Dare to Try

2 minute read

Would you rather be wrong about thinking you cannot run a marathon or right and actually run a marathon? 

Let’s chat about how just because you don’t think you can’t do something, doesn’t mean it’s true. 

Adventures have given me the opportunity to share my journeys and connect with people young and old, near and far. As an H2O for Life ambassador, it has been incredibly rewarding to see students take the message and run, walk, dance, craft, build, or do whatever is in their power to help with the global water crisis. There are also times where the very message I share, intended to encourage, uplift, and inspire is received with people sharing their doubts, fears, and limiting beliefs. 

The discouragement often would be, “I could never run a marathon”. Naturally, my next question would be, “Oh, you’ve tried? Which one did you try?” 

No one. 

Not one single person.

Never has anyone who shared this belief dared to try.

No one who has run a marathon did it without actually attempting it first. It is physically impossible to run a marathon unless you try. You must be willing to try, which means you must be willing to fail. Doubts need to be set aside to uncover and discover what is true and what is fear covering truth.

“I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail, than to attempt nothing and succeed.”

— Robert Schuller

I recently watched an uplifting movie based on a true story of someone who believed that they couldn’t run a marathon and later found out they were wrong. It is not the first time and it will not be the last time you hear a story like this one. That story can be yours. Maybe it’s not running, but whatever “your thing” is.

“You must be willing to give up what you are, to become what you want to be.”

— Orrin Woodward

To everyone who has ever told me that it would never be possible for them to run a marathon, I hope you are wrong. I was. Maybe it’s not a marathon, but another “I could never…” limiting belief that might not be true. Daring to try is a part of the process, and makes crossing that finish line all the more rewarding. 

I believe in YOU even and especially when you don’t. Your version of extraordinary is on the other side of trying, sometimes failing, and always trying again.

• Is there something you’ve always told yourself that you couldn’t possibly do? 

• How can you accept failure as part of the process instead of a personal failure?

• What would be the first step towards discovering your own possibilities?

Sisters4Water: Meet These Water Warriors

4 Minute Read, 7 minute Video

Endurance has been a gift in my life. Endurance can be a tool to lift others up out of a life of poverty, but also a tool to inspire others. Part of that gift of endurance is sharing it with others so that they can take the message and run. Or, weave. 

Inspiration has the power to create change. Not just a feeling, but a force that can be channeled for good. 

In 2011, I was invited to speak at the Chautauqua Institute. This summer resort is nestled within 2,070 acres on the shores of Chautauqua Lake, NY, with lectures, performing arts, interfaith worship and programs, and recreational activities. After sharing my presentation at the Hall of Philosophy, I met two lovely young ladies, Ella & Mabel. 

Learning about the water crisis made me feel inspired to act, and now they were inspired, too. 

Since 2012, these two compassionate, committed, artists and activists have created have formed Sisters4Water, where they are devoted to changing the world, one potholder at a time. 

They use their hands and hearts to make potholders, all with donated materials so that 100% goes directly to H2O for Life. To date, they’re raised $14,000 to fund projects in Malawi, Kenya, India, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Ethiopia. They are currently raising funds for a water project right here in the states, Navajo Nation in New Mexico for 5 water storage tanks.

Meet the water warriors behind Sister4Water and their journey from inspiration to action in a short interview:

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself:  

We are artists and activists devoted to changing the world, one potholder at a time. This is our ELEVENTH year weaving potholders in support of water rights. All of our materials are donated, so every penny we make goes directly to H2O for Life. The potholders are 100% cotton, made from loops from Harrisville Designs, a mill in New Hampshire. Therefore, they are entirely made in the USA! This is Ella's eleventh year weaving potholders and Mabel's seventh. Last summer we raised $6,600 for the 1872 students and 18 teachers of Matsimbe Secondary School in Malawi. We have raised over $14,000 since 2016! Our current project is Navajo Nation in New Mexico, where our $1,800 pledge will provide 5 water storage tanks.

2. Why water? What was your turning point from idea to action?

You are really the reason we’ve chosen water! We still remember in your speech how a hamburger takes 650 gallons of water to make. Water is so integral to our survival. We need it for sanitation, cooking, drinking… everything! And during a pandemic, with all this constant hand washing, where would we be without it? Once we realized how important water is, it seemed obvious that water was what we wanted the center of our activism to be.

3. What was the biggest wave that came your way on your journey?

Our biggest wave was probably being invited to the 2018 Water Ball from H2O for Life. It was a challenge to articulate our story, but it was so powerful and moving to be able to inspire so many people that night through such a large platform.

4. What’s one fact about water that moves you the most?

The fact that the human body cannot survive three days without water really emphasizes the importance water has in our society and to our species. At the end of the day, it’s a humbling fact that reminds us that water impacts all of us, and motivates us to keep working to improve water access.

5. Tackling the water crisis is no small feat. What encourages you?

Whenever we finish project, getting photos of progress and completion is so gratifying and always encourages us. But on a day-to-day basis, we are so grateful to have a network of family and friends that are constant pillars of support.

I inspired them, but they continue to inspire me. Inspiration can be a two-way street!

• Ella & Mabel have inspired me to learn a new skill and crochet and knit, myself. 

• Ella & Mabel have inspired me to continue to find creative ways to support water projects. 

• Ella & Mabel have inspired me to know that I am not alone in the fight for clean water for all. We are in this, together! 

They have inspired me to craft for water by creating up-cycled nautical-themed “coastal coasters” and selling them at farmers markets to support water projects. When I can’t use my legs or arms with running or cycling or swimming or rowing, I can use my hands just like they do. 

With the holidays right around the corner, you can give the gift of life by placing an order for their homemade potholders by emailing Ella & Mabel. See their work on IG or the selection of patterns and colors section on their website. 

So if you can craft, craft. If you can’t craft, support those who do. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something; And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”

— Edward Evertt Hale

To learn more about Sister4Water, check out their Keynote Speech at the 2018 H2O for Life Water Ball.

Endurance: Faith Was My Missing Piece

3 minute read, 3 minute video

You have two friends and they both go on the same trip. They come back to you with stories to tell. The version shared by one friend is full of highlights, new memories & experiences, with every potential setback painted with a silver-lining. The version shared by your other friend is the complete opposite with every detail highlighted about their unmet expectations unfulfilled desires. Same journey, yet completely different experience.  

That is the same difference I have felt with developing a faith life behind & beyond my adventures. 

Arguably, the hardest part of setting off on an endurance challenge is failure. The bigger the challenge the bigger that potential becomes for failure. When you are challenging your limits, failure becomes a real possibility. What happens then?

If you try enough adventures, sooner or later, it happens. My greatest “failure” was during a non-stop 3,300-mile bicycle race called Race Across America. It was an attempt to break a world record, but instead I broke myself.

Check out this video about how success was found despite the failure.

Failing without faith is hard. In the past, I would be consumed with feeling like I left myself & others down. I would question if I tried hard enough or if I should even keep trying. Striving for perfection in endurance & achievement was an endless battle that left me arriving at one mirage to the next. Even with successful endurance feats, there was a sense of loss. My identity was closely tied to a particular achievement and without the goal, I felt lost. 

Here’s what happened when faith became part of my life. 

God: first. 

Endurance: second. 

I thought the problem was “endurance,” and therefore the solution was to entirely get rid of it, and so I committed to not doing any endurance challenges for a year. I learned that the problem wasn’t endurance, per se, but it was making endurance my “idol” or “god”. When anything but God comes first, even gifts & talents can become destructive and damaging. I had a gift with endurance but didn’t know how to steward it. Once the order was in a place it needed to be, endurance challenges & adventures transformed in a way that I never anticipated. They were filled with more joy, peace, and contentment. 

Knowing God and who He is all about also gave me a sense of peace knowing that His love doesn’t change depending on my success or failure.

Here’s why: God gave me my every ability. If it turned out that I failed to complete my latest challenge running 138-miles nonstop across Maine, would God be disappointed in me?

Nope. Nadda. Absolutely not. 

God doesn’t judge me on abilities He didn’t give me. I may judge myself and feel a sense of personal failure, especially if and when I care more about pleasing and serving myself than serving God and trusting His plan.

I used to believe that a Christian life was about what you give up or lose, but now I see how I was wrong. It’s about how much God desires to add to our lives and give to us for our good. Run or not, I have nothing to lose.