Stories with Stitch People
For peak stitching inspiration, Jess says look no further than Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei…
Hullo!T he women we’ ve covered in this series have all been inspiring in their own way, but one thing they all have in common is determination to excel. One can’ t mention determination and passion without mentioning this month’shistory-makingwoman, Japanese mountaineer Junk oT abei.
Although considered a weak and frail child, Tabei longed to climb mountains. She founded a women’ s climbing club in university as many male mountaineers wouldn’ t climb with her. The joke was onthemwhen, at35, shebecamethe first woman to summit Mount Everest. After this momentous achievement, shewent on to be the first woman to complete the Seven Summits–the name for a collection of the highest mountain son each of the seven continents.
Ta be ira is ed expedition money, recycled materials to make equipment, and pushed through stereotypes and bias es that tried to lock her into societal‘ norms ’. Succeeding because of determination and a love for what you do is what making history is all about.
Sometimes I read about people like this and it reminds me of all my ‘what ifs’ and‘ if onlys’ –thei de as that seemed too big to start or maintain momentumon. Getting out of your comfort zone is one of the best ways to grow as a person and to develop your skills.
There are W IP sI’ ve had sitting around for years that I haven’ t finished for whatever reason. But I know if I’ d made a plan and stuck to it, I’ d be further along with it now than I amcurrently. When you do nothing, nothing happens. Starting a business
was one of the biggest‘ if onlys’ I’ ve ever had– inhindsight, itworkedbecause I took small steps to progress towards mygoalsand, allofasudden, Iwasthere. I didn’ t feel like I’ d done a lot, butitall addedup.
So, if you’ re looking to tackle a huge projector take a road less journeyed, do so knowing that if a frail little girl can become one of the world’ s greatest mountaineers then you can achieve yourgoalstoo, onestepatatime. Happystitching! Jess