GIVING TRAILS GIVE ZERO F@#KS!

I love coming back to Oleta River State Park and do so, every chance I get. Although I was born and raised in Miami, I only discovered this park at 46 when it was suggested that I try it, since there’s really no adequate place to train for a climb like Kili in South Florida. I guess because of what brought me to these trails, I call them the Giving Trails.

I was training to fulfill a lifelong dream of what I call giving-on-steroids, where I would not only voluntour on a mission trip in Africa, but I’d have the opportunity to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in the process to raise funds for a little man named Sipao. As if this wasn’t enough, I would also accomplish so many other vision board dreams as a result of this trip because God always over delivers!

These trails were there to GIVE me a place to train, a place to fall in love with hiking, a place to fall in love with or rather become addicted to nature as I’d never experienced it before. A place where I would learn the art and gain a passion for adventure coaching.

These trails were also witness to the unwavering support given by my friends and family. Yes, those who took time in the middle of the day on some idle closing-less Wednesday to venture out with me in the calm of fewer bikers than on the weekends, not wanting me to go alone; and those who braved it on the weekends when you had to keep up the pace to yield to these bikers- all doing their best to keep up.

These trails were witness on my alone days, to my tears when I thought I couldn’t take another step, when I didn’t know if I had what it took to climb this mountain as well as the tears of joy when I’d beat my previous visit’s time, when my FitBit hit the 10,000 step mark and I was only half way done and when I envisioned what this climb would mean for Sipao. These trails witnessed the best in me – me giving my all and me giving zero fucks at the thought of not being enough to fulfill this dream.

I know people tire of hearing me dare them face their fears, insisting that they will surprise themselves if they just dare to step outside of their comfort zone, convincing them that they are amazing and perfect and more than enough, if they would just dare to look deep inside to find that out. I’ve come to understand through coaching, that people are typically bombarded with negative messages, criticism, put downs and let downs, telling them that they are not any of these things that I previously mentioned.

What’s really sad is that many times, they themselves are the ones delivering these false messages. Please stop tolerating it, from yourself or from anyone else.

Please give zero fucks when someone tells you that you can’t or that you don’t deserve it or that you’ll never accomplish something. Please give zero fucks and fight for what you want, follow your dreams, dream them out loud and let the world see you in all your beautiful, passionate glory. Believe that we are at our best when we are living with passion and in pursuit of our biggest dreams. The seed of a dream would not be planted in your heart if you didn’t already possess everything you needed to accomplish them so go out and accomplish them.

I didn’t back then but since my trip to Africa, nearly two years ago, Sipao’s picture hangs on my loyal backpack and it goes where I go as a constant reminder of the importance of giving zero fucks about what the pessimists say. I love these:

I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Hence forth will I apply ALL my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy. – Og Mandino

When you follow your bliss… doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors; and where there wouldn’t be a door for anyone else. – Joseph Campbell

Now go confidently and follow your dreams!

www.dreamerssucceed.com