What LIFT's you?

Matt Hayden embarrasingly telling everyone of our first encounter many moons ago..

It is funny how sometimes I am asked to talk or present at an event, and I walk away actually feeling inspired myself. 

The Surfers Paradise Festival was no exception with myself, Masterchef Hayden Quinn, cricketer Matthew Hayden and good friend and Ironman Trevor Hendy were talking on the subjects of LIFT - Love, Inspiration, Freedom and Truth.  All very thought provoking stuff.

It was interesting to hear our different takes on the subjects but also how much they were in common.  We all have a shared passion for the ocean, which clearly came through but, for me, just sitting there and listening to the others talk reiterated what it takes to get to the top.

For me,  it is all about stepping outside your boundaries and being willing to take a chance.  Imagine a straight road with diversions - that is what life is about - not about trying to stick on the plain and narrow. We all have passions as kids but somehow along the way we loose sight. 

Once responsibilities enter the picture, everything tends to get serious - I know this too well, but life isn't to be taken too seriously, we are here to experience and make something of each day in some shape of form.

Talking of inspiring - how is this?  Imagine being hit by a car, crashing your skull, being told you won't make it through the night and put in an induced coma for 3 weeks..including 4 months in hospital learning to walk and talk again . This same guy has just completed 2200kms riding a stationary bike on his way to riding 3000km in 3 weeks!

After leaving the festival I headed down to Northcliffe surfclub to help out Aaron by keeping him company adding some kilometres to his tally.

I remember visiting Aaron in hospital with Ky Hurst, another fellow Ironperson (which he said yesterday is his first memory after the accident).  it was all doom and gloom, so to see Aaron now, just blows my mind.  A true testament to his determined nature.

Why is he doing this you ask?  Aaron Murphy has been selected in the world uni games team to compete in the kayaks.  He is raising money to help with travel etc, so thought this would be a good way to do it...(if the kayak training isn't hard enough).  His website Hitsinkpaddle has been set up to tell the story and details of how you may be able to assist.

I came home that afternoon just full to the brim of heartwarming goodness and chock full of inspiration!

If you had to talk about your LIFT - Love, Inpiration, freedom and truth, what would be the most powerful and why?