was thinning, my mood was all over the place, and I just didn’t feel like myself anymore.

I went to doctors. I had blood tests. And I was told everything was “normal” or “within range.”

One doctor even said I was a “puzzle” and didn’t really know what to do with me. Another suggested it was just stress and perhaps I should try to relax more. Another implied it was just part of getting older and that I should accept it.

But deep down, I knew something wasn’t right. I knew my body was trying to tell me something important.

The Turning Point

Eventually I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid. Finally, a name for what I was experiencing. But even with medication, I still didn’t feel well. The weight stayed on. The fatigue persisted. I felt stuck.

That’s when I made a decision that changed everything.

I decided to study naturopathy, initially just to understand my own body better and to heal myself. I was tired of feeling dismissed and powerless. I wanted to understand what was really happening beneath the surface.

Through that journey of study and self-discovery, I found the Metabolic Balance® program. It was the first approach that made sense to me, that looked at my unique biochemistry through comprehensive blood testing and created a personalised nutrition plan specifically for my body.

Over time, I released 17 kilograms. My energy returned. The brain fog lifted. My thyroid function improved so much that I was able to reduce my medication significantly. But more than the physical changes, I felt like myself again.

Today, at 60, I genuinely feel better than I did at 50. Better than I did at 45. My body is stronger, my mind is clearer, and my spirit is lighter.

A New Purpose Emerged

What started as a personal healing journey became my life’s work and greatest blessing.

I realised that if I had felt so dismissed and confused, how many other women in midlife were going through the same thing? How many were being told their symptoms were “normal” or “just menopause” or “just part of ageing”?

I couldn’t unknow what I had learned. I couldn’t unsee the transformation that was possible when you truly understand your body and nourish it properly.

So I became a Metabolic Balance® coach. I continued studying, adding certifications in areas that would help me support women holistically, both the science and the soul of healing. Because I learned that sustainable change requires both the clinical understanding and the emotional support.

The Privilege to Serve

“Over the years, I’ve now had the privilege of guiding over 240 women through their own transformations. Women who were exactly where I was, feeling stuck and unheard and frustrated with their bodies.

Watching them release weight, regain energy, feel confident again, and reclaim their lives… that has been one of the greatest joys of my life.”

The Wisdom of 60

I’ve spent the past few days celebrating with family, some of whom travelled from interstate just to be here. My sister and I were laughing about how we wish we still had the bodies of our 21-year-old selves with the wisdom we have today. Because back then, we really were pretty much 10 out of 10, even if we didn’t appreciate it at the time.

But as we laughed, something shifted in me.

What I’ve come to realise is that we should be deeply grateful for these incredible bodies that have carried us through decades of life, love, learning and resilience.

Our bodies have allowed us to bring life into this world, to love deeply, to experience profound joy, to overcome challenges that once seemed insurmountable, and to keep moving forward through every season of life.

Yes, things have shifted and changed. Yes, our bodies at 60 are different from our bodies at 21 or 40. But they are still remarkable. They are still worthy of our care, our respect, our gratitude.

It is time we thank our bodies instead of fighting them.

It is time we nourish them as best we can because we only get one.

Caring For Our One Precious Body

Nourishing ourselves with the best whole foods, clean water, and mindful lifestyle choices isn’t just about how we look today or what the scales say tomorrow.

It’s about ensuring we can continue enjoying life’s special moments for many years to come. It’s about being present for our grandchildren. It’s about having the energy to travel, to create, to serve, to love fully.

It’s about waking up each morning feeling like ourselves rather than dragging through each day in a fog.

Life truly is a gift, and never something to take for granted.

I am grateful for the knowledge and skills that helped me transform my own health. I am grateful for every woman who has trusted me to guide her through her journey. I am grateful for the family and friends who have supported me along the way.

And I am grateful for this body that has carried me to 60, through every challenge and every triumph.

Looking Forward to a Bright and Healthy Future

Here’s to living fully today while caring for all our tomorrows.

Here’s to 60 and beyond.

May the years ahead be filled with continued health, deepening purpose, and countless moments of joy.

And may we all remember: nothing changes if nothing changes.

When we give our bodies what they truly need, when we nourish them with intention and gratitude, remarkable transformations are possible.

I’m living proof of that.

And if you’re reading this feeling stuck, dismissed, or frustrated with your own body, know this: you don’t have to accept feeling unwell as “just how it is now.” Your body is trying to tell you something. And with the right support and approach, you can feel like yourself again.

That’s my wish for all of us as we navigate these midlife years: to feel vibrant, energised, and fully alive.

Because 60? It’s just the beginning.

If you’re struggling with stubborn weight, fatigue, or feeling dismissed by conventional medicine, I’d love to support you. Book a complimentary 15-minute clarity call to explore whether personalised naturopathic support might be the missing piece you’ve been searching for.