Remember The Impossibles and how a small group of ordinary superheroes are taking on challenges that they think are super super hard? Well, Ruth has now completed hers thanks to friends and jelly babies…

Ruth really does love anything cycling related and her favourite way to get around is on her two wheeled, basket on front, proper Cambridge towny bike (we’re still waiting on her tweed suit to match!). With coordinating You Can Bike Too and her own leisurely cycling combined, I’m not sure there are many people who think about bikes quite as much as Ruth! So when we asked her if she wanted to set herself an impossible challenge, surprise surprise, it was cycling related! This towny cyclist was going to ride 62 miles from Cambridge to Kings Lynn through the Fens!

And by golly she has gone and done it!

You might be surprised by Ruth’s response below, she certainly was. Have you ever done something big and then felt a little….disappointed?

Ruth made it to Kings Lynn!

“I did it! And, you know, I’m not sure if I’m surprised with myself or not…which seems a bit odd to me. I thought I’d be amazed, giving myself a huge pat on the back for achieving my ‘Impossible’. Instead, I feel more like, ‘yep I did well’. Sure, while I was peddling past Denver Sluice it felt like a challenge.. but now, it actually feels like it was easier than I thought it would be.I’ve been trying to work out why I feel like this. Is it because I knew I could do it before I set off? Sure, maybe there is an element of that but I still feel a little disappointed that I have not got a ‘wow, that was incredible’ feeling.

So how do I feel about my cycle ride?

As I was cycling I had the song sung by Lou Reed going around my head – ‘It’s such a perfect day’! I thought about how lucky I was to be outdoors, seeing huge grey skies that threatened rain. I felt warmth in the knowledge that my legs were working smoothly doing a good job! Although the mud on the road and the potato picking machines made me nervous, I admired the fact that they brought the ‘extra’ challenge to me – staying on my bike! I felt ‘soothed’ by the fact that all those people had sponsored me – they had faith in my abilities… They ‘carried’ me along!

What has been amazing, what has really given me the ‘wow’ factor is people’s willingness to ‘back’ me. Whether it be financially (money raised is going to You Can) and/or with lovely encouraging words – I value both equally. I have had such lovely comments said to me either about the way I work or the cause that I am raising funds for…it’s hard to measure that impact.

So the bike ride is done! But the ‘takeaway’ for me was more than the money and was more than the 62 miles I peddled! Thank you to all those people in my ‘world’ that believed in me. You have reminded me of the importance of letting others know what a great job they are doing too. Having people believe in me feels really good and I want others to have that feeling too!

And one last big thank you from my bike to Ben Haywards for treating it with the kindness and attention it needed before the big ride!”

So, Ruth’s Impossible started as a personal challenge where she figured she’d have to pull on some incredible inner strength from somewhere to succeed. But really, what got her through this challenge was more about community. It’s the pats on the back, the ‘you can do it’ attitude of her friends and acquaintances – oh and a few jelly babies which she says without she “may not have gotten past 10 Mile Bank”! We are all very proud of Ruth for completing this challenge and excited to help her complete many more in the future.

What personal challenge are you currently taking on, or thinking about taking on? Does it seem daunting and out of the reach of one human being? Well, if Ruth’s story is anything to go by then perhaps all of our challenges would seem less impossible – more possible – if we were to surround ourselves with a supportive community.

Need a community of do gooders who are experts in cheering each other on? Perhaps you’d like to take part in The Impossibles.

Who needs to lift a bike when it has its own gutter!

Ruth’s supportive community – in jelly form!

It’s all adventure in the fens!

Pic by flickr user Zenilorac

Being different isn’t being better.

I have spent my whole life running away from ‘supposed to’, ‘should’ and ‘just because’. I feel different. I feel like I think differently. I don’t feel like I fit in. Not surprisingly, I often hear negative ‘voices’, misinterpretations of ‘me’ being ‘me’.

“You are just seeking the limelight”

“You want to be different just because”

“Well, it’s alright for some”

“You are getting people’s hopes up. Setting them up for failure”

“It’s just a phase, go off and do your adventures and then you’ll come back to reality”

The worst one of all is: “You think you are so much better than everyone else” or “what gives you the right to think differently. You think you are so special”.

Does any of this sound familiar? Have you heard these negative “voices”? Admittedly, while I have heard people say some of the above, many of them are my own fears about what people think. Sometimes, I think I can see it in their eyes. My greatest fear is that because I can see things in a different way, because I challenge the way things are done, people think that I believe I am better than them.

But I am NOT better.

In fact, in all honesty, for much of the time I feel not better than others, but worse. I feel like an outcast. My self doubt is my own worst enemy. Trust me on this. I often feel like I have no right to challenge the ‘systems’… but I can’t help myself. It’s the way my mind works, the way I think.

A lot of what I choose to do, I do partly because it is different… but never ‘just because’. When me and my crew of ordinary superheroes started The You Can Hub, we were keen to do things differently. This is a huge part of who we are. With this, I frequently feel terrified that people might think I am putting myself on a pedestal above the rest. Do you ever get this feeling? How often are you shaking in your boots out of fear that someone might think that you are special? Or worse, that they think that you think you are special?

I don’t believe in pedestals. I battle hierarchy every day. I believe that everyone can, that we all have an incredible gift to share with the world that only we as individuals can do in our own unique way. Everyone has an ability, a unique superpower perhaps. If people are put on pedestals then it means that they are somehow better than the rest. More importantly, it means that they are making others feel small. I never want anybody to feel small, because I know what it feels like.

One day recently, I realised that I am not putting myself on a pedestal. I am putting the imagined responses of other people on a pedestal. Well, frankly, that’s ridiculous.

It’s time to kick the pedestal from under my fears and from under yours too.

Let’s look at our strengths with new courage. Thinking and seeing things differently is my superpower. My natural curiosity means I ask different questions, which in turn helps others think differently too. Give me an idea and I can see it happening in the future. I see potential in everyone – yes, in you too. Being able to visualise this potential happening means that I get rather excited and I can’t help but try to show you this new world too.

So if these are my gifts, my superpowers, then it is my duty to share them with the world and to use them as much as possible. Yes, I think I am different in the way that I do these things. But you are different in the way that you do something too. We each have unique gifts and it is integral that we humbly share them with the world.

What are your superpowers? Do you feel different? Do you battle with the same inner demons and fears of judgement? What or who are you putting on a pedestal and how will you *kick it? Write your thoughts in the comments below. By talking about them we make them more real, we make them tangible and it’s a hell of a lot easier to “kick it” together.

Watch out world, here we come!

*Warning, I imagine kicking a real physical pedestal would hurt…a lot. Maybe stick to the metaphor!

Finally, video 29 of Mel’s 30 day Scare The Crap Out Of Myself Video Challenge has arrived….and it’s time to celebrate!

How many of you would consider yourselves to be super ambitious? You dream big and sometimes struggle to think small. You are always looking ahead and rarely look backwards. Well, this is me…and it’s a part of myself that I am most proud of but that I also get the most frustrated with. Because I am looking forward I forget to look back and celebrate what I have achieved. This generally results in negative self talk, convincing myself that I haven’t achieved much. Well, this is video 29 and I am almost to my 30! So, I’ve decided to look back for once, and celebrate this incredible journey. Join me in celebrating?

*warning, I may dance at the end of this video…

For 30 days I have posted a video which describes doing something that both scares and excites me, one learning point, and a take away. Join me through my ‘Hell yeah!’ moments and my ‘Oh Sh*t’ moments for the next 30 days and please do cheer me on! The next video will be my last in this challenge and will focus on what I learned during the process and how you can start your own 30 day challenge. See the rest of the 30 days here 

Why on earth would you do this, Mel?

For Me: To bring some structure back in my life. To prove to myself that I can follow through. To document my journey at this scary time. To feel alive.

For You: Perhaps you are on a similar journey, thinking of making a change or needing to give yourself a kick in the bum to get going. I hope that following my journey will help you feel that you are not alone and inspire you to go out and do things that scare you too. Because in the end, it is by finding and doing something that makes you come alive that we truly start to make a dent in the world. Want to scare the crap out of yourself on film? Start your own challenge and let us know that you do! Share it on twitter with #stcoom (short for scarethecrapoutofmyself!)

Do something that both scares and excites you. This is day 28 of my 30 day Scare The Crap Out Of Myself Video Challenge.

A few days ago, I announced to the world that I am apparently ‘infertile’. Today, I tell you about my official ‘unexplained infertility’ diagnosis, the decision to go forward with IVF and the many emotions that come with that decision.

For 2 more days I will post a video which will describe doing something that both scares and excites me, one learning point, and a take away. Join me through my ‘Hell yeah!’ moments and my ‘Oh Sh*t’ moments for the next 30 days and please do cheer me on!

Why on earth would you do this, Mel?

For Me: To bring some structure back in my life. To prove to myself that I can follow through. To document my journey at this scary time. To feel alive.

For You: Perhaps you are on a similar journey, thinking of making a change or needing to give yourself a kick in the bum to get going. I hope that following my journey will help you feel that you are not alone and inspire you to go out and do things that scare you too. Because in the end, it is by finding and doing something that makes you come alive that we truly start to make a dent in the world. Want to scare the crap out of yourself on film? Start your own challenge and let us know that you do! Share it on twitter with #stcoom (short for scarethecrapoutofmyself!)

Do something that both scares and excites you. This is day 27 of my 30 day Scare The Crap Out Of Myself Video Challenge.

A few weeks ago, I quit my job. The job that brought in the consistent side of my income. Since then, I’ve been on holiday. Today is the day, day one of week one of having 5 days to fill with important work. Of being accountable to me and my customers (including The You Can Hub!). How does it feel? Well…watch this short video to see. Then, tell me your stories. Have you left your job? Are you doing good in the world and making an income? It’s so much easier to do this if you know that others are too. So, let us know in the comments below!

For 3 more days I will post one video which will describe doing something that both scares and excites me, one learning point, and a take away. Join me through my ‘Hell yeah!’ moments and my ‘Oh Sh*t’ moments for the next 30 days and please do cheer me on!

Why on earth would you do this, Mel?

For Me: To bring some structure back in my life. To prove to myself that I can follow through. To document my journey at this scary time. To feel alive.

For You: Perhaps you are on a similar journey, thinking of making a change or needing to give yourself a kick in the bum to get going. I hope that following my journey will help you feel that you are not alone and inspire you to go out and do things that scare you too. Because in the end, it is by finding and doing something that makes you come alive that we truly start to make a dent in the world. Want to scare the crap out of yourself on film? Start your own challenge and let us know that you do! Share it on twitter with #stcoom (short for scarethecrapoutofmyself!)

Do something that both scares and excites you. This is day 26 of my 30 day Scare The Crap Out Of Myself Video Challenge.

The You Can Hub is a business and with that, we need to generate an income. Recently, I have been reflecting on how I am and am not comfortable doing this. What sales I like and the types that I don’t like. And in this, I realised that I have been avoiding selling to businesses….and that’s silly. It’s a confidence thing. So, here’s me committing to creating an offer for corporates and pitching it. What it will be is to be determined shortly based on some ideas from over the years but the key thing is, it will happen, it will be based on need and our skills, and it will be incredible.

For the next 30 days I will post one video which will describe doing something that both scares and excites me, one learning point, and a take away. Join me through my ‘Hell yeah!’ moments and my ‘Oh Sh*t’ moments for the next 30 days and please do cheer me on!

Why on earth would you do this, Mel?

For Me: To bring some structure back in my life. To prove to myself that I can follow through. To document my journey at this scary time. To feel alive.

For You: Perhaps you are on a similar journey, thinking of making a change or needing to give yourself a kick in the bum to get going. I hope that following my journey will help you feel that you are not alone and inspire you to go out and do things that scare you too. Because in the end, it is by finding and doing something that makes you come alive that we truly start to make a dent in the world. Want to scare the crap out of yourself on film? Start your own challenge and let us know that you do! Share it on twitter with #stcoom (short for scarethecrapoutofmyself!)

Do something that both scares and excites you. This is day 25 of my 30 day Scare The Crap Out Of Myself Video Challenge.

I claim to be a singer…or at least I used to. I was in the choir and jazz choir. I loved it. Then, high school finished and I stopped singing… except in the car. So, I bought a guitar. And all through university I said that I would learn to play it. Learn to play the guitar so that I could sing with it. But, in the corner the guitar still sits….many years later. So, I’ve decided to do something about it. I have now signed up for Blues Guitar lessons at the local community centre. Here goes nothing!

For the next 30 days I will post one video which will describe doing something that both scares and excites me, one learning point, and a take away. Join me through my ‘Hell yeah!’ moments and my ‘Oh Sh*t’ moments for the next 30 days and please do cheer me on!

Why on earth would you do this, Mel?

For Me: To bring some structure back in my life. To prove to myself that I can follow through. To document my journey at this scary time. To feel alive.

For You: Perhaps you are on a similar journey, thinking of making a change or needing to give yourself a kick in the bum to get going. I hope that following my journey will help you feel that you are not alone and inspire you to go out and do things that scare you too. Because in the end, it is by finding and doing something that makes you come alive that we truly start to make a dent in the world. Want to scare the crap out of yourself on film? Start your own challenge and let us know that you do! Share it on twitter with #stcoom (short for scarethecrapoutofmyself!)

Today, my good friend, neighbour and unofficial British grandma passed away. I’m not sure what my challenge is for the sake of this video…admitting that not everything is in my hands….that I can’t be everywhere at once maybe. Just being honest about me and my day, I guess. So here’s me saying goodbye to Jean. She was an incredible women who will not be forgotten. I miss you already.

Do something that both scares and excites you. This is day 24 of my 30 day Scare The Crap Out Of Myself Video Challenge.

For 30 days I will post one video which will describe doing something that both scares and excites me, one learning point, and a take away. Join me through my ‘Hell yeah!’ moments and my ‘Oh Sh*t’ moments for the next 30 days and please do cheer me on!

Why on earth would you do this, Mel?

For Me: To bring some structure back in my life. To prove to myself that I can follow through. To document my journey at this scary time. To feel alive.

For You: Perhaps you are on a similar journey, thinking of making a change or needing to give yourself a kick in the bum to get going. I hope that following my journey will help you feel that you are not alone and inspire you to go out and do things that scare you too. Because in the end, it is by finding and doing something that makes you come alive that we truly start to make a dent in the world. Want to scare the crap out of yourself on film? Start your own challenge and let us know that you do! Share it on twitter with #stcoom (short for scarethecrapoutofmyself!)

Do something that both scares and excites you. This is day 23 of my 30 day Scare The Crap Out Of Myself Video Challenge.

I ran, I ran! For the first time in almost 6 months, I went for a run. This might sound like a small feat but for me it is about overcoming fear, anxiety and stopping myself from getting in my own way. So, I ran, and it was great. Yep, I was sore for a day or so but I survived and it felt better than it did 5 months ago!

For the next 30 days I will post one video which will describe doing something that both scares and excites me, one learning point, and a take away. Join me through my ‘Hell yeah!’ moments and my ‘Oh Sh*t’ moments for the next 30 days and please do cheer me on!

Why on earth would you do this, Mel?

For Me: To bring some structure back in my life. To prove to myself that I can follow through. To document my journey at this scary time. To feel alive.

For You: Perhaps you are on a similar journey, thinking of making a change or needing to give yourself a kick in the bum to get going. I hope that following my journey will help you feel that you are not alone and inspire you to go out and do things that scare you too. Because in the end, it is by finding and doing something that makes you come alive that we truly start to make a dent in the world. Want to scare the crap out of yourself on film? Start your own challenge and let us know that you do! Share it on twitter with #stcoom (short for scarethecrapoutofmyself!)

There really is no better way to start believing then to surround myself with 3000 incredible people who are achieving their impossible. 

8 months ago when I bought a ticket to go to the World Domination Summit (WDS) in Portland, Oregon, I had no idea what to expect. If anything, I expected to be lost in the crowd of 3000 other people and to be overwhelmed with information from speakers. Success would be to meet some inspirational people who by telling their stories would help me believe that anything is impossible. Help me believe in me and my dreams.

Picture by Armosa

Fast forward to now and I am winding down from a very busy weekend at WDS. It was beyond what I expected and I will not attempt to summarise everything in one post. Over the next few weeks, months even, I fully expect that the key messages will seep in and I will begin to use them to take some incredible action. I will have more specific learnings and applications from each speaker and workshop. Lou will also have her own reflections from the event. So, for today, here are my main take aways from the event – some overarching themes.

1. We are all human – nobody is perfect – we’re all just in different places on our incredibly confusing journeys. Even the people I envy, those that appear to have ‘made it’, they are human too. And in fact ‘making it’ doesn’t really exist. It’s not an A to B type of journey. Realising this, I now feel a little better about riding the waves, muddling through and finding my way. (drawing of crazy map)
2. Most people assume that others are further ahead then they are. I do this with others frequently…but then through conversation, I realise they are usually making it up as they go along too. It’s not necessarily a bad thing but an interesting reflection.
3. Everything is easier together – Living a remarkable life, being different, achieving the impossible, these are all things that are so much easier to achieve together. Being surrounded by 3000 people looking to achieve similar things makes anything seem possible. And when I start doubting it again, I will think of these remarkable people that I met last weekend. I will think of the hugs, the smiles, the tears and the laughter. I will think of what it was like for a portion of these people to dance together to Gangham Style at the closing party with huge smiles on our faces. I will think of my new giant family who ‘get it’.
4. Be interested, not interesting. I’ve gone away from this weekend thinking maybe, just maybe, I am interesting after all. But more importantly, I am no longer too worried about whether I am or not. I am good at being interested, being curious, asking questions, collecting stories. At the improv workshop on Sunday afternoon I was given this card. And it just makes sense to me. o, I will continue to learn, ask questions, and help others find and achieve their impossible.
5. Speaking to 3000 people is f*ckin’ hard – I was surprised this weekend with an invitation to do an attendee story. Yep, I found out two days beforehand. Then, just before I found out it was meant to be half the length I had anticipated. My world shifted. I shifted. I adapted. It was bloody hard. I was harder on myself than the audience was. Here’s a first video about the emotional roller coaster that is speaking to 3000 people while standing in a box. To those who listened, who patted me on the back, who then shared your stories with me, thank you. You are the inspiration.

And for now, those are my key take aways, my key themes. Keep an eye out for more, including some follow up videos and challenges for you to step out of your box and tangible examples of how to ask those who are usually excluded for help instead of always asking to help them.

This is also my day 22 video for my 30 Day Scare The Crap Out Of Myself Challenge.

Yours from outside the box,

Mel