In Her Words Linda Gunek
What are some of the mistakes you made and learnings from them? Mistakes? Loads! If you aren’t making mistakes, you’re not trying anything new. Everyday I make some sort of mistake and every day I learn new ways of dealing them. Fortunately I’ve managed to land on my feet and I haven’t hurt anyone (as far as I know). My biggest mistake was made over many years and 4 years ago the results came home to roost. After not looking after my health and as a result of some major traumatic life events, as well as putting myself last both physically and mentally, I fell into a deep clinical depression, sustained epic losses in my design business and lost who I thought were my closest friends. I was busy caring for everyone else and caring about what others thought or required to make them happy. I put myself and my needs last and ended up at the bottom of the heap in a very dark place.
What keeps you going? Faith, friends and family keep me going. Faith in God as well as myself, my friends, many of whom are relatively new but are backing me 100%; and my family. My husband is my rock. He doesn’t interfere but he is always ready to lend an ear without trying to “fix” it (unless I specifically ask him for advice). He’s run our household whilst I was buried in my depression and continues to support me in all aspects even though he has his own high-powered career. How lucky am I?!
What’s next in the journey of BRAND YOU? I’m working on becoming the local “go-to” person. I love to connect people and help them in any way I can on their journey. In order to give myself more credibility, I’m in the process of learning to take better care of my body. I lost respect for myself and my body many years ago and I’ve realised that in respecting myself, others will find it easier to respect me. This is happening in many ways... I’m learning to say “no” to self-serving people, to unhealthy food choices and to other’s negative opinions. I’m learning to say “yes” to helping those that respect me, “yes” to exercise (that’s a daily struggle) and “yes” to trusting myself. Publishing is a very public career where I find myself in the limelight often so when the lights are shining I want to be comfortable being there - no self doubts, for any reasons, whatsoever.
Your favourite things: * Destination: Europe - Italy, France and UK. * Drink: A dry white wine. * App: Podcasts - VistACity.
LINDA GUNEK Linda Gunek is Publisher of Sydney Hills & Hawkesbury Living magazine, a dream that has finally come to fruition. In 1996 she also founded magazine production company, Magazines byDesign. linda@bydesigngraphics.com.au
If you were a hashtag what would it be?
#ontheothersideoffear
DECEMBER - JANUARY | 63