It’s a difficult time
now in the world for many.
My heart goes out to all
those in the Los Angeles area;
many of my friends along with thousands
of others have lost their homes.
It’s apocalyptic and unfathomable.
Beyond L.A., there are innumerable
individuals and organizations
around the globe who are struggling.
So I thought I’d share
“Antarctica Part 2” to offer inspiration.
You may know of Ernest Shackleton,
but if not, two resources are below.
His is an extraordinary story of
endurance, perseverance and hope.
In a nutshell, in December 1914,
Ernest Shackleton, a polar explorer,
set sail with 27 men from South George Island
intending to arrive at Antarctica
and cross the continent by foot,
becoming the first ever to do so.
A few days after their journey began, however,
their ship (named the “Endurance”)
got trapped in pack ice–
thick slabs of frozen sea water.
They were unable to move.
For 10 months, the men lived on the ship,
frozen in place, until at the 11th month
the Endurance was finally about to sink.
They shifted all their essential supplies
off it and survived on the ice,
in extremely harsh conditions:
subfreezing temperatures, blizzards,
inadequate clothing, and little food.
Ultimately, when the pack ice opened up
months later, they climbed into
three small open wooden life boats
rowing and sailing for six days
through some of the roughest
and coldest sea water on the planet,
arriving at Elephant Island…
a bleak, inhospitable, but stable rock
in the middle of the southern ocean.
(Video below.)
The story continues from here
– I’ll let you experience it for yourself –
because what follows is
HARROWING and UNBELIEVABLE.
On this trip I just took to Antarctica,
we were fortunate enough to meet
Mensun Bound, the maritime archeologist
who in 2022 found the sunken Endurance
and we were fortunate enough to
get to Elephant Island.
I never expected either.
The inspiration from Mensun Bound
to keep looking in spite of the challenges
and the inspiration from Shackleton
who survived the unimaginable
are testaments to the power of human determination.
Shackleton’s family motto:
Through Endurance We Conquer.
Sending courage and strength to all
who are struggling now and up against the odds…
Keep going.
You can see the video I made
of Elephant Island here:
Risk Forward & Continue On,
V
P.S.
- National Geographic Documentary Film on Mensun Bound & Shackleton.
- Audio book of Endurance. If you have never heard this story, I can’t recommend it highly enough. It will leave you gasping in awe and inspired for any challenge you face.
