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Find a Way
On September 2, 2013, Diana Nyad, at 64 years old, after 4 failed attempts and 35 years from her first attempt, swam from Cuba to Florida, accomplishing her life-long dream of swimming non-stop nation to nation. Due to forceful currents in the water, the 103 miles turned into 110 miles. It took her 52 hours and 44 minutes to reach her goal. Continually in the water, swimming across shark-and jellyfish infested waters, without the protection of a shark cage, at the final moment walking out of the water on the beach in Key West Florida, she spoke to an awaiting crowd and uttered these words; “I just want to say, number one, never, ever give up. Number two, you’re never too old to chase your dream, and number three, it looks like a solitary sport, but it’s a team.” In the movie, NYAD, Diana Nyad is portrayed as a persistent, dynamic, egocentric woman who would ‘find a way’ to get things done….no matter what.
In an interview with Annette Bening, who played Nyad in the movie, I learned of Bening’s compelling decision to play the role. At age 62, she began training with an Olympic swimming coach for the part. Stating she would not have had the ‘mindset’ had she been any younger to take on such a task. She wanted a challenge, something new, and she too would ‘find a way’ to get it done.
Each hair salon has its unique voice. Conversations are collected in the environment, the salon appointment book, phone messages and texts, and in the hustle and bustle and banter in discussion and in the process of hair styling. Yes, there is a certain dialogue in washing, cutting, and styling hair. The women and men who grace our salon share their dreams, goals, family stories, photos, celebrations, and concerns. At times we participate in a variety of life with each other, including weddings, bar mitzvahs, puppies, children and grandchildren, the passing of loved ones and we wish safe voyage to our clients who travel the world. Unlike Diana Nyad or Annette Bening, none of us has swum continually for 52 hours and 44 minutes or had the opportunity to act in a movie role, but this I know to be true: every single one of us had to ‘find a way’ to get things done in our lives.
In our salon, our clients don’t give up. I hear their stories daily. I wish I could mention each one of you, but for now, Nan McBride comes to mind. Retired twice in her seventies from corporate America, and started her own business over 15 years ago, still going strong, she has never, ever given up. This year she authored a book…. her life story.
Gandolfa Stegmann, 92 years young, acquired her life-coaching certification in her eighties, and has never been too old to chase her dreams. She is rocking on Facebook with ‘Retired Women’ in a private group with hundreds of followers.
Jennifer Romero and her husband host "Rosie on the House", Arizona’s No. 1 weekend radio broadcast, a call -in home improvement show and homeowner resource is rocking the airwaves. They also own Rosie Right Design, Build, and Remodel. As a working mother, wife, devoted daughter, friend, and Grandmother, Jennifer knows that owning a business is never a solitary sport, it takes a team.
I could write a book with stories of voices ‘finding a way’ that have gone on to do it. To us I say, "Never, ever give up; you’re never too old to chase a dream and life is never a solitary sport, it takes a team." And sometimes, the dreams we wait for ‘find a way’ to us.
Love,
Hilda
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