Embracing the Rebel Within: My Hashimoto's Wake-Up Call

Hey there,

I'm inviting you into a rather raw, unapologetic corner of my world today.

Recently, I was handed a diagnosis that felt like the plot twist I never saw coming: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

Beyond the Blood Test: My Hashimoto’s Wake-Up Call

Tuning In to What the System Might Miss.

Modern medicine, for all its marvels, can sometimes miss the mark when it comes to preventative care. While magnificent at saving lives and limbs, as well as treating symptoms, modern medicine can be limited in its understanding and application of more holistic ways in which to find wellness.

Hashimoto's is a perfect example of the ways that symptoms signifying a larger issue can be misread or readily dismissed as something else in a system that only looks at parts of the picture.

"It's just something that happens as you get older".

"You've been stressed lately... You need a holiday".

Or, the good old ...

"Your blood work is fine, there's nothing wrong with you - you just need to eat less and exercise more".

Meanwhile, we're expected to carry on juggling everything effortlessly - family, career, self-care, and of course, the million other things life throws our way - even when we're feeling exhausted, sad, bloated, and foggy ... sigh.

Here is where our Naturopaths, Bodyworkers, and energy healers get to step in, supporting a whole body approach towards wellbeing (if you're looking for a fantastic naturopath, let me know - mine is amazing!).

Finding the right words for what was happening.

With the help of my amazing Naturopath (and a very comprehensive blood panel), I have learned that I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Hashimoto's is an autoimmune condition where your own immune system goes rogue, attacking your thyroid - a tiny gland that's crucial for keeping everything in your body in check. Not only does the thyroid regulate body temperature and metabolism, but it also plays important roles in heart function, digestive health, sexual & reproductive health, cholesterol - it even affects your brain and mood. All long, I had been blaming my slugishness, weight gain, brain fog, muscle pain, and forgetfulness on perimenopause - when it turns out my thyroid was waving a bright red flag.

A Quiet Rebellion

Learning to Listen

So, here's where I'm choosing to rebel. Not in the riotous, fist-in-the-air way, but in the gentle, stubborn way that an 80-year-old grandma might, with her hand-knit cardigan and tin full of cookies. I'm rejecting the relentless rush of modern life, the glorification of busy, and the badge of honour that comes with doing it all...

At least, that's what I want to do.

Prioritising Health over Hustle

I'll be honest, slowing down is something I've been wanting to do for years now... yet I continue to say one thing and do the opposite.

My Hashimoto's wake-up call has changed everything. The rebellion I'm now staging is a quiet one - a gentle process where I do my best, each day, to remember that my health is the very most important thing there is. It's worth more than all the money in the world. It's even worth more than my family, my friends, my work, and the number of degrees and certificates that hang on my wall. Because, without my health, I can't even BE the person I want to be for my family, my friends, my work, and I certainly won't have the capacity to add to my wall of accolades.

For now, I'm practising saying no more often.

I'm trying to let empty spaces be empty spaces.

I'm carving out time for stillness and prioritising the things that truly matter to me - finding balance, health, and aliveness.

Mid-Life Metamorphosis

With 50 just around the corner for me, it's clear that I'm entering a chrysalis phase - a metamorphosis that's neither quick nor easy.

Like the caterpillar that dissolves into a gooey mess before emerging as a butterfly, I'm in the thick of a transformation. Unlike the caterpillar, however, I don't get the luxury of pausing life; I still have to keep showing up for my family, my job, my community, and myself - all while navigating this new chapter of my health, this breaking apart and rebuilding.

Realigning in Real-Time

This past month, since returning from beautiful Bali (where I hosted a wonderful retreat, enjoyed a week of learning beforehand, and a week of connecting with old friends afterwards) has been a whirlwind of jetlag, symptom flares, and a crash in all things Hashimoto's. I've made diet and lifestyle changes that I should have probably embraced years ago, and focused on deepening my commitment to my own wellbeing. Isn’t it really not funny how it takes a health scare to act on what we already know we need to do?

But here I am, adapting, learning, and daring to live differently (at least to think about, and slowly act on it - baby steps.).

Here's to the Rebels

So, here's to embracing the rebel in us all.

The stand up tall and shout it out kind of rebel.

And the slow-it-all-down kind of rebel.

Here's to knowing it's never too late to change the narrative, not through doing more, but by choosing to slow things down, and making choices with both intention and grace.

If you've found yourself navigating your own wake-up call lately - I see you. It's not easy, but together, let's redefine what 'successful' looks like, one slow and deliberate step at a time.

Jess