The Power of Heart and Dreams

Last night, I was up late, as I've been having some "sleeping issues" and weird dreams (the same dream every freaking night!) over the past few weeks. As I was chilling on Facebook, my brother from another mother, Juan Pablo, came online and we began chatting.

We began chatting about the Forever Young Project, Mt. Whitney, and some upcoming activities. I told him how emotionally and physically challenging Mt. Whitney had been. Juan asked me if I knew the reason why Mark and I had been able to successfully climb Mt. Whitney and why those involved in the Project have power and will to do some of the future activities. His answer: heart. He went on to tell me that having a big heart has lead to my success.

I began thinking about his overly kind words the rest of the night and today. I thought a lot about why I've been actually doing the Forever Young Project stuff. Has it been to challenge myself, to have fun, mend the heart, stay active, travel, help people? What is it? Well it is for all those reasons, but all of this comes from the same source: heart and dreams. Juan Pablo's right about my heart being behind my actions and motivating me to set my mind and complete the things things I want in life!

Last month I challenged you all and myself to stop dwelling on the negatives. This was a challenge for me, some weeks I did quite well, others (like this past week and weekend) I struggled and fell into the negativity and anger trap, but it's been a great challenge and for the most part a success!

With a new month, comes a new challenge for you, myself, your friends, family, lovers, whoever.... I realized that my heart and dreams are the engines behind the Forever Young Project, so I'm going to keep on trying to love life, family and friends, and follow my true dreams and make them happen! I challenge you to do the same: listen to and live by your heart; do the things you love; be passionate; follow your dreams; follow your heart; make the things in life you want to happen, actually happen!!!

Let's check in a month about the Forever Young Project "Heart and Dreams Challenge." Those who told me about your challenges over the past month, give me a call, email me, text me, bike with me, or whatever I would love to chat with you about how last month's "negativity challenge" went and how we're going to together make this month's challenge happen!

Much love and heart,
Justin Blake Young

Pushing the Limit Too Far?

Hi everyone,

I hope you all had a great week and get to do something nice, relaxing, and enjoyable this weekend!

I am happy to tell you that Mark and I safely and successfully summitted Mt. Whitney yesterday! We are back and very happy to be home. The climb yesterday was one of the most, if not the most, intense and exhausting (physically and emotionally) activities I have ever done! It was also one of the most comforting and eye-opening experiences as well!

While making the 15 hour climb yesterday, I had a lot of time to think about my life, and just be stoked for the amazing life, friends, and family that I have! Thoughts of love, family, friends, work and career, moving, traveling, the direction of the Forever Young Project, and just life in general kept my mind busy while climbing and trying to suck in as much of the thin air as possible. It was a very humbling experience and I had a lot of clarity yesterday, even without much oxygen!

To mentally prepare for this climb, I had been reading a book about spirituality, serenity, and peace in the wilderness by Jamie Korngold. I thought it'd be an interesting read, to see if I could incorporate some zen into my adventures (been lacking that in my life lately)/

When we got back to our hostel last night, exhausted after the 15 hour trek, I was so tired I wasn't able to sleep. I opened Korngold's book to begin a new chapter, and interestingly enough it was all about pushing the limits and why we do it. This chapter really resonated to me, especially last night, after we had pushed the limits so much. Korngold says "Our culture, especially for those of us who lie out west, is all about breaking limits. We don't want any limits imposed on us. We want to discover the limits ourselves. The motto No Limits has become the motto of our time." She then goes on to say near the end of the chapter, "I do recognize that on the path to peace I need to push a bit less and respect limits a bit more . I need to challenge myself to spend less time climbing the high peaks and more time sitting still and listening. I need to rush less from place to place, and go deeper into the place I am. Somewhere there is a middle ground, and our task is to find it."

It was really interesting, almost serendipitous, to be reading that chapter as soon as we got back from pushing ourselves and climbing the highest peak in the contiguous United States. It got me thinking a lot. Why was I pushing the limit? Why have I been? What am I trying to prove or comfort myself with? I had an epiphany last night after our climb and reading this chapter: I don't need to constantly challenge myself by pushing the limits to do good in the world, or to stay distracted to keep my mind of things that aren't going the way I want/expected in life.

After the Whitney climb and then reading that chapter, I started reflecting a lot, even in my exhausted state of mind. I found that, truly, I find the most peace and happiness when I am with my family and friends, and doing the simple things in life that I love! I don't need to climb the highest mountain, surf the biggest wave, constantly be on the go, or push the limit to find happiness, do good in the world, or prove something to myself and others. I just want to be with the people I love and do the simple things in life that bring happiness!

Thank you for all your support. The Forever Young Project is strong, alive, and continuing to grow. We appreciate you supporting us on our Mt. Whitney climb, and kindly ask you to support us from that climb by supporting, volunteering, and/or donating to Los Patojos and Rising Minds (www.risingminds.org) and Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times (www.campronaldmcdonald.org). Don't know how to?? Donate just $22 (in honor of our 22 mile climb of Mt. Whitney) to one or all of these organizations!

Until next time, Rock n' Roll,
Justin Blake Young and the Forever Young Project Team