Walking4Air

“Here’s To The Crazy Ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world – are the ones who DO !” ~ Apple Computers ~

I’ve been away for the last week and it’s been like a mini holiday for me. By choice I left my computer at home although I do still use my phone for emails and occasionally popping onto Facebook and I try to be diligent by taking a pile of academic journals I need to read for my next assignment, not that I have even taken one of them out of the folder I put them into when I left. At least my intention was in the right place!

TV is not something I watch often, in fact I hardly ever watch TV but the other night I completely threw myself into relaxation and time-out, I found myself engrossed in the crime channel. During one of the ad breaks I watched the newest ad released by Stanlib. It was only 1 minute long, but it was 60 seconds of pure inspiration!

In fact, I found it so inspiring I have watched it countless times since, over and over again on my phone via YouTube.

As most of my close friends know, I love anything that will inspire me and push me to new heights, and as you have all come to know, I have this insatiable belief that we really can do whatever we desire, no matter how big or impossible it may seem at the time. This particular ad showcases how people go about their daily lives and they use a locksmith, a man cutting the lawn, a construction worker and a lady traffic officer writing out parking tickets. Just like you and me, they all have dreams, one dreams of being a fire fighter, one dreams of being a ballerina and one dreams of being a pilot. The ad captures it well.

We all have dreams, some are big and some are small. The difference comes in whether we decide to pursue those dreams or whether we just keep dreaming about them and not actually doing anything to achieve them. I know what it’s like to dream big. In fact, back in 2005 I asked myself what I was waiting for? Why was I listening to people telling me I couldn’t do it? One day, something clicked and I realised that I needn’t wait any longer. I was the only one who can fight for my dreams and all I had to do was make the decision and take that first step forward to start realising them. This one particular dream I am working on has been a long road filled with hard work and huge amounts of determination and plenty of times where I have wanted to give up but through it all I persevered and now I am close to the finish line.

What do you dream?

Do you dare to pursue it?

Don’t one day look back and say “if only I had done something about it back then.”

This past weekend I was picked up my two beautiful nieces for a day out. Emma is five and Kate is three and these two girls are just the biggest blessings in my life, always showing me the world through their eyes. At one point during the day the girls were dancing for me as they always do and Kate was singing too. During one of the ‘intervals’, I asked each of the girls what they wanted to be when they grow up. Emma replied with a twirl, “A ballerina!” and Kate excitedly informed me along with actions of holding a microphone, “I want to be a pop star with a microphone.” I smiled and my heart burst with pride and joy because even at such a young age they already have dreams and I can only hope and pray that they aspire to their dreams throughout their life time, whatever those dreams may be.

This is the Stanlib ad, for me 60 seconds of pure inspiration ~ I hope somewhere in those 60 seconds you too can find your piece of inspiration!

“Success is the preserve of those who are steadfast in their desire, for they become great because when you follow your passion, success follows you.”

One thing that I find that completely leaves me standing in awe every single time is how the universe responds when you let your intentions be known. Time and time again I smile at how the universe responds to what I put out there. We are fervently working on our next big project, Aconcagua, and even thought not much is being shared on my blog currently, there is SO much going on behind the scenes. Huge, big, incredible, exiting things ~ people and opportunities are coming our way all because we set the intention to climb this mountain. None of us know how we are going to get there, we just know that we are going and sometimes that is all the belief that you need. Once certain things are in place, so much of what is happening is going to be shared with you, but for now patience (there it is again) is key!

This morning I had my yearly performance appraisal and every year I inch closer to the end of my studies, much to the absolute horror of my boss. You see, for as many years as I can remember I have had dreams of becoming a psychologist or at the very least working with people, helping them to see how amazing life really can be no matter what you have going on. So a few years ago I started studying a degree in psychology, which I have since completed and graduated and I’m currently smack bang half way through my honours. Here at work our performance appraisals are all done online and then we have a meeting with our boss to go through it all. At the end of my appraisal I always type a note under the question regarding my future career goals about my studies and when they are due to be completed and how I look forward to qualifying in my chosen field and if possible I would love to stay within the company. My boss left the following note in reply to mine “Exceedingly happy with Lara and hope she fails her honours so she can remain my PA in perpetuity. On a serious note…. Blah, blah, blah. Once she has finished her honours I will endeavour to channel her talents into the department she aspires to…..” “I would both thoroughly endorse Lara to anyone and am totally supportive of her future and career advancement.” We can both be fiercely stubborn and head strong and once in a blue moon we have our moments, but over and above all, I seriously got the best boss of the lot! *Lucky Me* Another dream unfolding for me.

Years ago, this all started as a dream and although it’s been a lot of hard work and sacrifices, the real finish line begins to loom. With my next qualification I can start doing something with it. I smile as I remember even before I started studying, in fact I had just registered to begin my studies, we had family visiting and I recall my aunt asking me if I was going to do my doctorate in the end. I laughed and said can I just get my degree first! I recall that moment fondly because recently I have been looking at requirements to do my Masters after my Honours is complete, and if I am going so far, why not just complete my doctorate one day too for I am so much closer now than when I began!

As we currently plan for our next incredible journey to the summit of Aconcagua, my 2^nd of the Seven Summits, I never dreamed I would EVER consider climbing Mount Everest. In fact, I used to say that I valued my life far too much to take that chance. In fact, in my mind, people who climbed Everest were just plain crazy.

My, how things have changed!

Now I dream of summiting all Seven Summits of the World, including Everest.

Just this year, I watched with eager anticipation as climbers made their way to Everest and watched each of the teams and their respective journeys unfold. I watched how they spent weeks on the mountain acclimatising, going back and forth, up and down, all in preparation for that weather window at the end of May when they hope to push for the summit of the world’s highest mountain. It was amazing to watch it all unfold and it has inspired me to set my own limits even higher.

I don’t know where my path and circumstances will take me in the future but it doesn’t really matter as long as I have dreams!

Earlier today I received the most inspiring and incredible email from one of my Aconcagua team members, it was filled with incredible possibilities that just keep growing and growing. I loved how she ended her email to me by saying “It’s been crazy for me workwise. I’m really tired now but am off to gym – I’ve got a mountain to climb. 6 actually!”

You see, I won’t be alone in my quest for climbing all Seven Summits, Judi, one of my team mates from Kilimanjaro and one of my current team mates for Aconcagua is with me all the way on this one. Dreams colliding and exploding into so many possibilities.

That is the beauty of dreams, you can make them as big and as expansive as you desire! And do you know what ~ Only 1 South African woman has ever climbed ALL Seven Summits. If only you could see the thoughts running through my head right now.

Watch out world, here we come…

This is for the crazy ones!

So many dreams unfolding each and every minute of the day.

My dreams never end, in fact they just grow larger!

Believe in the power of your dreams.

Believe in the power of yourself.

Reach higher than you ever imagined.

For it all really is possible!