coffeeandprozac.com
Home Page For Those Of Us Who Need A Daily Kick In The Butt!
Never
Say
Uncle!
Attack
Your
Life!
ARCHIVES:
12/06-06/07
We would love it if you would provide a
link to us on your website.
Click Here!
Sir Edmund Hillary - Humble Conqueror
Four years later Sir Edmund would be the first man to the South Pole. He also became at least the first man to climb Everest and stand on the North and South poles. Although I do know he is the first I do not know how many followed. I have got a hunch it is a pretty small club.
This unassuming man was not born into this passion for adventure. He was the son of a beekeeper for goodness sakes. He was the first to achieve what is now a symbol of many winning over its environment. To climb Everest means to battle the elements and your own physical endurance but surely you must defeat any self-doubt and insecurities as well. It was Hillary who said that "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."
But why would you even want to take on this challenge. It is the climber George Mallory who uttered the most famous reason for climbing Everest, "Because it is there." Hillary would seem to agree however when he said, "Nobody climbs mountains for scientific reasons. Science is used to raise money for the expeditions, but you really climb for the hell of it."
He certainly did not climb for the fame. By all accounts the man is extremely humble and preferred that no one make a fuss over him.
Nor did he do it for the money. He spent his entire life devoted to charity work, including the building of schools and hospitals for the Sherpa community in Nepal.
I think there is a very important lesson in his accomplishments and the manner in which he attained them. How much more driven can you be if your sole focus is on obtaining the goal and not the plaudits that follow.
You and I may never climb Mt. Everest but we should have goals and desire to challenge ourselves. We need to keep our eye on the ball and forget about the glory.
This leads me to one final inspirational quote from a man who inspired many. His feats will be read about by our children's children. "People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things."
If anyone should know it would be Sir Edmund Hillary.
----------------
-----------------------------------------------