Connection
What a gift when someone you don’t know easily connects with something you’ve deeply shared. I found the below review on amazon about my book, Dirty Inspirations, and am so grateful for this kindred seeker—someone who deeply ‘got’ the premise(s) for my writing this book. Since mom’s death I’ve been kinda numb, sad and quasi-checked out and this connection instantly drew me back in to life’s loveliness. Thank you, thank you, to my intrepid reviewer. May your trails be windy, crooked and full of questions.
“There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the insights Terri Schneider shares into the minds of endurance athletes in Dirty Inspirations. Schneider begins in her days as a IronMan triathlete covering a swim, bike and race course totaling 140.6 miles in what many call the toughest sport on the planet. Unsatisfied, she tests herself ever harder in eco-challenges spanning many days and requiring her to climb mountains, run trails, shoot rapids and more in some of the harshest environments on earth. She moves onto ultramarathons crossing deserts and mountaintops. Finally, she climbs some of the world’s highest peaks. Through it all, she questions what makes her seek the ultimate in challenges and risk death. Her answers ring true to anyone who has ever asked, “I wonder if I can do that?,” and then the even bigger question, “I wonder how I will be changed if I do – or if I don’t?” Perhaps you will be surprised when the answers don’t come at the finish lines or at the summits or that the answers are as much spiritual as physical or mental. Then again, if you’ve faced those challenges or similar ones in your own life, perhaps you won’t be surprised at all. What will impress you, though, is Schneider’s ability as a sports psychologist to read your mind and to put the answers down on paper more brilliantly than you or I could ever do ourselves. If you’ve ever been asked, “Why do you race IronMan, why do you run 26.2, 30, 50 or even 100 miles at a time, why do you climb mountains, or risk death in rushing water, why do you test yourself so?,” offer the questioner your copy of this book and simply say: “Here. Read this.”
You can get a signed copy of Dirty Inspirations at my studio THIS WEEKEND, 980 17th Ave. Santa Cruz, Bldg 3, Studio 46, Sat and Sun 11-5. Come on down.
0