On Labor Day, Diana Nyad staggered out of the water in Key West, having swum from Cuba. She’d been swimming for nearly 53 hours with no shark cage to protect her. It was her fifth attempt over 35 years to reach her goal. Her first words were, “I have three messages. One is, we should never, ever give up. Two is, you’re never too old to chase your dream. Three is, it looks like a solitary sport, but it is a team.” We can learn plenty from her wise words.
Find your one thing and stick with it, even in the face of adversity
After failing on her fourth attempt, she said she was finished, that the box jellyfish (the most poisonous creatures in the sea) had won. But she came back a year later anyway. She’d consulted with the worldwide expert in box jellyfish (and brought him along). She’d had a new suit and mask designed by a prosthetic expert. She was ready to face the challenges with new resolve and solutions.
Don’t let your age (or other obstacles) stand in your way
Diana had been thinking of this for a long time. Though her body was aging and many said it was impossible, she stuck with her plan and overcame each obstacle. What’s your “I can’t” barrier to success? How can you work around it?
Remember those who help you to achieve your dreams
All of us receive some breaks along the way. Others quietly help us and allow us to celebrate the victory. We need to remember those who have supported us, encouraged us and given us the opportunities to achieve our dreams.
We won’t all receive worldwide recognition for our accomplishments, but we can all use the wisdom and inspiration from moments of great victory. We can all be spurred on to pursue those big, hairy, audacious dreams that are ours alone.