Pursue Your Dreams – Take The First step
Posted by Michelle Moquin on March 30th, 2013
Good morning!
The closet I ever came to doing any sort of trek climbing was in Pokhara, Nepal many years ago. Not a bad place to do ones first trek though. :) We were traveling for several months and during our trip to Nepal we planned to do a very simple climb. We arrived during the monsoon season and the climb unfortunately never happened. However during our stay, I was informed that if I got up very early in the morning, I could go to the rooftop of the place we were staying, and if the clouds parted, I would be able to see the Himalayas.
A young Nepalese boy who worked at the hotel promised me that he would knock on my door and wake me up to see the beautiful mountains. And he kept his promise. Early in the morning, I heard his knock on my door and a little voice saying, “Miss Michelle, Miss Michelle…the mountains! You can see the mountains. Please wake up or you’ll miss them.” I jumped out of bed, followed my young friend to the rooftop and there they were. More big and beautiful than one can ever imagine them to be. Because no picture can capture the beauty of seeing the mountains live and in person. It was one of the highlights of my trip to Nepal – a breathtaking, peaceful and majestic view that I will never forget. I gazed as long as I could till the clouds covered them once again.
My view of the Himalayas as spectacular as it was, pales in comparison to the total experience these girls that climbed Mount Kilimanjaro must’ve had. I got the view, and a wonderful memory. But they did the climb and reaped the benefits. I can only imagine the joy of success in climbing this great mountain that no doubt challenged them to their core, and changed their lives. Congratulations!
TANZANIA: Women bring climbing dreams to fruition at Mount Kilimanjaro
Sabine Clappaert – WNN Features
(WNN) Kilimanjaro Region, TANZANIA, AFRICA: Mountaineering is a largely male-dominated sport. Of the estimated 4,000 climbers who have made it to the top of Mount Everest since the first official summit of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953, only 80 were women. After the first successful summit in 1953, it would take more than twenty years before a woman – Japanese-born Junko Tabei, would reach the summit in May 1975.
When one considers the number of people who have climbed the ‘Seven Summits’ – the highest mountains on each of the seven continents – the figures are as dismal: by 2012 approximately 325 climbers had reached the top of all seven peaks. Of these, only 40 were women.
Yet as you read this, ten women are climbing Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. Seven of them are young Nepalese women aged 17 – 30 who have already conquered Mount Everest and Mount Kosciusko and who have set themselves the challenge of climbing all ‘Seven Summits’.
Most come from humble backgrounds in rural Nepal. Each has her own story of challenge, struggle and ultimate success. One ran away from home at the age of fourteen to escape a forced marriage, another took a housekeeping job in her early teens to support her family.
Before their ascent of Mount Everest in 2008, many in the group had no previous climbing experience. Nepali society is divided on lines of caste, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds, and mountaineering is considered an inappropriate and impossible sport for women, which prompted the team to name itself the First Inclusive Women’s Sagarmatha Expedition.
“We want to show young women everywhere that anything is possible if you set your mind to it; that neither age, religion, caste or cultural background matters if you really want to achieve something,” 24-year old team member Shailee Basnett told WNN before her departure for Africa. As a result of that first climb in 2008, Mount Everest now sports the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) flag of Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, planted on it by the young women’s team.
The Kilimanjaro climb takes place between 27 February and 5 March in celebration of International Women’s Day. On this climb three African women will accompany the Nepalese climbers. The African women come from different backgrounds, each with her own unique story. One woman is an active youth activist that advocates against early marriage, the other a teacher from an almost extinct bushmen tribe, the Hadzabes. The third African climber is Hlubi Mboya, one of the most popular TV actresses in Southern Africa and World Food Programme (WFP) Ambassador Against Hunger in South Africa.
This time round, the young ‘Everest Women’ and WFP will aim to highlight the importance of women’s empowerment and girls education in Africa. After the expedition, the Nepali and Tanzanian climbers will visit schools in Arusha and Dar es Salaam to tell their stories and encourage students, especially girls, to believe in education as a tool that can help them achieve what may seem impossible.
Each year, more than 20,000 people try to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Basnet and her fellow Nepalese climbers are curious to see what the local environment and their adaption to it will mean to their climb. “Crossing seas and land and being in a foreign terrain is always a challenge. In climbing even the smallest glitch in your body can make a huge difference.”
Mount Kilimanjaro is a unique mountain: it is located in a continent that is almost entirely flat and is the world’s highest freestanding mountain. “This means that the altitude gain is much faster than on most other mountains – even in the great Himalayas. Coming back down, the descent is also quite steep, which will be particularly hard on the knees.”
Although climbing Kilimanjaro is easy and requires no technical climbing or mountaineering experience, the biggest challenge and danger lie in the high altitude. Climbers die from improper acclimatization and altitude sickness rather than falls
Early on the morning of March 5th, Shailee and her team reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain.
“We are on the top! Nothing is impossible if we struggle to pursue our dreams,” said Nimdoma Sherpa, who was 17 when she first climbed Mount Everest in 2008, from Africa’s highest point.
Asked about the most important lesson of their Seven Summits projects, Basnet is quick to answer: “There are so many, I could write a book, and maybe one day I will. I find the biggest lesson in our team’s motto ‘together we reach higher’. We are not alone, nature did not make us to be alone. We are meant to work together – that is how we become bigger, better and scale mountains.”
Basnet’s advice to young girls who want to realize their dreams is simple: “Take the first step. Please go out and do it. Learn what you need to learn, get the basics and then keep the ball rolling. You will meet the people you need to meet to make your dream a reality, you’ll see. Just go out and take that first step.”
“Nimdoma is an example of what girls eduation can do,” said Shailee Basnet, the leader of the Nepali group.
“We know there are many more Nimdomas around the world and we hope we can motivate them to achieve their dreams.” In the days after their ascent, Shailee and Nimdoma visited schools in Tanzania to promote the importance of education as a means to realise your dreams. “We ask students to climb their own mountains and education is their tool. It’s great to see young students raising their hands when asked who wants to be like Nimdoma,” smiles Shailee.
____________________________________________________________
In 2008 the push for the women moutaineering community in Nepal began to reach summits that brought a “nothing is impossible” reality to women in developing regions. The history of mountaineering includes women explorers who took a chance to enter territories that were only reserved previously for men.
Seven of the recent climbers with the Mt. Kilamijaro climb in Tanzania are from Nepal and three are Africans, two from Tanzania and one from South Africa. World Food Programme spokesperson, Jane Howard said the Nepali climbers have already made history because they have climbed Mount Everest.
This September 2012 Youtube release is video is a production of the United Nations in Nepal.
*****
Readers: Pretty awesome right? Blog me.
Social Butterfly: Thank you. And congrats to you for your job change. Wow, that is a huge, and very exciting. I know that you will do well!
Happy Saturday everyone!
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)
Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:
Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129
Thank you for your loyal support!
All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012
“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream
" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"
March 30th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Thank you, Carol, I accept luv from whoever offers it sincerely. That’s much appreciated.
Misch, this is such a cool story, it’s not my deal climbing mountains I’d rater ski them but I do admire the adventuring spirit!
Luv, Zen Lill
March 30th, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Sorry Robert, RT. If that one bothered you. Here is a better one. This time from “Prevention.” I know they suck too sometimes.
=======================
Top 9 Heart Healthy Foods
With heart disease the number one killer of both men and women in this country, you would think a cure that could dramatically reduce these deaths would be big news. And yet the most effective remedy is so simple that most people can’t seem to believe it works.
“In traditional societies, where people don’t eat processed foods, heart disease is rare,” says Dr. Arthur Agatston, cardiologist and author of The South Beach Wake-Up Call. “If you start with a healthy diet in childhood, heart attacks are almost completely preventable.”
Studies have shown that up to 70 percent of heart disease can be averted with the right regimen, according to Dr. Walter Willett, chair of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health. But is diet alone as powerful as drugs? “Oh, no, it’s much more powerful,” says Dr. Willett. “Statins, the most effective single medications for reducing heart disease, only cut risk by 25 to 30 percent.”
In fact, you would need a cabinet full of prescription drugs to bestow all the benefits of a serious heart-healthy meal plan. There’s nothing a drug can do for your heart health that foods can’t do, too.
In that spirit, here are nine top foods for the heart. But this list is only a beginning. A truly healthy diet features a broad range of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes–not a select few. Hippocrates understood the concept more than 2,000 years ago: “Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food.”
25 Super Healthy Foods
TOP 10 HEART HEALTHY FOODS
Oranges
Oranges contain a pharmacy’s worth of salves for the heart. The soluble fiber pectin acts like a giant sponge, sopping up cholesterol in food and blocking its absorption–just like a class of drugs known as bile acid sequestrants. And the potassium in oranges helps counterbalance salt, keeping blood pressure under control.
But new research shows something even more startling: Citrus pectin helps neutralize a protein called galectin-3 that causes scarring of heart tissue, leading to congestive heart failure–a condition that is often difficult to treat with drugs.
“Twenty percent of Americans over 50 have high galectin-3,” says Dr. Pieter Muntendam, CEO of BG Medicine in Waltham, MA. “A 2009 study showed that a diet high in fruits and vegetables decreased the risk of heart failure by 37 percent.”
Pectin is contained in the pulp and pith. You’ll get more of it in juice with pulp. Or better yet, eat your oranges.
The Best Exercise for Your Heart
TOP 10 HEART HEALTHY FOODS
Kale
Your mom was right: You need to consume your dark leafy greens. “Kale has everything you would want in a superfood,” says Dr. Joel Fuhrman, the author of the bestseller Eat to Live, who uses diet and exercise to help patients reverse their cardiovascular disease.
For starters, kale boasts a bumper crop of heart-healthy antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamin E. It’s also rich in lutein, which correlated in the Los Angeles Atherosclerosis Study with protection against early atherosclerosis.
Kale even contains an unusual compound, glucoraphanin, that activates a special protective protein called Nrf2. “It creates a sort of Teflon coating in your arteries to keep plaque from adhering,” says Dr. Fuhrman.
For a snack, try Brad’s Raw Leafy Kale–actual kale that is dehydrated, then coated with ground cashews, sunflower seeds, lemon juice, and garlic.
TOP 10 HEART HEALTHY FOODS
Garlic
Research suggests that, much like the ACE inhibitor drugs that fight high blood pressure, garlic ratchets down an enzyme called angiotensin, which constricts blood vessels. Though the effect is modest compared with medications, garlic seems to have a significant impact on the buildup of plaque.
In three randomized trials, Dr. Matthew Budoff, professor of medicine at UCLA, found that plaque progression slowed by more than 50 percent in people taking garlic extract, compared with the non–vampire slayers–”and the nongarlic group was on standard drugs,” he says.
The trials used 250 mg tablets of Kyolic aged garlic extract to standardize the dose. “But it’s always better to eat the real food,” says Gayl Canfield, director of nutrition at Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami.
Small Changes That Help You Lose Weight
TOP 10 HEART HEALTHY FOODS
Red wine
Any alcohol nudges up HDL, the “good” cholesterol that helps prevent plaque. But red wine may offer additional benefits, says John Folts, professor emeritus of cardiovascular medicine and nutrition at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
“The key is not resveratrol–you would need 16 bottles a day,” he says. Instead, compounds called polyphenols help keep blood vessels flexible and reduce the risk of unwanted clotting. “They’re nearly as effective as aspirin,” he claims.
But note:
More than one glass of vino a day ups the risk of breast cancer for women, and chronic heavy drinking damages the heart, so this is a case where more is not better.
Dark beer such as Guinness stout delivers many of the same beneficial polyphenols.
TOP 10 HEART HEALTHY FOODS
Dark chocolate
The Kuna Indians off the coast of Panama have enviably low blood pressure–and unlike the rest of us, they don’t develop hypertension as they age. When Harvard cardiologist Dr. Norman Hollenberg set out to unravel their secret, he assumed they carried some rare genetic trait.
Instead he found they drink enormous quantities of minimally processed cocoa. It’s rich in compounds called flavanols, which improve blood vessel flexibility. We can all get them from chocolate–a few squares a day.
Dark chocolate is likely to have more, because it starts with a higher cocoa content–but that’s no guarantee, since different processing methods can destroy them.
Dove Dark has been shown to have high levels of flavanols.
TOP 10 HEART HEALTHY FOODS
Sardines
The omega-3 fatty acids in cold-water fish are crucial for heart health, and sardines have among the highest levels. These “good fats” lower harmful triglycerides, raise protective HDL, reduce potentially fatal heart arrhythmias, and tamp down inflammation.
It’s inflammation that ultimately destabilizes plaque, causing it to rupture and produce a heart-attack-inducing clot. Though you can get omega-3s from plant sources such as flaxseed, the “long chain” omega-3s in fish are far more powerful.
A large Danish study last year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found a 38 percent reduction in ischemic heart disease among women who consumed the most.
Wild Planet sells wild sardines in extra virgin olive oil with lemon.
TOP 10 HEART HEALTHY FOODS
Lentils
One international study followed 12,763 people in the United States, Japan, and six European countries for 25 years. When the results were tallied, legumes–such as lentils–were associated with an 82 percent reduction in the risk of death from heart disease.
The reasons include not only lean vegetable protein and fiber but also folate, magnesium, and potassium. George Mateljan, the author of The World’s Healthiest Foods, calls magnesium “nature’s own calcium channel blocker”–a type of drug that fights hypertension. And by counterbalancing salt, potassium is crucial for keeping blood pressure under control.
TruRoots’s new Sprouted Lentil Trio cooks in just 5 to 7 minutes.
TOP 10 HEART HEALTHY FOODS
Almonds
“You don’t have to be miserable to bring your cholesterol down,” says Dr. David Jenkins, professor of medicine and nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto.
The plant sterols in almonds reduce the absorption of cholesterol from the diet, while the unsaturated oils encourage the liver to make less LDL and more “good” HDL.
When Dr. Jenkins gave patients a vegetarian diet including almonds (along with other cholesterol-lowering foods, such as lentils, eggplant, and soy) for a month, he found LDL reductions of 28.6%–comparable to those on 20 mg of lovastatin (Mevacor). Just 22 almonds a day will do. Another study found major declines in fatal arrhythmias with 2 servings of nuts a week.
Don’t limit yourself to almonds. Walnuts, pistachios, and peanuts are also great.
TOP 10 HEART HEALTHY FOODS
Pomegranates
Bringing down LDL is important, but so is preventing the oxidation of that cholesterol. When LDL is oxidized, it tends to get stuck in arterial walls, initiating the formation of plaque.
But Michael Aviram, professor of biochemistry at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, found that pomegranate juice, with its unique antioxidants, not only blocked the progression of plaque, but actually reversed some of the buildup when patients drank 8 ounces a day for a year.
How does it do this? In later studies, Dr. Aviram learned that pomegranates activate an enzyme that breaks down oxidized cholesterol.
For those who love pomegranates but not the messy job of cracking them open, Pom Wonderful now does the work for you. Look for the fruit-covered seeds (or “arils”) in clear plastic cups under the brand name Pom Poms.
TOP 10 HEART HEALTHY FOODS
No Half-Hearted Measures
Unfortunately, you won’t disease-proof your heart by simply adding chocolate, wine, and nuts to a diet full of doughnuts and bacon. Groundbreaking new studies explain why.
For years, government panels told us that the main villain in heart disease was the saturated fat in meat and dairy. We did the logical thing and cut down on total fat while upping refined carbs.
Bad move. Research now shows that the sugar and refined flour in our bagels, pizzas, cookies, and sodas are even more problematic. Stripped of fiber (and other nutrients), these unhealthy carbs zip-line through the digestive tract and into the bloodstream, where they deliver a triple dose of heart damage–raising harmful triglycerides, lowering protective HDL, and raising blood pressure.
But saturated fat isn’t off the hook. Some studies have appeared to exonerate it–but only because people in these studies replaced the bad fat in their diets with harmful carbs.
“When you eat good fats instead of bad ones, cardiac risk goes down,” says Harvard’s Dr. Walter Willett. So treat cheese as dessert, not the main course, and favor lean meat such as grass-fed bison.
April 1st, 2013 at 7:19 am
Happy Easter everyone.
April 1st, 2013 at 8:02 am
I admire people who venture out to try scary stuff like that.
March 10th, 2014 at 3:35 am
I favor this helpful tips anyone offer to the content. I will book mark your blog post and also take a look at all over again right here often. I am rather i might be informed plenty of innovative stuff appropriate in this article! Good luck for the next!