Page 48 - Women’s Health - Australia (February 2020)

mindfulness

Nikki Stamp

“Taking care of yourself is worthy and important”

Dr Nikki Stamp is a heart surgeon and author of two books,
Pretty Unhealthy and Can You Die of a Broken Heart? She pens
a letter to teenage Nikki, who needed a little more self-care.

“I bet there’s so much you want to know. I could tell you about
the wonderful career you’ll have, the interesting things you’ll do Nikki
in her
and the wonderful people you’ll share it with. But what you really school
need to know are the lessons that are the hardest to come by. days
You need to know that hard work is important, but so is learning
to say no. You need to know that taking care of yourself and your
own health is worthy and important. You need to know that
your health is not about a number on a scale or the size of your
clothes but taking a break, playing sports that you love, eating
your vegetables (even though you’re a fussy eater) and learning
to quiet your mind. You will face many ups and downs, but
you are strong and resilient – take care of that strength.”

“You are not dest ined for

the well-trodden road”

Janine Hall, 45, is the “You’re standing at heart aches for a life of
founder of luxury a juncture, with your freedom and purpose.
women’s retreat dream business failing You are not destined
Escape Haven in Bali. and hard-earned for the well-trodden
Here, she writes to her savings dwindling. You road. What you don’t
mid-30s self, who had know you can’t go back know right now is that
quit her corporate job to your former life, but you are on the cusp of
to start a retreat in the plan you held for a something even greater
Brazil. The venture new path hasn’t worked than you could ever
failed, but she didn’t out either. So where to have imagined. You
let go of her dream. now? I’m so proud of will stride on from this
you for leaping into setback and positively
the unknown, far from impact thousands of Pu t
Janine comfort and security women. This would pen t o
in Brazil and the identity that never have happened paper
in her 30s defined you for so long. if you didn’t follow
I know it’s painful that the conviction of
family and friends are your heart that led your
trying to steer you knocking knees down
back to the ‘sensible’ a path of uncertainty.
path. What they don’t So, even though it feels
understand is how your terrifying, keep going.
It won’t be easy, but
the best decisions
rarely are.” wh PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES; MARK ROGERS; BRUNO KATAOKA; STEF KING

48 womenshealth.com.au FEBRUARY 2020