FEATURED JUNE 2009 GUEST: Kim Reynolds
Founder of Freelance Adventures, Inc.
INTENTION
Live with intention.
Walk to the edge.
Listen hard.
Practice wellness.
Play with abandon.
Laugh.
Choose with no regret.
Continue to learn.
Appreciate your friends.
Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.
-Mary Anne Radmacher
Kim Reynolds enjoying an adventurous day in the mountains!
Our Interview with Kim
Q: Through Mind Over Mountains, Chicks with Picks, and the dZi Foundation, you and your team have enhanced the lives of many people around the globe. What gave you the vision and courage to begin the initial journey, stay the course, and create such powerful and diverse avenues in which to empower others?
A: In 1998 I was the expedition leader to the unclimbed West Ridge of Pumori in the Himalaya. After many trips to Nepal I decided it was time to give something back to the people who had helped me in so many ways. In turn, our expedition raised $30,000 for a small Safe House in Kathmandu for girls at risk of child labor, abuse, being raised in jail, or ultimately, sold into the sex trade. On a prior trip I lived with these girls and learned that the house was in danger of closing therefore the money our expedition raised kept the house alive.
Meanwhile, climbing a big peak takes a tremendous commitment towards
training and preparation so you can imagine the disappointment that comes with not reaching the summit. That was our story on Pumori, but for the first time the summit seemed insignificant compared to the smiles on those girls faces, the hugs, and the gratitude that came from their hearts due to our fund raising efforts. This moment changed me.
I made a promise to myself that my outdoor pursuits & career would have a component of giving back. When I started Chicks with Picks and Mind Over Mountains, I made sure they each had a component of philanthropy. To date, Chicks with Picks has raised $145,000 for local women's shelters and $6,000 for the Ouray Ice Park. My intention is to inspire the outdoor community to look outside of itself, because after all, if we don't help each other, who will?
This expedition inspired the start of the dZi Foundation, a non-profit
dedicated to the health, education and welfare of Himalayan communities. The dZi now has a staff of six people, eight on the Board of Directors and close to a million dollar budget.
Kim Reynolds with girls at the Happy Home
Q: Teaching and leading others can be incredibly rewarding and it can also, at times, be incredibly draining. How do you recharge, stay energized and create a nurturing balance between your personal and professional life?
A: Running my own business takes a tremendous amount of time, self-motivation and focus. When I’m engaged in one of my programs, I’m giving it 110%. The challenge is finding enough balance to prevent burn-out since there is always something I can be working on or working towards. If I’m not careful, the possibilities and tasks can seem endless and overwhelming!
It is important for me to pursue my own goals and passions in the outdoors including ice climbing, backcountry skiing, kayaking and biking. More and more, I appreciate the simpler things such as a great conversation with a friend, walking my Australian Shepherd, and practicing yoga & meditation. It’s my own sense of presence, calm and peace during these activities that bring me solace amidst my busy life.
Kim Reynolds teaching Yoga
Q: In your experience what is the greatest mental obstacle most people struggle with when it comes to achieving their goals, negotiating transitions in life, and embracing more personal power?
A: The greatest obstacles people face are the negative voices inside their own head. Facing fears, overcoming challenges and achieving physical goals can give someone a tremendous amount of confidence and self esteem. I love what I do because I get to witness people in this process of self-discovery, reaching for their potential and seeing their own light shine in the process.
An enthusiastic participant learning new skills and having fun!
Q: At the end of a retreat or ice climbing workshop, what is the ultimate outcome you hope to achieve for the participants?
A: My programs give people the opportunity to step away from their everyday life, seek adventure, learn new skills, have fun, meet like-minded women and gain new perspectives that will transform some aspect of their life. I want people to wake up, be inspired to be the best they can be, make the most out of life and learn how to apply this experience to their daily routine.
Climbing group having a fun time together on the ice.
Q: What is the most powerful choice/decision a person can make that will empower them to take action and create lasting change in their life?
A: To create sustainable change a person has to learn how to break patterns that keep them stuck, create new behaviors and positive ways of thinking. As a Life Coach, I hold people accountable for what they want and give them tools that help them to move forward. It’s a dynamic, exciting relationship of discovery that empowers the client to do this work themselves.
Q: What has surprised you the most about the human spirit during your experience of leadership, adventure and philanthropy?
A: I appreciate that you asked this question because I believe the human spirit always prevails. It is a privilege to help people tap into their true nature and begin to fully “shine”. This naturally happens when people step away from their everyday lives and leave behind their personal possessions, willing to face fears and use their natural, personal resources. With this, people begin to clarify what is important, they innately give more to others, forgive themselves, and are more present and appreciative of the simpler things that really matter.
Mother and children at the Nutritional Rehabilitation Center in Nepal
Q: What percentage of climbers, outdoor enthusiasts and world adventurers do you feel are involved in "giving back" to the communities (many of them being third world countries), in which they spend a great deal of their active time?
A: When we started the dZi Foundation, there were fewer climbers/adventurers giving back at the time. I’ve noticed that more and more outdoor enthusiasts are looking for deeper meaning and another sense of purpose in their lives and find this through giving back. It is natural for the “aging athlete” to eventually come to terms with the question “is this still my passion and/or what lies beyond the physical realm?”
Many elite athletes are attached to this identity and it takes intentional soul searching to find an even greater purpose.
I believe that the desire for personal achievement becomes less and less important as we become more self-actualized and confident in who we are beyond our bodies. Even with that realization, it can be challenging for athletes to replace that passion and find the same sense of purpose. I was fortunate to discover that giving back and helping others was as, if not more, meaningful and fulfilling to me. I was lucky to find a way to combine my passion for the outdoors with helping people in some way.
Jim Nowak and Kim Reynolds: Co-founders of the dZi Foundation
Q: Do you have a personal "mantra" that keeps you on target and focused for your own personal aspirations?
A: Until recently, I took my mantra for granted and didn’t even realize I had one. My mantra is: believe. In the last few years, it dawned on me that I have always followed my heart and my dreams even though I had no real clue how to do this, no instruction manual or role model at an early age. I trusted a deep “knowing” I’ve had since I was a child because I could always visualize what I wanted and I kept finding the meandering path. Now that I am older and a little wiser, I understand that the key to my success was that I never doubted myself or what was possible.
In a nutshell: I could “see” what I wanted, I believed I could get there and I kept moving towards it until I eventually found my way. Luckily, I am also resourceful, determined and positive by nature. It’s honestly that simple.
copyright: Kim Reynolds 2009 |
