She’s the former athlete-turned-motivational speaker who has teamed up with Visa this festive season to support small businesses doing it tough this year.
And inspirational burns survivor Turia Pitt told Daily Mail Australia this week the life lessons she will take away from the coronavirus pandemic.
The 33-year-old, who shares sons Hakavai, three, and Rahiti, 10 months, with fiancé Michael Hoskin, said she has realised just how much she needs the community.
Heading in to a new year: Inspirational burns survivor Turia Pitt (pictured), 33, revealed to Daily Mail Australia this week the life lessons she will take away from the coronavirus pandemic
‘I used to daydream about running off to a little log cabin in the Alaskan wilderness. No people, just me… (okay and my family!) and the wild,’ she began.
‘Self-sufficient, no need for anyone else. But three days into social distancing, I really started to miss people.
‘I missed patting people on the back, laughing with someone and touching their arm. Kissing my girlfriends on the cheek, visiting my favourite coffee shops. I think we all need community more than we realise.’
A sense of community: ‘I missed patting people on the back, laughing with someone and touching their arm. Kissing my girlfriends on the cheek, visiting my favourite coffee shops. I think we all need community more than we realise,’ the motivational speaker said
Turia, who dealt with bushfires in her own town last year prior to the coronavirus pandemic, also shared her tips for keeping positive as we head in to a new year.
‘I like to think of my energy and attention like a torch, and a torch only shines in one direction. So, when I was scared, overwhelmed and stressed, where was that torch shining? On me,’ she began.
‘I had to change my focus. How? I asked myself different questions. I asked myself what I could do to give back to my community. I asked myself what I could be grateful for. I asked myself what I could do that would be useful,’ Turia continued.
Turia also shared her tips for keeping positive: ‘So, when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, my advice is to change your focus. Ask yourself, “How can I be of service? How could I do the best job that I can do right now? And what can I be grateful for right now?”‘
‘So, when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, my advice is to change your focus. Ask yourself, “How can I be of service? How could I do the best job that I can do right now? And what can I be grateful for right now?”‘
Turia has given back to the community, partnering with Visa to launch their Spend With Them online campaign this festive season.
By purchasing a product or service from nominated small businesses, funds will go towards businesses that have been directly affected by the devastating bushfires almost a year ago and/or COVID-19.
Worthy cause: Turia has launched Christmas campaign, Spend With Them. By purchasing a product from nominated small businesses, funds will go towards businesses that have been affected by the bushfires and/or COVID-19. Pictured with fiancé Michael Hoskin
‘If you can’t spend with a business right now, that’s okay,’ Turia said. ‘But talk about them, share them with your friends, shout out the businesses you love on your Instagram or Facebook page.
‘Leave positive Google reviews, like their posts, engage with them. Share the directory of Spend With Them businesses that Visa put together for us. All of that really helps!’
Turia suffered horrific burns when she was caught in a wildfire in 2011 during an ultramarathon.
She has become a popular motivational speaker and a best-selling author.
Support: ‘If you can’t spend with a business right now, that’s okay,’ Turia said. ‘But talk about them, share them with your friends, shout out the businesses you love on your Instagram or Facebook page.’ Pictured with sons Hakavai, three, and Rahiti, 10 months