pure serenity
Shrewsbury
I'm in my local gym, setting up my weights for body pump and a "strange lady"
approaches??? Right out of the blue she says "I've been watching you", "I've
seen you working hard and I'm looking for ladies to join a ladies crew to row
3000 miles across the Atlantic ocean!". Can I ask you a question???....... Have
you ever been approached with a proposal like this? Do you know what is involved
in rowing the Atlantic Ocean? Fortunately, a few years earlier, my son returned
home one day and announced he was rowing the Atlantic ocean - What????????? I
quickly started to get as much information together to understand what was
involved so I could support him as much as possible despite knowing the risks
(eek!!). Unfortunately, my son's challenge did not happen as planned however,
had he not brought the challenge to my attention and had I not researched it, I
would not have had the foggiest idea about what was involved in the Talisker
Whisky Atlantic Challenge (TWAC) and thought this lady was "crazy"!! Strangely
enough, I was really excited that this "strange lady" had approached "me"! "I
want to break the Guinness world record for the oldest crew of ladies ever to
row and ocean" she said. "Wouldn't that be just amazing" I thought to
myself?!?!? Now...being 53years old, very near to being able to take flexi
retirement, I was frequently asked about when I was retiring like I was well
past my sell by date!!! What is it about ladies of a certain age that people
seem to think we are "passed it!" After a little thought (not much) I was in! I
hadn't got a clue how we were going to raise a minimum of £100,000 plus charity
funds to complete the challenge, I couldn't row, I despised the rowing machine
in the gym, I disliked deep water because I like to see what's below the surface
of the water (thank you very much), plus so many more reasons for not accepting
the challenge! "If not you, then who? If not now, then when?" To cut a long
story short - you can see from the picture - we did it!!! The details for the
trip are being saved for a book, after all everyone has a book within them!
What's the point of me sharing this story? Not a lot really?!? I'm a very
ordinary person (Mum, Wife, Midwife, Life Coach and Ocean Rower!) who had the
privilege of doing something really unusual. I cannot put into words how
incredible the experience was. I follow the annual TWAC and am there with the
crews in spirit, knowing how exhilarating and frightening it can be out there in
a small ocean rowing boat on that amazing ocean. I believe ordinary people can
achieve incredible things if they want it and if they really believe in
themselves hence, my passion for life coaching. I want to help women achieve
those things they only dream of, I want to help women believe in themselves and
their body, to gain confidence and empower them to lead a fulfilled life. I want
to help women be the best version of themselves and influence their children and
their children's children. We only have one life - lets live it!
