Julie Gabrielson proudly calls herself a graduate of the School of Life — with honours.
Leaving formal education at just 15, she set aside her own career ambitions to support her mother through divorce and the realities of single motherhood in the 1970s.
From an early age, Julie felt like a square peg in a round hole. Her path unfolded differently, travelling while friends were marrying, building a career while others were raising children, and eventually marrying in her late thirties.
By her mid-forties, life felt full. A loving marriage, a thriving corporate career, and a strong sense of health and vitality.
In 2008, Julie’s world shifted with a diagnosis of breast cancer at age 46. This was the beginning of an eighteen-year journey marked by extraordinary highs and heartbreaking lows.
This moment became a turning point as Julie was an infant in the world of cancer and had a long road ahead of growth and education. She and her husband left Perth to start a new chapter in Queensland. While the move brought challenges, it also opened the door to healing, self-awareness, and transformation.
A second diagnosis in 2015 of multifocal breast cancer, led to multiple surgeries, complications, and a life-threatening infection. Julie faced fear head-on. She fell, she rose, and she learned to find strength in vulnerability.
Through this journey, she discovered the power of standing in her own voice, learning to advocate for herself and surround herself with the right professionals who truly support, listen, and see her.
Julie came to understand that true empowerment isn’t about avoiding fear, but rising through it.
Still living in Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, she embraces life’s beauty, surrounded by ocean, nature, and meaningful connections. Through her writing, she shares what she has learned, hoping to inspire others to walk their own path with courage, love, and empowerment.
If you have any questions or would like to share your story. I would love to her from you!
