Post from Sylvia Longmire, Ambassador for Whill and Scootaround, January 30, 2023
To say I have a love of helicopter rides/tours is an understatement. I’ve been privileged to do this in Alaska, Iceland, New Zealand, and South Africa, all while being unable to walk. And I’ll have you know that I was terrified every time—to the tune of having to pop half an Ativan prior to each occasion. But I did it because the reward was SO worth the risk, and worth pushing through the fear.
I need to emphasize that this has NOTHING TO DO WITH MY DISABILITY or the fact I use a wheelchair. Yes, many of my fears are unique to solo wheelchair travel. But there are literally billions of people in this world with some sort of fear. Some face them and push through, and others succumb from a survival instinct. I see people every day who make fear-based decisions, and I often wonder if they ever truly feel joy, if they can really sit in pure happiness, or if they live and die with regret.
Don’t let me be your inspiration just because I do cool shit while coincidentally in a wheelchair. I’d like to think my life is amazing independent of my ambulatory status. I mean, there are TONS of people who walk and do cool inspirational shit. I make my own path, create my own opportunities, embark on my own adventures with plenty of fear as company. Plenty of amazing people have helped me along the way, no doubt. But it’s up to each one of us to do the dirty work of discovering how to push through and really LIVE—if we want it bad enough.
And spoiler alert, I’ve got another helicopter tour booked for Alaska in July.
