Sharron Davie-Martin is a giver.
And she has learnt that to be able to continue giving to others, she needs to stop and take a breather every now and then.
“I discovered I give and give until I run out and I have to find a time to get something back for me. I need my husband to take me somewhere. I can’t say no. I tend to hit a wall before I stop.”
So her advice to others is this;
“Make sure you take time for yourself – reach out because you don’t have to go it alone.”
When the earthquake struck, Sharron hid under the table.
“I thought the floor couldn’t be there at the end.”
These days, Sharron is relaxed. She looks after herself by spending time with friends.
“Walking is my passion. There are physical things I can’t do – but I try to exercise.”
She tries to be there for others too, and give them the opportunity to talk.
“Sometimes there is anxiety about earthquakes – but it’s the housework that tips you over the edge.”
Since the quakes she has found satisfaction in helping others.
“It’s rewarding when I feel like I have lightened someone’s burden.”
Sharron says she has taken on much more community work post-quake and is learning when to say no, to avoid burning out.
“I crashed in mid January – I was so tired I couldn’t think straight. I had to remind myself – I am a volunteer. I had to remind myself it’s ok to not do it.”
For Sharron, the best thing about Hurunui, is the community. Her first two years in the district were hard but then she joined a local church.
“People here are friends. There’s no backstabbing. To work with the connectors has been rewarding.”