I’m entering my 60s, and I’m happier and feeling emotionally and physically healthier than I’ve ever felt.
I’m dedicated to finding the root cause of what had an impact on my mental & physical health, and I truly did not know how bad it was.
After years of sliding down the scary slope of despair, I truly hit rock bottom in the summer of 2019.
But here’s the thing: I’m not one to give up on myself. No way, not me. Sure, I felt like crap and wanted to hide, but I knew I had it in me to bounce back. Deep down, this wasn’t the true me—I was merely a passenger in my own life, reacting rather than living.
So, I hit the books, literally. Spent hours at the library soaking up anything and everything about depression and anxiety. One thing I know for sure, I’m Miss Sunshine & Optimistic, but I was feeling more like Old Miss Irritable. The insights I gained from my readings turned into tools for transformation, and meditation became my anchor.
I searched for a new job and started my new position at Home Depot on November 4th, 2019. Things were looking up, but something still wasn’t quite right. Emotions were all over the place, and I couldn’t shake this brain fog. I had times when my emotions would take over, and if I started to cry, I couldn’t stop. I had to figure out what was wrong because this wasn’t me. I loved my job and the people I worked with, but I was having a hard time coping with certain situations, and I would find myself once again reacting rather than living.
I was listening to one of Tony Robbins books, and he said that dairy can cause an increase in mucus. I always felt like I had a cold, you know, that something stuck at the back of your throat.
So, I decided to stop all dairy, and within a few weeks, I couldn’t believe the difference. The fog began to lift, and I could feel the clearing of the mucus from the top of my nose to the back of my throat and even the difference in my ears.
The most striking difference I observed was the incredible clarity of my thoughts. I felt more connected with myself and experienced a genuine increase in happiness.
I continued my dairy-free diet, and I did feel better, but I was still having some moments where I would lose control of my emotions. I still had brain fog, couldn’t remember things, and sometimes had difficulty focusing, and I still had a hard time stopping the tears when they started.
I was describing how I felt to someone, and they told me that if they ate gluten, they felt like they had brain fog.
I went huh! That’s interesting, so I took gluten out of my diet in November 2020
WELL, OMG, it was crazy how things were changing in my brain. I could truly feel a release as if something had been tightly wrapped around my brain and it was melting away. I could feel the top of my brain/head like when a part of the body is waking up from having fallen asleep and you can feel the tingling, well, I could feel that, and then for the longest time, the top of my head was still feeling that numbness. It was unbelievable, but it was truly happening.
I was remembering the REAL ME, the “ME” I wanted my kids to see. It was the most wonderful thing.
I was starting to FEEL the JOY of BEING ME.
And that was just the beginning of my journey to reclaim my sparkle. Armed with my newfound wisdom and a hefty dose of self-love, I set out to nourish my body and soul. And let me tell you, the results have been nothing short of magical.
Sure, there have been bumps along the way. Bad days? You betcha. Each setback was a lesson, each triumph a testament to the power of nourishing both body and mind.
And get this—I stopped craving all the junk! Replaced by a newfound appreciation for foods that fueled my well-being. Yes, of course, I had days that I wanted ice cream, the McCain Deep and Delicious cake, or the poutine from New York Fries; those were my favorites. But I’ve learned to listen to my body and give it the love and care it deserves. The joy of feeling like the real me? Now that’s priceless.
Now, onto the less enjoyable moments. Determining which foods were negatively impacting my mental health was a bit like tackling a tasty yet exasperating puzzle. And let me tell you, the fallout from eating something wrong felt like a chaotic rollercoaster journey through a storm of emotions. I usually love roller coasters, but this one was far from fun.
First stop: Headache City. It felt like a never-ending battle with the mother of all headaches, and all I wanted to do was crawl back into bed and hide from the world.
But the fun didn’t stop there. Oh no, next up was the emotional rollercoaster. Picture this: one minute, I’m feeling down in the dumps, the next, I’m playing the blame game with myself. It’s like a bad rom-com, but with way more tears.
Then came the kicker: the regret loops. Wallowing in a pit of “what ifs” and “should haves.” These loops were exhausting, let me tell you.
But hey, here’s the silver lining: every storm eventually passes. After what felt like several years of riding the struggle bus, things started looking up. Bit by bit, I clawed my way back to feeling like me again.
Through this process, I realized that my journey wasn’t just about figuring out which foods to avoid; It was about understanding and honoring my body’s needs, and finding balance in all aspects of my life. I learned to listen to my body, to recognize the signals it was sending, and to respond with kindness and care.
Every day I find myself in a place of greater self-awareness and inner peace. And though I knew there would still be challenges ahead, I feel equipped to face them with the knowledge and strength I have gained.
Join me on a journey of living healthy in my encore years, and I hope that I inspire you to find YOUR journey to a healthier life.
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