FEATURED APRIL 2009 GUEST: Roz Savage

Ocean rower, author, blogger and inspirational speaker

"Those who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt those who are doing it." - Unknown author

*An interview with Roz: Rowing the oceans of the world and how writing her own obituary changed the course of her life forever and for the better!

Q: Last year you completed the first leg of rowing solo across the Pacific Ocean, and in a few months you will launch your second leg from Hawaii to Tuvalu. With your busy travel schedule and speaking engagements, how are you preparing physically for your next journey?

A: You’re right – the clock is ticking! If the weather cooperates, I will launch on May 24th which is coming up fast. When I was preparing to row the Atlantic, I was training 3-16 hours a day to ensure my body would be up for the task – but perhaps I trained too hard. Shortly after beginning the journey, I developed painful tendinitis in my shoulders, and was relying on painkillers for most of the crossing.

So I decided to try a different tack when I began preparing for the Pacific row. Instead of spending hours each day training on a rowing machine, I did 30-60 minutes of cardio at least 5 days a week with weight training 3 days a week. That really worked for me during Stage 1 of my Pacific row – thankfully, the tendinitis never returned and for the most part, I felt really good. I’ve kept that routine up as best I can ever since. I think the key is being consistent. I tend to do my workouts first thing in the morning – before I log on to email and get sucked into everything else that is going on!

As for nutrition, I generally eat pretty healthily. I tend to eat 5 small meals throughout the day rather than 3 large ones. Whenever possible, I like to eat organic and try to get plenty of fresh vegetables and lean protein, like chicken and fish. I do have a weakness for caramel lattes, but it’s a justifiable indulgence in my opinion – 3 months alone on the open ocean is quite the detox regimen!
 
Q: Since the beginning, starting with your solo row across the Atlantic in 2005, what has been the single greatest challenge, both mental and physical, you have faced and overcome?

A: Without question, rowing oceans is physically very hard – I’ve taken all sorts of knocks out there, gritted my teeth through unrelenting pains from tendinitis, nursed angry sores on my bottom caused by salt water and chafing, and this summer I even broke a finger on the Pacific. And there are the technical failures to contend with too. What do you do when all four of your oars break? When both of your water makers break? When your satellite phone breaks too, leaving no connection with the outside world – what then?

But for me the toughest part of rowing oceans is the psychological aspect - for 100 or so days my whole world is the sea, the sky, and one tiny little rowboat. People have often asked me if I get scared being out there all alone, and the truth is yes – at first I did. But there’s only so long you can carry on being scared. Fear gets old pretty quickly. Eventually you realize that you’re still in one piece and that you’ll be okay. Sometimes anger and frustration take over – I find “scream therapy” to be a helpful remedy in those instances.

But after you get past the “why me?” and “I don’t think I can get through another second of this!” there comes a time when you just dig down really deep and find one teensy ounce of strength left. And if you can just pull that up and say, okay one more stroke. Just one more stroke, I can do this…and you carry on saying that, well, before you know it, you’ve rowed yourself to Hawaii.

Acceptance is a powerful thing. Once you truly accept a situation for what it is, rather than projecting your hopes, expectations or fears on top of it, you realize that you can find calm in just about any storm. There is something positive to be found in every situation. And yes, I do believe that the greater the suffering, the greater the learning. To grow you have to get outside your comfort zone and getting outside your comfort zone is surprisingly uncomfortable!

And if all else fails, and you fall short, go easy on yourself. You can't do better than your best - and some days that best is going to be better than others. You're only human. Regret, shame and guilt are all destructive feelings - to your body as well as your mind. So don't give them headspace.

Ancient Chinese proverb say: Fall down 9 times, get up 10. Forgive yourself, let it go, and try again tomorrow.
 
Q: What keeps you motivated during those long hours, days and months rowing solo across such a huge body of water with not another soul in sight?

A: I’m often asked how I cope with the boredom and loneliness of rowing alone for 100 days. We've all had those moments (haven't we?!) in the gym or out on a run, when we feel an overwhelming urge to stop. It's not the physical exhaustion that gets to us. It's the boredom.

A fantastic discovery that has made a world of difference on the Pacific crossing: audio books! I listened to 62 books from California to Hawaii and it’s just such a wonderful way to escape into a different world. I so looked forward to listening to my books that I used it to stay disciplined out there. The rule was that I could only listen to a book if my bottom was in the rowing seat and my arms were pulling those oars. Great motivation! Fortunately Audible.co.uk is very kindly giving me a re-supply of 100 new books for Stage 2 – I can’t wait to dive into them!

But when the going gets really rough, what keeps me motivated? I force myself stop and think about why I’m rowing alone across the ocean.

You can do this too for any task that seems overwhelming. Remind yourself why you're doing it. Keep asking yourself why until you get to a really, really big reason why it matters that you do this.

For example, here’s a typical day’s internal dialogue at sea: Why am I doing this? Because I have to finish this rowing shift. Why? So I can reach my target for the day. Why? So I can get to Hawaii. Why? So I can talk to the newspapers. Why? So I can talk about my environmental message. Why? So I can save the world! I'm exaggerating here, but you get the idea.

Q: Can you describe some of the feelings and thoughts you have when you first lose sight of the shore, knowing you have 90-100 days of rowing ahead of you? And again when you finally reach land and civilization, having accomplished your goal?

A:  When I set out rowing from San Francisco, the offshore winds were so strong that for more than an hour, I was rowing as hard as I could just to stand still. I remember looking up at the Golden Gate Bridge and thinking, “Am I ever going to get out from the Bay?” I could have just sat there and thought that one stroke wasn’t going to get me very far. But when you break a big task up into lots of smaller actions, it suddenly doesn’t seem so impossible to achieve. It took me ages to get away from the California coast – the winds were blowing me so hard back toward dry land, that there were absolutely times when I thought, “I don’t think I can do this.”

That’s when I must remind myself "I am not my thoughts."

We all have those little negative voices that pop up in our heads - the key is to remember that those voices are not who we are. Perhaps they’re echoes of people from our past, or our own self-doubts. They will always be there, but we can choose whether or not to listen to them. I try to discipline myself to acknowledge them, say to them, "Thanks for sharing", and then ignore them if they do not serve me well.

Another helpful tactic for me when the going gets rough: repeat a mantra. Think of something positive, and focus on it - maybe you've been in a worse situation before, and survived it. So tell yourself "I can do this, I can do this, I KNOW I can do this." If you can say it out loud, even better - it helps get the worry out of your head and into the open.

Coming back to dry land after so long alone at sea is a totally surreal experience. It’s a blend of euphoria and sensory overload. Suddenly it seems like there’s just such incredible abundance everywhere I look. Everything seems indulgent. But reconnecting with friends and loved ones, telling the tales of the trials and tribulations at sea over a glass of wine – it all feels so good and reinforces that this life I’ve chosen is the right one for me.

Q: What has surprised you the most about yourself during this epic quest to become the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean?

A: Ocean rowing was my crash course in personal development. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to learn that I’m capable of quite a lot more than I ever gave myself credit for! I walk through life with so much more confidence now than I did in years past. It feels good to be comfortable in my own skin – that hasn’t always been the case.

Q: There is a story of you writing two different versions of your own obituary a few years ago and how that changed your life. Please, tell us a little more about this process and how it has helped you with your goals.

A: Ah, yes - the obituary exercise. Seven years ago, this small and simple writing project forever changed the course of my life.

The process went something like this: I sat down with my notebook one day and started writing two versions of my own obituary. The first told the story of the life I was living at the time: conventional, ordinary, pleasant and with occasional moments of excitement, but always within the safe confines of normality. I was spending 40+ hours each week doing a job that didn’t make me feel as though I were contributing anything real or positive to the greater good. It seemed as though I was living life inside a tiny little box and all the while, my heart and soul were trying to break free.

The second version of my obituary is the one I would want for myself – the way I was hoping to be remembered by others. I thought of the obituaries that I enjoyed reading, the people that I admired. They were the adventurers and risk-takers, the people who seemed to have lived many lifetimes in one. The people who had tried lots of things, some of them successes, some of them spectacular failures, but at least they’d had the guts to try.

When I finished writing, I looked down at these two versions, and they were just so vastly different from each other.

It was immediately apparent that I was not on track. I realized that if I repeated today's actions 365 times, I wouldn’t be where I wanted to be in a year, or in ten years, or at the end of my life. Once you know something like that, you can’t really un-know it. I knew I was going to have to make some serious changes.

When I look back at the life I was living, my previous life, which is so different from what I am doing now, I realize that taking that first baby step was so crucial.  If I had tried to make a quantum leap from that life into what I am doing now, I would have been incompetent, terrified, unable - I just wouldn't have been able to do it.  I can remember looking at those two versions of my obituary and thinking, 'how am I going to get from this kind of life, to that kind of a life,' and just not knowing where to start.  It is so important to keep the end goal in mind.

If I can offer one bit of advice, I would say this: the key is to not be overwhelmed by how big the necessary changes are – this is where fear can very easily take over. Write yourself a “to do” list about the steps that you’ll need to take in order to get you from Point A to Point B. Break it down into tiny, manageable tasks…then take the first step.

Once I did that “to do” list, it was all a slippery slope into ocean rowing…I realized there wasn’t one thing on that list that I couldn’t do.
So many people have written and told me that this exercise has really helped them home in on their core purpose in life, and I’m so glad to hear it. Recently a man named Andre from Brazil shared his "Dream Obituary" process with me, and allowed me to share his letter on my blog. You can try this exercise, too – I’d love to hear what you learn from the process!

Looking back now, at how far I've come in the seven years since I did the obituary exercise, I have to admit I am quite pleased with the way things are turning out. I'm now much more on track for the obituary I wanted. When I wrote those obituaries, I was trying to figure out what was going to work for me. I sincerely hope I'm not rowing oceans for the rest of my life. I'd like to move on to a different phase when the time is right, but for now, this is absolutely helping me meet my objectives.

Q: What are some of the sacrifices you have made in order to create and live out a more powerful and meaningful life? 

A: What some people might consider sacrifices aren’t at all a sacrifice for me. When I was working as a management consultant, I had a lovely big house in London, a sweet little red sports car, exotic holidays to far-flung destinations and a generally materialistic lifestyle. I worked really hard to obtain all of those things…but one morning it just became impossible to ignore the fact that none of it was making me happy.

Rowing an ocean forces you to realize how very little you actually need – not only to survive, but to be happy. For years, I was doing a job I didn't like to buy stuff I didn’t need. I live a much simpler life now – I don’t own a home or a car, and most of my worldly goods could fit inside a couple of large suitcases. Some people would call this type of living a sacrifice, but I absolutely love my life now. It’s rich and fulfilling in ways I couldn’t have imagined possible 10 or 15 years ago…but I’m so much happier.
 
Q: When someone makes the decision to go after what is really important to them, what really motivates them and brings them fulfillment, it can have a "snowball" affect, attracting all kinds of people, opportunities and events to support their goals and enthusiasm. In what way has this been true for you with your decision to row solo across oceans?

A: Wow, I absolutely agree with that! Maybe it’s because I spend so much time in the water, but I like to call that “The Ripple Effect.” I’m continually amazed by just how many people from around the world have heard about, or are touched in some way by what I do – and even more amazed at the letters I’ve received from people who are inspired by this bizarre, wonderful life I live.

Ever since I made the decision to live a life that was aligned with my core purpose, the “ripples” really started spreading – and continue to do so. So many friends and strangers have chipped in to make different elements of my adventure possible. Sometimes it even feels a bit like my rowing is a village project! It’s wonderful – I find it all so humbling…and LOTS of fun!

Q:  Part of your mission in rowing solo across the Pacific is to raise global awareness of the environmental plight of our oceans and how they are linked to our own survival. How can people become involved and where should they go to learn more?

A: Absolutely! We live in times where everywhere we turn, there is bad news of some sort – especially when it comes to the environment. It is so important to me that we stay positive and hopeful, and that we ALL pull together to take small actions in our own lives that reduces our negative impact on the environment. I truly believe in the power of accumulation and that lots of small, consistent changes over time add up to really powerful results. So for example, Stage 1 of my row was all about raising awareness for the horrendous amount of plastic pollution and its toxic impact on our oceans. But the good news is that there are things we can do right now to avoid making the problem worse.

I encourage others to do small but important things, like bringing reusable bags wherever you go so that you don’t use more plastic bags from the store. I also bring my own coffee mug and water bottle everywhere I go. I walk as often as I can or take public transportation rather than drive.

There are so many ways for people to take part in their own homes and communities. Everything from beach cleanups on the weekend, organizing clothing exchanges among friends, or biking to work – these actions all add up. Lead by example. Get your kids involved. Make it FUN!

I am announcing the environmental initiative for Stage 2 of my Pacific row at the end of April and I’m so excited about it – I truly believe it’s the most important issue we face right now, and I’m counting on everyone pulling together to help make a big difference. Watch this space for details, and of course, follow along at www.rozsavage.com

An inspiring video clip on Roz Savage and her oceanic journey.

Roz's Top Tips

1. Don't waste mental energy asking yourself if you CAN do something. Just do it. You'll surprise yourself. I did.

2. Be clear about your objectives. Ignore others, stay true to yourself and measure success only against your own criteria. I was last to finish the race - big deal. I went out there to learn about myself, and I did.

3. The only constant in life is change. So don't get depressed by the bad times, and don't get over-excited by good ones. Accept that things are exactly as they are, and even bad times have something to teach us.

4. Life can be magical, but magic only gets you so far. Then you need discipline, determination and dedication to see it through.

5. Hope can hurt. The danger is that you hope for too much and set yourself up for disappointment. Be optimistic but realistic. Nothing is ever as good or as bad as you expect it to be.

6. Be mindful of the link between present action and desired future outcome. Ask yourself: if I repeat today's actions 365 times, will I be where I want to be in a year?

7. Decision-making: act in faith, not fear, and don't worry about making a wrong decision - the way you implement it is more important than the decision itself.

8. Be your own best friend. The more you rely on other people, the less control you have over your destiny.

9. Be proud of your own obituary. A few years ago, I wrote two versions of mine - the one I wanted and the one I was heading for. They were very different. I realized I needed to make some changes if I was going to look back and be proud of my life.

2009 Copyright: Roz Savage