“Come on Noelle. Youve got to pick yourself up.” I was six years old and learning how to snow ski, when these words ran through my head. As a young girl, I was about to discover something very profound.
A Childhood Ski Crash Teaches Self-Reliance
Following a massive, typical crash where skis went flying and poles scattered in both directions, I found myself lying in the snow, alone. I looked up and watched as the snowflakes landed on my cheeks and my nose. My dad had skied down the hill in front of me. I’m sure he wasn’t very far away, but I felt very alone. I listened to the stillness around me and waited. Someone was sure to come to my rescue, pick me up, and gather my equipment for me. But no one came.
Again, I’m sure my dad was very close. What seemed to be a very long time was probably less than a minute. While lying in the snow waiting for my rescuer to arrive, this thought came to me: “If I never pick myself up and move from this spot, I will be stuck here forever. Come on Noelle. You’ve got to pick yourself up.”
I realized that there are times in life when others around you are there to help you up and make you stronger. There are also times in life when you need to find the energy, take action and “pick yourself up”.
In one of my favorite books, titled “Endurance” by Alfred Lansing, after sharing the history of how an expedition ship sunk in the Antarctic waters and the crew had to find a way to survive, the comment is made,
“If they were to get out – they had to get themselves out.”
Shackleton’s Endurance: When No One Comes to Your Rescue
Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) was an Irish-born British polar explorer who led several expeditions to Antarctica in the early 20th century. In January of 1915, Shackleton and 27 crewmen had the goal to reach the South Pole. However, before they could do this, their ship, “The Endurance”, became stuck in the treacherous ice of the Weddell Sea. Eventually, on October 27th the encircling ice and crushing pressure on “The Endurance” was too great. The crushing ice forced the crew to abandon ship.
Having kept the faith in their expedition leader – Ernest Shackleton – the men now faced a daunting and frigid march north. They dragged their boats for miles through the harsh Antarctic weather, hoping to reach land and find rescue. However, the ice never broke up enough for them to launch the vessels successfully. They stopped their march and lived on ever decreasing ice flows for 5 months, until April 9th, 1916. The ice broke apart just enough for the party to take their three small boats out to sea.
Unfortunately, the cruel tides and winds dragged them further from land. They battled on through vicious storms to finally reach the tiny speck of land – Elephant Island. This was the first land they had touched in 497 days.
From Elephant Island to South Georgia: Picking Yourself Up at Sea
You may think the story ends here. Had it ended there, the cruel island likely would have buried the entire crew. Realizing that no passing whalers would rediscover them, Shackleton knew they had to act. The only option was to face the torrents of the sea in a tiny little boat, the James Caird, and head to South Georgia.
Shackleton set out on April 24th 1916, with 5 companions for this 650-mile crossing of one of the wildest oceans in the world. After a month of battling the Scotia sea, navigated by Captain Frank Worsley, the tiny boat reached the jagged shores of South Georgia, a staggering feat in its own right. Shackleton, Worsley & Crean then had to cross the mountains of South Georgia to finally reach the Norwegian Whaling station at Stromness.
For the remaining crew on Elephant Island, rescue eventually came 4 months later, after a number of aborted attempts by various other ships. On August 30th, Shackleton and a brave crew on a Chilean tug named, “The Yelcho”, arrived at Elephant Island, and with great joy, they found all crew members alive and ready to go home.
Applying “Pick Yourself Up” to Everyday Challenges
Our lives are filled with ski crashes and sunken ships. Sometimes these crashes come in the form of a lost job or a big move and sometimes these come in the form of not understanding how to navigate new technology platforms or not knowing how to add oil to your car. Instead of waiting for someone else to save your day or to open doors for you, pick yourself up and have courage. Take time to learn, be creative and find a way to get to where you want to go and be who you want to become.
Quote to Ponder
“And for all the trials and discomfort, these weeks of primitive living had been peculiarly enriching. The men had been forced to develop a degree of self reliance greater than they had ever imagined possible.” -Endurance, Alfred Lansing
Question to Consider
How can you be a little more self-reliant and independent in your life this week?
Read more about developing the mental strength to “pick yourself up”
Believe in the Impossible: Tony Hawk – In this article, Noelle shares the incredible story of skateboarding legend, Tony Hawk, defying odds by landing “The 900”. His story shows that with persistence, belief, and grit, you can believe in the impossible—and achieve it!
Overcoming Adversity After Miscarriage: A Journey of Focus and Hope – In this personal account, Noelle shares her journey toward overcoming adversity after a devastating miscarriage. With the help of loved ones, she gained the strength to get back up by learning lessons of gratitude, hope, and focus.
Click on the links below to learn more about Ernest Shackleton and The Endurance
Study Ernest Shackleton’s biography on Britannica – “Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton is best known as a polar explorer who was associated with four expeditions exploring Antarctica, particularly the Trans-Antarctic (Endurance) Expedition (1914–16) that he led, which, although unsuccessful, became famous as a tale of remarkable perseverance and survival.”
Read the book, Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage – “Experience ‘one of the best adventure books ever written’ (Wall Street Journal) in this New York Times bestseller: the harrowing tale of British explorer Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 attempt to reach the South Pole.”