How to accomplish the “impossible”

When my husband and I met in 2009, I wasn't exactly what you'd call an active outdoorswoman.

Sure, I loved spending time in nature and prioritized keeping fit, but when it came to tackling bigger adventures I always felt I lacked the boldness and athleticism to do anything I considered remotely "hardcore". ⁠

As a German who'd recently moved to Canada, Chris was super keen to get out into the BC mountains and nearly as soon as we began dating we started going on hikes together. ⁠

I was nervous at first, asking if we could please start small, and not go on any hikes that would push my limits or that I might not be fit enough to handle. Chris always called me his "sporty" woman, which is nothing I had ever grown up feeling or, I'd argue, being - but Chris's support and confidence in me bolstered my own beliefs and we slowly started going on longer and more challenging hikes.⁠

Fast-forward to 2016 and many wonderful day-hikes later, when the conversation came up over drinks with a friend about Vancouver Island's rugged 47-kilometre Juan De Fuca Trail. Chris immediately jumped at the idea of hiking the trail, and all I could think was, I could never do a multi-day hike like that! ⁠Followed by, And I'd have to carry everything myself? For 4 days??

But one thing I am is stubborn (fellow Taureans, you feel me?), and the thought of being left behind on this adventure had me wondering if maybe I COULD tackle an overnight hiking trip like the Juan De Fuca.⁠..

And so we prepared, and we trained, and we tested our gear, and that summer I hiked that whole damn trail with all of my food and camping stuff and clothing on my very own back - wahoo!

Since that hike, I haven't looked back. What at one point in time felt impossibly daunting has led to a summertime ritual of backpacking adventures with some of the people I love the most.⁠

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How can you accomplish that big thing that feels impossible?

1.) Start small, but do something!

You don't have to tackle your big goal today (in fact, I'd advise against it), but you do need to start taking small steps in the right direction.

Did I decide to do a 50-kilometre multi-day trek the first time I hit the trail? Of course not. I started doing smaller day hikes that built up my stamina and confidence, and then slowly worked towards longer and more challenging adventures.

2.) Re-write the story you're telling yourself.

For so long I bought into the idea that I was a bit of a chicken, most certainly not a jock, and that my aptitudes lay in creative and intellectual, rather than physical pursuits. Where exactly this belief came from, I'll save for another day, but part of me deciding to pursue new goals meant working to change the way I viewed my abilities and what I was capable of.

How can you start to re-write your own story? Look at the evidence that lays immediately before you, and not what you've come to believe in the past. So, in my case, with each mountain I climbed, I began building the knowledge that yes, I am a hiker and that I am absolutely capable.

3.) Create a solid foundation, and then build your dream house.

Could I have leapt onto the trail and tackled a really challenging hike before I was ready? Well, yes, and this is one approach some people take (though I'd argue where nature and your health are concerned, the gamble is never worth it). But when planning our bigger hiking trips we've always used preparedness as the foundation on which adventure is built. The risk of inclement weather, or injuries, or just a miserable time, has encouraged us to ensure that we're ready as best as we can be for what the unforeseeable may throw our way.

I'm not telling you to get so caught up in getting things perfect that you never pursue the big thing that you're after. But by working to build your skills, putting plans into place and thinking things through before you execute, you have a much better chance of achieving something great.

4.) Stick close to those who are in your corner.

Chris's encouragement in me to keep tackling bigger and bigger hikes helped boost my own belief that I was capable. Surround yourself with people who can see not just your abilities, but your potential, and who will cheer you on as you chase your goals.

Okay, now it's your turn: have you ever done something you thought you never could do? How did you accomplish the seemingly impossible? Leave a comment below and share your own story!