Adventure, Gratitude, Health & Wellness, Leadership, Morning Motivators, Motivation, Time Management
Leave a comment

One thing I learned walking through Antarctica

Sometimes it can take awhile for appreciation deep down to set in.

In November 2016 four weeks before a trip of the lifetime sailing 1,000 miles from the southern tip of Argentina to Antarctica for an adventure race I sprained my ankle. 
 
What I may not have appreciated at the time is how much I filled up the resiliency bucket. 
 
The most I could manage was running a total of 20 minutes prior to leaving to run 200KM + in deep snow and ice. 
 
I did, however, do some of the best rehab of my life in the 10 days after the injury. I also controlled what I could control and was laser-focused on staying in shape and pushing mentally through barriers every minute of every day. 
 
I don’t know if it’s fully sunk in 18 months later what that Antarctica trip will mean to me 20 years from now. 
 
What I learned walking through Antarctica is that life is a gift. I appreciated every sunrise, and sunset every glimmer of an iceberg and every crackle of falling ice into the Ocean. 
 
I grew more in the month prior to departing, on the 2.5-day voyage there and week competing than I had all year. 
 
Just like you only see the 10 percent of the iceberg above the water line, there is a depth of experience, anxiety, and resiliency that lives underneath the surface. 
 
What do you want to look back on 20 years from now and see as your gift?
 
Colin

The kick in the pants you need. Sign-up for a better start to your work day.