Could You Do This? Would You?

Carla and Caroline’s Excellent Adventure.

How cool is this? Carla Wilson, Executive VA, is walking across England – from coast to coast – with her childhood girlfriend, Caroline. This is a long walk…and considered one of the top ten hikes in the world: “190 miles of sheer hiking pleasure, from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, taking in three national parks: the Lake District, where England's highest mountains are found; the long green valleys of the Yorkshire Dales (of James Herriot fame); and the sometimes bleak but often dramatic landscapes of the North Yorkshire Moors.”

Carla and Caroline started planning – and training - for this trip nearly a year ago. They have had obstacles galore, including travel problems with the online service with which they booked their flight. But, in spite of them, Carla and Caroline left on Friday and started hiking on Sunday. They’ll be gone for nearly three weeks.

When I interviewed Carla just before she left, she was beside herself with excitement. She told me that, in addition to savoring the awesomeness of what she was doing, she was glad to have the girlfriend time with Caroline. On top of that, she was looking forward being alone with her thoughts and letting her mind relax into daydreaming some new goals.

When I asked Carla how her family felt about her being gone so long, she laughed. She said that her spouse was already missing her but her teenage son seemed glad to have his doting mom away for a while. But then her voice got more serious as she explained that her mother-in-law is very ill, and has been for a long time. Part of Carla's planning included a long conversation with her spouse about what to do if she should pass away while Carla’s gone. In the end, they agreed that she won’t shortcut her trip. Pretty courageous move, for both of them.

In the same serious vein, Carla told me that her trip coincides with the one-year anniversary of her cousin’s death from melanoma. To keep her motivated, Carla said, “I felt I needed to walk with a higher purpose.” So the women set up a website seeking donations for melanoma research so they “can help kick cancer’s butt!” They already reached 50% of their goal of $1900. Their donation page is http://tinyurl.com/carla-and-caroline

In addition, each day Carla is walking with the name of someone they know who has cancer. On one day of their trip, they’ll be walking for Theresa Hummel, who’s been battling cancer most of this year. She's the awesome mother of my colleague and friend Theresa Hummel Krallinger.

What about you? Victory is about life leadership. It's about making that stretch out of your comfort zone and step into your greater and more powerful self - the person you were born to be. So...

• Do you have an adventure that you dream about?
• Have you been putting it off because you don’t have the money, or the time, or you don’t think you can leave your family, or you’re afraid something “big” will happen while you are away?
• What if you stopped procrastinating and started moving forward…what would you do and how would you do it?

And now that you've gotten this far, make it real. Follow Carla and Caroline's lead: Plan what you want to do, how you can do it and take action. Do it NOW.

If you need some help, join me in the fall for one of several teleseminars I'm offering that will help you get started. The fall seminar schedule comes out August 1. Get yours delivered to you by email in the Victorious Woman e-newsletter: http://www.victoriouswoman.com.

In victory,
Annmarie

Washington Crossed the Delaware on Christmas - and So Did I!

It was freezing that day in 1776. General George Washington and his troops crossed from Pennsylvania into New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War. Washington devised the battle plan in an effort the keep British troops at bay. The strategy required his troops to cross the half-frozen river on a bitter cold Christmas day. It was a daring move, and it could have been a disaster, but it wasn't.

Every year, the famous crossing is reenacted. This year I was part of it. I didn't cross the river by boat (no one did - the waters were wild and dangerous), but I did walk across the Delaware on a wooden foot bridge. Bridges are a challenge for me, and when the opportunity appeared, I thought twice about going. But, using the steel handrail to steady myself, I took the 30-40 minute walk to New Jersey and back. It wasn't too cold and I dressed warmly, but the swirling waters beneath me made me a little dizzy...and I second-guessed my decision.

When I got back on solid ground, I was glad. I think it's good for me to move out of my comfort zone and challenge myself - and I think it's good for you too. I have some "getting started" ideas in my current newsletter. You can get the current issue by clicking on this post's title.

Brooklyn Bridge

Victory is SWEET!

Whenever I have a victory, I make some time to celebrate it. Recently, I completed a very difficult, often overwhelming project that took two years to finish. Achieving my goal required a focus, faith, patience, and stamina that was way out of my comfort zone. It's that internal stretch that's my victory. That's what I celebrate: moving the boundaries of my comfort zone. That movement increases my confidence so that when doors to new opportunities open, I have the guts to walk through them.

My "victory dance" usually includes some fun stuff with those who helped me along. We get together for some good cheer, I usually make a toast with my favorite spirit and we enjoy high fives all around. I finish my celebration with a walk across a bridge. Yes, that's right, a bridge. And, the bigger the victory, the bigger the bridge.

My victory walk across a bridge does two things for me. First, it symbolizes leaving the old, crossing over something big, and going to a new place. Secondly, since heights are a bit of challenge for me, it anchors my belief that I am stronger than any fear or challenge.

So, to celebrate this latest victory, I chose the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. In early October, on a warm and sunny, perfect-weather-for-bridge-walking Saturday, I made the two-hour drive to Manhattan so I could anchor in my latest victory.

If you’ve ever been there or seen photos, you know how amazing it is! It’s one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, a National Historic Landmark that rises 135 feet above the water. Three towering stone arches connect the swag cables that support the mile-plus span that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn. Against the backdrop of skyscrapers, the bridge is a dramatic part of the New York skyline.

That day, when I got to the foot of the bridge on the Manhattan side, there it was, looming before me. For a moment, I watched the late morning crowd travel the boardwalk that's suspended high above and between the ease and west auto lanes. A little nervous but in true Victorious Woman style, I practically marched from Manhattan to Brooklyn. As I did, I felt confident and strong.

About two-thirds along, for some strange reason, I made the mistake of looking down. There, between the wooden planks of the walkway, I saw nothing but water beneath me…and it’s a long, long way down. I stopped in a panic and, at first, I got a little dizzy. Then I got control of my mind…of my SELF. Determined, I put one foot in front of the other, looked up and forward, and I finished my walk to Brooklyn…and then crossed it back to return to Manhattan.

When I thought about it later, I realized that’s how life is too. Sometimes we make an attempt at victory, but might get a little scared or maybe a bit overwhelmed or dizzy. While a task surely can be daunting, I’ve learned (and maybe you have too) that when we get really focused on the goal and the good that’s ahead, something inside us rallies and helps us do that one thing we really didn’t think was possible. And that's what makes a victory so sweet!

What you do when you’ve overcome challenges and pushed past your fears so you can become an expanded version of your already wonderful SELF? I’d love to hear how you celebrate victory! Send your idea to info@victoriouswoman.com and I’ll enter your name in a drawing for a copy of my book, Victorious Woman, Shaping Life’s Challenges into Personal Victories.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Victoriously,
Annmarie