This trek to Everest is something I have put my mind to. That is why I know that I will be successful. I try to not have unattainable dreams, I mean what would be the point, it is unattainable, will never happen and then I end up feeling like I failed, never a good feeling.
I have family member and friends that are being uber supportive in my quest, mainly because they have seen the change in me, and know what I used to be able to do and will be able to do again. I'm sure that I have so-called "friends" that are reading this blog and snorting to themselves and thinking that I will never accomplish this feat.
One good friend told me to win some money, hire a helicopter and that I could be there in no time at all. But then said that they totally believed in me accomplishing the goal. That is a great friend, the humor that I enjoy and then the honest support. If I did win the lottery, I would be hiring a helicopter to fly me to my private island in the Caribbean, not to get to Everest. I would use the money to maybe hire a trainer, but oh well, if I do it all on my own, it is more of an accomplishment. And I had an aunt and uncle get me the Lonely Planet book on Nepal and a book on how to speak the Nepali language. Time to start studying!!!
Setting a goal and believing in yourself is what more people in the world need to do. A guy in my childhood hometown of Revelstoke accomplished his goal this weekend of skiing 2 million vertical feet in a single year and has set the first world record in Revelstoke since the historic Nels Nelsen ski jump record set in 1925.
Although I don't know Greg personally, he is a face that I recognize from town, and what he did is an inspiration to people like me that have also made a goal to do something athletic in the outdoors.
Here is a link to the video about his goal featuring Revelstoke people and locations:
http://player.vimeo.com/video/17912571
And here is the newspaper article about him accomplishing his goal on Mt. Mackenzie this weekend.
http://www.revelstokecurrent.com/2010/12/31/greg-hill-establishes-revelstokes-first-world-record-since-1925/
Thanks Greg for showing me once again that once you set your mind to something, and even if it seems like a stretch, anything is possible and congratulations on achieving your goal.