Hi, I’m Beth Farleigh
Milestones have always been a cause for reflection for me. Most recently, I spent my 60th birthday on a Florida beach with longtime friends - laughing, reminiscing, and reflecting on how we’ve all grown and changed over the years. And we talked about our dreams for the future.
Like many of us, I have a list of “someday” dreams:
Someday I’ll thru-hike a long trail.
Someday I’ll explore Italy.
Someday....
In my 20s, I dreamt of solo backpacking adventures, exploring nature with resilience and self-sufficiency. I even started buying gear but never used it. At the time, solo female hikers were rare and typically discouraged. “It’s not safe,” people would say. Over time, I internalized that fear and began to doubt myself, and my dream quietly faded.
As I’ve grown older, though, I’ve grown bolder. One of the blessings of aging is caring less about what others think and learning to trust yourself and the hard-earned wisdom accumulated over the years.
I was in my 50’s when that old spark reignited thanks to a YouTube vlog by a solo female thru-hiker with the trail name Dixie. Watching Dixie hike the entire 2,189.2 miles of the Appalachian Trail with little experience, learning as she put in the miles, got me thinking: Why not me?
I started to believe again. And this time, when the spark reignited, I fanned the flames.
In 2018, I took a leap and joined a guided group trip with Adventures in Good Company to slack-pack parts of the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota. It was my first real test: Did I truly want this life of adventure? Even with the stormy conditions we encountered, the answer was a resounding yes!
Over time I gained experience and confidence and began venturing out on my own, including the solo backpacking trips I dreamed about in my 20’s. While I’ve had to adjust some of my “someday” dreams (scratch the AT thru-hike), my overall goal remains: I want to be climbing mountains (real and metaphorical) and kicking ass when I’m in my 80’s.
Why Coaching?
Remember the Snackwell era in the 1990’s? Like many, I leaned heavily on low-fat, high-carb processed foods that ultimately kept me on a hypoglycemic roller coaster for years Thankfully, I stumbled across the ancestral approach to eating and movement around 2010. I embraced the Paleo diet, which helped me exit that roller coaster ride and created a passion for learning about health and longevity. My approach has evolved over time as I’ve learned to listen to my body. I’ve learned that there is much more to health than just diet and exercise. Sleep matters. Stress management matters. Community matters.
I was especially drawn to the idea of addressing the root causes of health challenges rather than just managing symptoms. That drew me into the world of functional medicine and, eventually, to health coaching. I wanted to do something meaningful—something that could help others transform their health and mindset in a sustainable way.
I became a certified functional health and wellness coach in 2022[?], and passed the NBHWC national board exam the following year.
What I Do Now?
Today, I’m the founder of a coaching practice that supports women 60 and up who want to make the next chapter of life the best one yet.
For many of my clients, turning 60 was a wake-up call. They know they want to live differently—but they’re not sure how. Or they have a dream, but don’t know how to make it real. Often, they’re also dealing with health issues like extra weight, poor sleep, or high stress.
I help these women get crystal clear on what they want—whether it’s improved health, more energy, a mindset shift, or achieving a long-held dream. Then together, we create a practical, personalized plan to move forward one bold step at a time. I’m there with support, accountability, and compassion as they rediscover what’s possible.
Because it’s never too late to grow.
And it’s never too late to grow bolder.
Beth