Over the next month we are asking various women who are living life of their own terms a series of short questions. The purpose? To highlight that 'success' has a different definition for each and everyone of us, to highlight both our failures and our achievements and to start thinking about how we can each have a positive impact for the future generation....
Alison is 51 and a mother of 2. Last year she rediscovered her sense of adventure while spending a month in the Seychelles as a wildlife conservation volunteer and then decided to leave her job as a Hospital Teacher. Without a plan, she then created 3 very different part time jobs for herself which in Alison's words 'make me very happy and provide enough flexibility to allow me to do all the things I want to do and to spend more time with my family'. She is currently working as an Instructor at Go Ape Southampton, as an Outreach Teacher for pupils with medical and mental health problems and as a Customer Host at White Stuff. Here is her AW Q&A...
What does success mean to you in 3 words?
Opportunity. Choice. Mindset.
What’s your biggest achievement?
I’m a Mum. My biggest achievement has been to bring up my daughters, now 19 and 21 and who are confident young women who value their spirit of adventure. Workwise, I have always felt privileged to have been in a position to help my pupils and their families to achieve seemingly impossible things. My biggest achievement here has been having the confidence to always do the right thing for a child, to do what really matters, even if that meant going outside the rules and not being deterred by naysayers. I‘m amazed that I managed to run the London Marathon when I was 40. After that I took up competitive rowing and surprisingly managed to get to junior level in a women’s 4. I’m proud of that.
What’s your biggest failure?
I have failed at many things in my life - job interviews, public speaking, life drawing, horse riding, water skiing, I could go on. I was once asked to leave a contact karate course because I didn’t have ‘enough aggression’. That was a fail but I did enjoy having a go. My biggest failure recently was probably when I allowed my teaching job to take up too much of my time and I needed to take control of my work/life balance. I don’t let that the fear of failure stop me from having a go at all kinds of things and I believe that what we choose to try is more important than whether or not we have failed.
What do you love about yourself most?
I’m able to instil a feeling of calm in people in stressful situations. I may be quiet but I’m brave and I take risks.
What is your biggest insecurity?
As I get older, I sometimes worry that I’m not physically able to do the things I want to do but I’m never going to let that stop me from having a go. I’m an introvert and don’t really like talking about myself. I’m even out of my comfort zone answering these questions!
What advice would you give to a woman half your age?
I would advise a woman age 25 or 26 to do what makes you happy, not what you think or what anyone else thinks you should be doing. Be true to yourself and your personal values. Look after your wellbeing and nurture your friendships.
What is your biggest concern for the future generation and what would you do to change this?
I’m concerned that there is too much pressure on young people at school to achieve results leading to anxiety and other mental health problems. Kids need time to play, to relax and to have more fun. We need to ensure that young people know how to create a positive mindset for themselves and they need to be equipped with the skills to look after their own wellbeing as they grow up. I would like to see young people getting outside more, connecting with nature and caring for the environment.
Want to share your story? Get in touch and let us know at info@above-water.co.uk or like us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @LifeAboveWater
