OH! Magazine - Australian Version May 2016 | Page 7
Di Westaway is the CEO of Wild
Women On Top, a trek expert,
author and speaker.
To find out more or to contact Di visit
www.wildwomenontop.com
broker. All of us needed adventure to keep
ourselves fit and manage our first-world
stress.
www.wildwomenontop.com
DI
WESTAWAY
Left: Di Westaway & Carole Davis
at Mt Vallunaraju, Peru.
Below: Di Westaway at Alpamayo, Peru
Of course, this new found confidence
shifted the power balance at home. Some
husbands didn’t like their wife’s
empowerment. One friend confided,
‘When I feel him wearing me down,
bullying me or withdrawing completely, I
remind myself I’m strong. I’ve climbed
mountains, I’ve walked 100km, I’ve
pushed way out of my comfort zone in wild
places where I never thought I’d survive.’
She said, ‘I know my mental and physical
strength will get me through.’
A few years later, I too really needed that
mental resilience as I struggled to protect
my children from their father’s posttraumatic stress disorder and addiction. I
had the strength I needed. The lessons I
learned in the wilderness helped me
overcome my fears, making me braver and
more courageous. And later I used these
same lessons to build my business.
This adventure transformed my life. My
trekking experience prepared me for life’s
tough stuff. Which is lucky, because, let’s
face it, nobody cares as much about your
happiness as you. Your boss wants you for
your productivity, your family wants you for
your nurturing, and your partner wants you
for sex!
Life’s a trek. And everybody who lives long
enough to meet their grandchildren knows
what it feels like to hit rock bottom. So,
get trek happy and healthy, and you’ll
really start to feel awesome!
( OH! MAGAZINE ) MAY 2016
7