Investing in yourself to be your best self for others!

These last few months I have stopped and reflected on the status of my holistic wellbeing. In my role, I’ve been coaching others for years on the importance of investing in yourself to be at your best, both at work and at home. But if I was to be honest with myself, I wasn’t necessarily practicing what I was preaching! Maybe it was the coaching (and nudging) of my leader, perhaps it was the loss of loved ones around me, or the debilitating condition of my father, maybe it was the bounce back from the COVID ‘era’, whatever it was, I knew I needed to recalibrate things.

So I've done some things... I've started taking regular wellbeing days, I've reinstated a regular fitness regime, I've thrown myself into managing my sons sporting teams, giving back to the clubs I have benefited from over many years, and I made time for some critical health checks. None more so important than a routine skin check. Yes I was several months (ok maybe even a few years) overdue, but I got there. Yes, I have just had 4 basal cell carcinomas removed, but early detection is key, and while I'm may be looking like I came off second best in some kind of late night bar brawl or back alley stabbing, the nasty critters have been removed and I've got the all clear.

However, what has struck me more than anything has been the number of people that have seen my stitches and scars and come up to me to share that in seeing and hearing what I've recently been through, it has encouraged, reminded, even inspired them or their loved ones to book in for a skin check.

And hence why I felt compelled to share this short story more broadly. Life it too short to not prioritise your health. As one of my favourite leaders and mentors once said to me "if you haven't got your health, you're not going to be any use to anyone". Early detection is key #skincheck #wellbeing