A Reminder to Protect Your Energy
On Friday 22nd May, I had the privilege of attending the Women's Wellness Lunch at the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club and after winning a complimentary ticket, I was able to share the experience with my sister, Amber.
The event was created to support the mental health and wellbeing of women in our community, providing a space to connect, reflect and have conversations that aren't always easy to have in everyday life.
Set against the backdrop of the water, it was one of those rare afternoons where time seemed to slow down. Surrounded by hundreds of women from all walks of life, there was an overwhelming sense of support, understanding and shared experience.
Of course, the lunch was delicious and the arrival mocktail was a lovely touch, but it was the conversations and reminders throughout the day that stayed with me.
Our keynote speaker, Taryn Brumfitt, shared her story with honesty, humour and vulnerability. While her work focuses on body image and self-acceptance, many of the messages she spoke about reached far beyond that.
The reminders felt simple, yet incredibly important:
Be aware of your limits.
Burnout doesn't happen overnight.
Self-care is not something to feel guilty about.
Protecting your energy is not selfish.
Trust your gut.
Take the chance.
Ask for help when you need it.
As business owners, professionals, mothers, daughters, partners and friends, we often become very good at looking after everyone else. Sometimes we need permission to pause and ask ourselves how we're really doing.
One thing I particularly appreciated was that the event wasn't about "fixing" anyone. It was about creating a safe space for women to feel seen, heard and understood.
The work that Lifeline continues to do within our community is extraordinary, and knowing that events like this help support those services makes attending feel even more meaningful.
It was also wonderful to watch the talented team from Rise Marketing & Creative bring the event to life behind the scenes. Seeing the care, organisation and passion that goes into creating these experiences was inspiring in itself. Chloe Smith Photography captured the day beautifully, documenting so many genuine moments of connection and joy.
I left feeling grateful.
Grateful for the opportunity to attend.
Grateful for time spent with my sister.
Grateful for the conversations.
And grateful for the reminder that taking care of ourselves isn't something we earn after we've done everything else.
It's something we deserve too.
Sometimes the most valuable thing we can do is create space to stop, listen and check in with ourselves.
This was one of those days.
