It seems only fitting to kick off a new category of writing with the person who inspired me to start it, Turia Pitt.
I have just finished Turia Pitt’s second book, ‘Unmasked’. Reading it is an experience, it’s like attending a self-help seminar or working with a life coach. Turia shares her story, which if you’re unfamiliar with it then please keep on reading, and the whole time, it makes the reader feel like they should be doing more, pushing more, achieving more, and forever working on new goals. When I started to get towards the end of the book, I got myself in a panic, thinking, I don’t have any goals, there’s nothing I really want to achieve. What am I doing with my life?! It was at that point I realised I had to sit down, and work through what I want to achieve out of this world.
I jumped into a hot shower, the place where all of life’s problems can be solved, and I had a think. At first I thought, I want to own my own house one day- that’s a good goal, before realising that was such a superficial goal, and one that if I really thought about it, I didn’t want to achieve anyway.
Then it hit me, the goal I have always wanted to achieve since I was a young girl, I want to write a book. It seems outlandish and far-fetched, but I want to write one; even if noone ever reads it. From here, I started thinking about what I could do to start towards this goal, and I realised that I needed to write more, and an area that I really want to write about is inspirational women. Since joining the professional work force a couple of years ago, I have really been seeking out the inspiration and guidance of women who have achieved great things with their life, and so I want to be able to share the people who have had a profound impact on me with the world. Some may be people you have heard of, others maybe not. The thing in common will be that they will all be inspirational.
Which brings me back to Turia. Since she was the one who prompted my kick into action with this, it is only fair that she be the first topic. So I bring to you, a short introduction into the wonderful life of Turia Pitt (as described in her book).
Turia Pitt is basically a household name now in Australia. Say her name and people will normally be able to tell you a few basic things about her. At her core, Turia is a fighter and a pusher, someone who stubbornly goes against the norm and forges her own path, and she has been this person since before the life changing moment when she got stuck in a bushfire. She was caught in a bushfire whilst trying to complete an ultramarathon (a 100km run) so I think that tells you everything you need to know about the person she has always been. She has always loved challenges and hard work, and seems to enjoy the challenges that most of us feel exhausted even thinking about.
The truly inspirational part about Turia isn;t how she has fought her way back to great health, or gone on to complete two Ironmans when she was told she might never walk again, but it’s that throughout all that she has been through, she has retained her compassion and her care for others, and her biggest goals these days all seem to be about the happiness of others; by raising money for charity, by working with others to achieve their dreams, or even just by organising trips where people can go and challenge themselves with her.
Whilst reading Turia’s book, one thing that struck me is that I thought, if I knew Turia before the fire, I wonder if we would have been friends. That intense personality and competitive nature would probably have put me off, and I am not sure that I would have gotten along with her, but I realised throughout the book that the tough exterior doesn’t mean she doesn’t have compassion, and care and a fun loving nature too.
Turia has accomplished more than most people ever will, and she has done it after her life was changed forever. She is an inspiration to anyone who has been told they can’t achieve something, or even just anyone who is feeling a little lost and not sure what they can achieve. Her story has given me a kick up the butt when I really needed it, and for that I will be grateful.
I hope that Turia is just the first out of a long list of inspirational women that I hope to share with you, and I hope that Turia’s story gives you a kick on the butt to start achieving your goals, just like it did for me!
A Turtle Stranger 