LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST – ERIK WEIHENMAYER
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine NolanHave you ever had days when everything seems to go wrong? It may feel like it is easier to throw in the towel but persistence and determination can pay off. Life is about winning and making the most of each and every day. Look the obstacles straight in the eye and move ahead.
Recently, a gentleman by the name of Erik Weihenmayer was a speaker at a management class that I attended and his accomplishments, visions and attitude were simply amazing. He put life in a totally different and renewed perspective. It was truly inspirational and uplifting and his story is meant to be shared.
You see, Erik is blind. He lost his vision when he was only 13 years old but has never let the darkness that overcame his world stop him from living and carrying out his goals and his passion for life. He is a former middle school teacher and wrestling coach and today travels the world to places like Hong Kong, Switzerland, Chile and Thailand and is giving others the hope and the promise that dreams and ambitions can be fulfilled.
Erik is an accomplished mountain climber, paraglider and skier. His feats have earned him an ESPY Award, recognition by Time Magazine for reaching the summit of the world’s highest peak-Mount Everest, induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, an ARETE Award for the superlative athletic performance of the year, Helen Keller Lifetime Achievement Award, Nike’s Casey Martin Award and the Freedom Foundation’s Free Spirit Award. Weihenmayer has also carried the Olympic Torch for the Summer and Winter Games.
As if all these accomplishments are not impressive enough, Erik has also stood on top of Carstenz Pyramid which is the tallest peak in Austral-Asia. He has climbed the seven summits which are the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. There are not many people that you can put into this class. He has scaled a 3300-foot overhanging granite monolith in Yosemite, a 3000-foot ice waterfall in the Himalayas and climbed a rock face on the 17,000 foot Mt. Kenya.
Erik has participated in grueling races finishing successfully with his adrenaline catapulting him to the finish line.
Being a role model was inevitable. After his huge feat of reaching the top of Mt. Everest, he was invited to teach the students of Braille Without Borders, a school for the blind in Tibet, all about mountaineering and rock climbing. He taught them the meaning of never giving up and pursuing your aspirations no matter what your setbacks may be.
In 1999, he joined a paraplegic to climb the 3000-foot face of El Capitan and then climbed an 800-foot rock tower in Moab, Utah with a double-leg-amputee and scientist at Harvard’s prosthetics lab. This was the first step to the collaboration and creation of the three mens’ new non-profit organization, No Barriers. This foundation promotes innovative ideas, approaches and assistive technologies for those living with disabilities and gives them the help that they need to continue to live and fulfill active lives.
Erik just knew it was his mission to reach out to others and share his experiences and his outlook on life. He has written ‘Touch the Top of the World’ and co-authored ‘The Adversity Advantage: Turning Everyday Struggles Into Everyday Greatness’. His first book was published in ten countries and six languages and ultimately turned into a feature film which was aired on A&E in June, 2006. He has been seen in some of the best-selling publications including Time, Forbes and Reader’s Digest as well as making the cover of a handful of magazines. Erik has made guest appearances on Oprah, Nightline, The Tonight Show, NBC’s Today Show and Nightly News and Good Morning America.
Erik is also known for his award-winning film, Farther Than the Eye Can See. It has gained him enormous recognition in the world of filmmaking and is known as one of the top twenty adventure films of all time. He was awarded first prize at 19 film festivals and nominated for two Emmys. The most touching part of all is that the film has raised over $600,000 for charitable organizations.
You can do anything you set your mind to and Erik Weihenmayer knows what it takes to conquer adversity. He mesmerizes crowds with his motivational speaking abilities and encourages with his life story. He will move you with his enthusiasm, quick wit, humor and fortitude and leave you with a drive to conquer the world.
PHOTO CREDITS: www.touchthetop.com, Didrik Johnck
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