International Womens Day: The Woman Who Mastered Wellness Before It Was Cool.

Lessons from My 96-Year-Old Grandmother

By Lauren Scott Dovey for Heat Healer

Wellness is having its moment. The world is rediscovering ancient practices, from lymphatic drainage to herbal medicine, infrared heat to the power of warm nourishment. But for some women, wellness was never a trend, it was a way of life.

Meet Josephine.

At 96, she’s mastered the art of longevity without ever picking up a self-help book. She has outlived three battles with stage 4 cancer, kept her mind sharp, her skin luminous, and her spirit unshaken. She doesn’t follow the latest health advice, she’s always known what works.

This International Women’s Day, we honor women like Josephine. The ones who quietly shape generations, who pass down rituals not for the sake of wellness, but for the sake of love.

I sat down with my grandmother to find her wisdom, the habits, and the legacy of real, lasting wellness so that I could share them with you.  

These are the lessons we should all be paying attention to.

The Rituals That Keep Her Strong

“Wellness isn’t something I think about. It’s just what I do.”

Josephine starts every morning the same way—a cup of hot tea (English Breakfast, always with milk) to warm the body before anything else. “I never eat a cold breakfast. That’s bad for digestion.” Her mornings are slow, deliberate, and always warm.

When asked about the most important lesson life has taught her, she doesn’t hesitate.

"Family. You sacrifice to give a better life. I never had the chance to get an education, so I moved to Australia to give my family opportunities."

Her wellness philosophy isn’t about green juices or meditation. It’s about purpose. A reason to get up, to keep going, to fight even when life gives you every reason not to.

When she beat cancer for the third time, her motivation was simple:

"I just wanted to be alive to see my family."

That kind of resilience isn’t something you buy, it’s something you build.

Food as Medicine, Warmth as Protection

She doesn’t count macros or follow nutrition labels. But every meal she eats is functional, intentional, healing.

Sauerkraut, garlic, and honey—three things she swears by. “Sauerkraut fills you up, and the acid in cabbage is good for your stomach. Garlic? It’s my medicine. If I get sick, I take garlic first. And honey—only good quality honey. It’s good for the gut and better than sugar.”

Fermented foods and warm nourishment. “People now say gut health is important—but I’ve been eating fermented foods forever. Pickled vegetables, beets, and chamomile tea. I drink tea every morning. My food is always warm, never cold.”

Her go-to recipe when she’s sick? A real chicken broth, no stock cubes, no shortcuts. “A quarter chicken, garlic, carrot, salt, bay leaves. When it’s done, you add fresh dill and parsley. I serve it with angel hair pasta. That’s real food.”

If you grow one thing, grow parsley. “It’s good for digestion and flushing fluids. Dill, carrots, beetroot—grow things you can actually use. Herbs make food taste better without needing sauces.”

And above all else? Keep your feet warm.

"Your feet are the first place where problems start. When the brain needs energy, it drains heat from the feet. Keep them warm, and you stay well."

She never needed science to back this up—she just knew.

Beauty Is Simple—But Always Chic

Lauren pictured here doing her grandmothers makeup for her birthday celebration. 

At 96, Josephine still looks put together every single day.

Skincare is simple: “It’s what you eat. Even your skin color changes when you eat the right foods.” Her routine? Nivea moisturizer and paw paw. Apples, pears, plums, cherries—always fresh food.

She never leaves the house without dressing up. “I’ve always liked to look nice. I enjoy picking outfits that feel good. I don’t wear black—it doesn’t suit me. Red, navy blue, those are my colors.”

Jewelry is essential. “I always wear statement earrings and a necklace. And the metals must match. That’s chic.”

Even at home, even at 96, self-care is a standard, not an afterthought.

Strength Looks Different on Every Woman

Wellness today often talks about empowerment. But Josephine’s kind of strength isn’t the kind you talk about—it’s the kind you live.

What does being a strong woman mean?
"Resilient. Confident. A strong woman takes care of her family and is kind."

Who inspired you the most?
"My mother. She was simple, hardworking, and treated everyone the same. She ran a farm while raising us. She never put anyone down—she always helped people."

The greatest lesson she’s learned?
"Money doesn’t count. People are people—it’s about how you treat others."

Her strength is soft yet unwavering, quiet yet undeniable.

And perhaps that’s the greatest lesson of all—strength isn’t about standing alone, it’s about lifting others up.

The Women Who Shape Us

This International Women’s Day, we honor women like Josephine.

The ones who raised us, healed us, taught us—without ever needing a platform to do it.

The ones who pass down wellness not as self-care, but as survival.

The ones who tell us to keep our feet warm, eat real food, and never forget who we are.

Josephine doesn’t call herself a wellness expert. But when you watch the world come full circle—when modern science confirms everything she’s always known—one thing becomes clear:

She mastered wellness before it was cool.

And we’re all just catching up.