Truth in Dare

In the most recent issue of Outside Magazine, the cover story focuses on a Spaniard named Kilian Jornet Burgada, a man that, aside from being one of the fastest ultra-marathoners (100 miles) on the planet, takes part in a movement called Fastest Known Times (FKTs). The point of FKTs is to - well - achieve the fastest known time in an extreme activity, such as ascents of the highest peaks in the world, something that Jornet accomplishes in under a day. He is currently preparing for his FKT attempt on Everest, the world's tallest and most well-known summit. Jornet is revered as both a trendsetter and a looney, but neither definition concern him. He dares in order to achieve greatness.

This reminds me of a t-shirt I had when I was younger. It showed two cartoon monkeys standing on the ground and a third hanging from a tree limb by its tail while wearing wayfarers and a Hawaiian shirt, and underneath this depiction, it read, "Dare to be different." I have been thinking back to this shirt a lot recently, and how its mantra manifested in my life since. I never really wore "crazy" outfits or delved into Satanism, but I also didn't bother worrying much about the thoughts of others. Well, except for in middle school, but I mean - middle school. Aside from that, I've always tried to live by my own definition of myself.

Daring to be different and define oneself is not something I created, nor will I ever take credit for doing it well. Instead, I will point to other people that did.

Michael Faraday (1791-1867). One of the many people in the line of technological advances that brought the world into the 21st century, Faraday discovered properties of electromagnetism and is one of the greatest chemists in history (he invented one of the Bunsen burner's predecessors). None of this would have been possible had Faraday listened to what those around him said about him. Born to a poor family during a time of extreme classism, Faraday had to fight stand against the turned-up noses of the affluent, even being made to ride outside of carriages after rising to a bit of fame.

Nikola Tesla (1856-1953). He argued with Thomas Edison about the benefits of A/C power over D/C power, citing that A/C power was far more effective and less dangerous than D/C. Edison brought about fake claims of deaths due to A/C power and said that the only suitable purpose for it would be death row. It would take many years and a mass of house fires due to D/C power for Tesla to be righted and D/C to become the electrical supply for the chair.

Temple Grandin (1947-). Diagnosed with autism would fail to get at the definition of who Temple Grandin is. She fought against a culture of chauvinism in ranching and farming to revolutionize the US livestock industry. She continues to be a proponent of animal welfare and autism rights activism, and is in one of Time's lists of top 100 most influential people...ever.

So what's your takeaway?

Don't give up. Dare to try news things, despite what people may say, because those people aren't you. The world is a ever-changing and, dare I say, evolving place with new ideas and people and places left to see and meet and explore. Also, don't say someone can't do something, because you're probably wrong.

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