Yeah nah — I’ll settle for the increasingly old me, thanks.
Vanity aside (and ouch, by the way), I’m perfectly happy remaining Insta‑unsuitable. I refuse to reinvent myself in the name of naturopathy meets neoliberalism, so I’m okay with being off‑trend. Liberated by it, actually. Because it means I get to focus on what matters more to me: that I’ve learned a lot — which, it turns out, required unlearning a lot too. Ideally softened with wisdom. Hopefully. I’ve taught many of you as undergraduates. Mentored many more. And somewhere along the way I seem to have helped birth a whole cohort of next‑gen naturopathic mentors and teachers. So yes — I’ve earned these age spots and laugh lines. And we all know I’m not done laughing yet.
And I am definitely not done with you.
I am the self‑appointed nagging Nanna of the naturopaths.
Forever pestering us about our potential — to do better, to be better. Forever banging on about aiming higher. Laying it on thick with my best “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed” routine 🤣
I ask the questions that apparently hadn’t been asked yet… well, by anyone other than me (soz). From the ones we all probably should be across — like: • Where is the true sweet spot for nutrient dosing, where fractional uptake is maximised rather than squandered once transporters are saturated? • When so much of a supplement dose is left sitting in the lumen, what does that actually mean for our marvellous microbiome? • And when we insert nutrients into our nether regions to treat the taco… where do they actually go?
I ask. I research. I publish — because better answers make better practitioners. Honestly, search my site with almost any term. I dare you.
But I think that’s the role, right? The role of anyone a little further down the track.
To offer a view of the profession from a different vantage point. To ask questions that are sometimes uncomfortable. To set some goals — and then gently (or not so gently) nudge us toward them. Because we’ve had longer to ponder. And because us Nannas — we’ve seen every season of this profession. Every bloody episode of every bloody season tbh. Every wellness trend too — which are now officially just looping 😵 And we are no longer falling for any of it.
But whatever you do, don’t call me an Elder. Don’t offer me your seat on the bus (yes, someone actually did this the other day). Because you might suddenly discover what decades of healthy eating, peak physical condition (lol), and strong mental acuity can do… when combined with a slightly dodgy knee 👵😅
Yeah nah.
I’m exactly where I need to be.
