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– Darcy Gaechter
Today’s guest on the Art of Adventure podcast is the athlete, kayaker, author, and businesswoman, Darcy Gaechter. Darcy is the first woman to kayak the Amazon source to sea. She shares this great adventure in her book, Amazon Woman.
In this episode, Darcy shares how she got into kayaking and where her constant “yes” to whatever she is offered has brought her. She tells us how she started- from her business, getting fired from it, and eventually getting back, to her taking the alternative path and finding true happiness in kayaking at the same time breaking free from the pressure of conformity.
Darcy gets to share with us her the struggles and preparation leading to their 148-day epic adventure kayaking through Amazon with her boyfriend Don and their client, Midge, who himself has an interesting background. Darcy also tells us how writing the book was the hard part, and she gives us insights as to why this was so.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- What is it that allowed Darcy to keep choosing what she wants to do versus what other people are expecting.
- Where Darcy gets her drive from.
- What it was like for Darcy growing up.
- Whether Darcy’s identity changed the way she sees herself.
- What led Darcy to stick to kayaking and her relationship with this potentially lethal sport.
- What it was like writing her book
- How Darcy’s trip to the Amazon changed her life.
Quotes:
- “Part of this whole process for me was trying to force myself to be comfortable with my life because I am happy about it and my only unhappiness from my life choices stems from what I perceive to be other people’s judgments of it and so I have been making a real effort not to worry about them.” – Darcy Gaechter
- “I prioritize my own happiness.” – Darcy Gaechter
- “If you know what you want, you should consider yourself lucky.” – Darcy Gaechter
- “Really asking yourself what do I want is super important.” – Darcy Gaechter
- “Just really working hard on finding peace with what you want to do and chasing after it, is going to be the most fulfilling way to go through life because if you do everything you are supposed to do and at the end of the day realize that you didn’t do one thing that you wanted, it’s not going to make for a happier fulfilling life.” – Darcy Gaechter
- “At the end of the line, if I can say like I follow my true path even though I let others down because I didn’t do what they expected I would do, I think I would be happier for it.” – Darcy Gaechter
- “I encourage you to figure out what it is that you want and chase after it at all costs” – Darcy Gaechter
Continue the Adventure:
Other Episodes You Will Love:
Paul Kuthe | Sea Kayak Surfing Pioneer
Johan Ernst Nilson | The Activist Adventurer
Sean Conway | Adventurer Extraordinaire | Adventure is a State of Mind
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