What does sailing and women’s empowerment have in common? The answer is The Maiden Factor. It is not just a gorgeous sailboat crewed by a team of impressive women competing in the Ocean Globe Race– a race sailed without modern technology, such as GPS, it is also a movement to empower girls through education. And round the Cape Horn while doing so.
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2024 the crew on the Maiden Factor recorded letters to their younger self (an activity I sometime ask my coaching clients to do). I listened to their stories. What inspiration. Here is Najiba’s letter to her younger self. Backstory: Not too long ago she was forced to leave her home in Afghanistan due to Taliban’s rule. When she was invited to join the Maiden crew, she first had to google what sailing was! Now she has soon sailed around thew world. Talk about overcoming adversity and having resilience. https://fb.watch/qG38xjRt9M/
I stumbled upon this race while mindlessly scrolling Facebook posts. It caught my eye because two of the boats competing in this race are Finnish (Galina With Secure and The Spirit of Helsinki), having grown up on the northern west coast of Finland where we have built ships and boats for centuries, I was curious. Now I am hooked. I have been living vicariously through this race from the forests of New Jersey. Forests are good, but as a coastal native I miss the ocean.
While I cheer for my fellow Finns, the Maiden crew has become my inspiration. They show us how you can break boundaries, challenge yourself, and succeed while empowering others. The team on Maiden is an example of how you create a high performing team while combining expertise and experience with new talent (for some of the crew this is their first experience sailing, and they did it while crossing the Southern Ocean). Brought together by a shared mission, and an adventurous spirit – to succeed in an extremely challenging task. They are currently in first place overall in the race. I hope to read the book one day about how they did it.
Into the deep end – when a middle-aged woman learns to swim
Perhaps I am a “wannabe-sailor” stuck in the forest. I have only sailed once, on my high-school boyfriend’s uncle’s boat, I still remember it. When I turned 50 a couple of years ago the challenge I had set for myself was to learn to sail – but then the pandemic hit and that was it. I had to postpone the sailing. Instead, I set my eyes on what carries the boat. I know how to swim, but poorly. So, about a month ago I enrolled in swimming classes -to make friends with water. And like with all relationships, it takes time. Under the patience guidance and firm encouragement of my swim instructor I am conquering freestyle and my fear of depth. I have come to enjoy being under water more than above. Almost. One day I will dive.
As a coach I am comfortable in the role of encouraging and challenging others. To nudge them beyond their comfort zone. I often return to the notion of having heart and backbone in leadership when I coach.
To encourage and challenge.
It has been an eye-opening experience for me to be on the other side, to be the one being challenged to go into the deep end, even if I am doubting my ability to float. Admitting my fears to myself and my instructor was the key to braving the deep end and trusting that water can be my friend as it embraces me and carries me forward. Daring to be vulnerable, as Brené Brown has taught us.
I have swallowed more pool water than I care to remember. And I am not done yet.
People often ask me why I am learning to swim and this “old” age. The question frustrates me a little – so we are supposed to stop learning after 50? I admit it is more difficult to learn a new skill at this age. Seems my muscles need a longer time and more repetition to remember. Mostly I am learning how to swim because it opens a new world for me. It gives me a sense of freedom and mastery. And the day you stop challenging your fears and learn new skills, that is the day you have stopped living.
We can find inspiration in others for our own personal growth, like the Maidens are doing for girls around the world. And for me.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, ask yourself: How are you empowering women and girls? Who is inspiring you to go beyond the comfort of your couch? How can you inspire others? What is your deep end to conquer?
You can learn more about the mission of The Maiden Factor here: https://themaidenfactor.org/
And if you want to sail the oceans of the world from the comfort of your couch, join the Ocean Globe Race – Official
#empoweringwomen #iwd2024 #sailing #conqueryourfears #growthmindset #OGR24 #swimming
